Economic hurdles hamper Thailand’s tourist market recovery despite visa exemptions

[webfact]

 

Tourism operators have indicated that economic challenges are hindering the recovery of tourist markets from China, Taiwan, and India, despite Thailand’s recent introduction of visa exemptions.

 

These exemptions, implemented for Chinese visitors since September 25, have had limited effect due to perceptions of Thailand as unsafe and China’s sluggish economic growth, according to Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, ex-president of the Chon Buri Tourism Council and group executive director of Sunshine Hotels and Resorts. Furthermore, the slow restoration of flight services has negatively impacted outbound travel to Thailand.

 

Thanet also pointed out that high-spending tourists generally prefer European destinations over Thailand during the peak season.

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reported that the country received 283,179 and 290,911 Chinese tourists in September and October, respectively. By November 7, yearly arrivals from China, Taiwan, and India were 2.84 million, 595,899, and 1.31 million respectively.

 

by Alex Morgan

Picture courtesy of Varuth Hirunyatheb

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-11-09

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thanet also pointed out that high-spending tourists generally prefer European destinations over Thailand during the peak season.

Post Covid Thailand has gone back to the old ways of attracting tourists.

Problem is tourists are looking for something new.

[Negita43]

Some economic challenges sure (Strong Baht) but other challenges too - bad press, better organised competition, high flight costs (especially from Europe), people have less money to spend. Tourism is a "soft" way to get foreign currency and increase GDP but times are changing and Thailand needs to start earning more through exports and inward investment.

[madmitch]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Thanet also pointed out that high-spending tourists generally prefer European destinations over Thailand during the peak season.

Total rubbish. The European peak season and the Thai peak seasons are completely different. 

[Pouatchee]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

These exemptions, implemented for Chinese visitors since September 25, have had limited effect due to perceptions of Thailand as unsafe and China’s sluggish economic growth

 

do they really believe people will come here because of a visa exemption? that is but a drop in the bucket when factoring the costs of coming here

[Partenavia]

Clearly this article was not written by TAT !!!!!!!

[Gknrd]

Give 90 days to all countries then it may make an impact.

[khunjake]

Meanwhile, local expats with the means to travel and spend domestically are shunned by the TAT with lack of discounts/incentives, are threatened to be hit with new taxes by the RD and continued overzealous immigration requirements and procedures.
 

For me personally, I don’t spend excess savings on domestic tourism anymore. Instead, we spend lavishly outside the country. For January, we have a lovely Swiss trip planned which would otherwise be done in a high season place like Samui or Phuket in earlier years. 

[ChipButty]

Demand for accommodations in Rawai Beach went up by 10% according to Booking.com 

[lordgrinz]

6 minutes ago, khunjake said:

Meanwhile, local expats with the means to travel and spend domestically are shunned by the TAT with lack of discounts/incentives, are threatened to be hit with new taxes by the RD and continued overzealous immigration requirements and procedures.
 

For me personally, I don’t spend excess savings on domestic tourism anymore. Instead, we spend lavishly outside the country. For January, we have a lovely Swiss trip planned which would otherwise be done in a high season place like Samui or Phuket in earlier years. 

 

Interesting perspective, take trips outside the country and spend money from outside the country as well, thus no tax on a remittance to Thailand.