Thailand to move away from foreign tourism and rely more on home travellers in the latest TAT masterplan

[thaibeachlovers]

Thailand became popular last century as a cheap and cheerful place for a holiday with a bit of the exotic Oriental added.

Then the greedies built flashpacker places and ruined the beaches with concrete.

Then the government made it harder to stay long time, the smile vanished, the rip offs grew, the infrastructure decayed, it was dirty and full of rubbish and horrid concrete buildings. All the things that made LOS a desirable place for western tourists vanished.

Now they wonder why western tourists don't want to come any more. Duh!

[newnative]

3 hours ago, Mike Lister said:

Taxi's refusing to use their meters in tourist areas; dual pricing on hotel rooms, foreigners vs locals; dual pricing on tourist attractions and parks, and probably a bunch more.

That's a list of possible double pricing but it's not evidence that double pricing has any impact on tourism.  There was double pricing in 2019 when 39 million foreigners visited.

[BigStar]

4 hours ago, peter zwart said:

Oh my dear lord. They realy dont have a clue do they?

 

As usual with these blanket "they" assertions, the ANF Poster Boomerang Principle applies.   

[Blumpie]

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!  

Oh mercy, thanks for the laugh.  

[spidermike007]

Smart idea, for once.

1. None of the issues existing before Covid were ever addressed. Typical Thai style. These goons in charge won't take responsibility for anything. 

2. Many economies have been devastated, and Thailand's tourist base of primarily lower income Indians, Chinese and Malaysians were hardest hit. 

3. Thailand cannot and will not attract wealthy or even affluent tourists, for a dozen good reasons. No sacrifices are being made, to make Thailand more appealing to them. 

4. Thailand is a nation in reverse. It is moving backwards, and represents the polar opposite of progress on countless levels. It is simply NOT becoming a better version of itself. The environment, traffic and public safety, horrific law enforcement, corruption, air quality, etc. Add to that heinous luxury and wine taxes, and you have an environment wealthy tourists avoid like the plague. 

5. You cannot shut down the entire tourism industry and much of the economy for over 2 years, engage is highly selective shutdowns, which favor your cronies and big construction companies, and corporations, while punishing the masses, decimate the nightlife, hotels, restaurants and countless related businesses, engage in a very poorly planned vaccination program, create a climate of fear and panic, and then just expect because you open your doors again, millions will flood in. The world does not work like that. 

6. Thailand is NOT the center of the known universe. It is becoming less relevant by the minute. Tourists are forgetting Thailand. Thailand needs foreigners 100x more than they need Thailand. 

 

7. The very things people were coming here to enjoy, have been diminished. Less nightlife, less color (due to the pasteurization and homogenization of the place), fewer resorts and restaurants, and alot of visible decimation of the economy. 

I could go on and on and on. The goons just do not get it. At all. Whatever happens, the numbers will be lower than before. Thailand's days as a tourist mecca are behind it now. They will have to live on scraps. None of the myriad of issues that existed long before Covid have been addressed, and the quality of tourist Thailand attracts has been declining for years. Nearly anyone in the industry will attest to that. Few tourists will be interested in visiting a Quaker state, built on a foundation of fake purity, stripped of its character, by fools who know nothing about anything.

The recession that is likely coming next year will not help. But, a lot of Thailand's current economic woes are largely self inflicted. This exceedingly reckless administration engaged in multiple, highly selective economic shutdowns, that favored their cronies, and punished the masses. They also kept the nation closed off for far too long, and decimated tourism. Then they partially re-opened, with draconian restrictions.

So, if you want to put the blame in the place it belongs, blame Prayuth and Prawit. Call it what it is. The Prayuth Decimation. They are the architects of the downfall of Thailand, the increased suicides, homelessness, crime, unemployment, and unhappiness of the people. 

 

Let us never forget. Though alot of nations shut down, Thailand waited far too long, and displayed a huge degree of timidity, when re-opening, with draconian restrictions and quarantine. That turned off millions of potential tourists.

 

Remember?

 

[paul1804]

There is a global economic downturn and many countries are bordering on a recession, there are 2 major wars going on right now and given Thailands ripoff the Farang attitude, the high levels of corruption and rising crime are you surprised that visitor numbers are down! Thailand is no longer the cheap destination it once was and air travel has become much more expensive. 

[actonion]

4 hours ago, Captor said:

Just fix the air pollution and the tourists will come back. Why do tourists want to travel with family to a country with dangerous air?

 

Look like TAT don't want see the elephant in the room

Dangerous air, among many, many, other things

[StayinThailand2much]

4 hours ago, 2baht said:

More Chinese are travelling to Australia while Australians are travelling to Bali and Japan! 

 

Correct. I saw large numbers of Chinese tourists in Australia's and NZ's major tourist spots as early as beginning of 2023. Seems, Chinese tourists want to see other things now than just Thailand's shrimp buffets, or boats to Koh Larn. (And other nationalities have discovered different destinations, too.) - Sorry, Thailand, but (with the exception of Russians, Indians, and Malaysian day-trippers) you are on the 'Out' list...

Edited December 13, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[ikke1959]

No clue to solve the problem and to be attractive again for foreign tourists. So local tourist more public holidays more borrowing and loan  to show how wealthy the middle class is to go on holiday and more debts.. TAT why are they needed? they have no clue come with fake numbers and ideas that are stupid. And they call it a masterplan.. 

Edited December 13, 2023 by ikke1959

[actonion]

Looking at a previous TAT post this week where TAT were holding a conference , I think they could save  a few Million Baht by down sizing their staff numbers,  seeing as how tourist arrivals are down

[newnative]

2 hours ago, Mike Lister said:

You need to realise that UK visitors to Thailand aren't even part of the equation, their numbers are so small as to be economically irrelevant.

 

1. Malaysia: 367,530 visitors
2. China: 328,375 visitors
3. India: 131,230 visitors
4. Russia: 115,743 visitors
5. South Korea: 95,229 visitors
6. Vietnam: 84,221 visitors
7. United States: 70,977 visitors
8. United Kingdom: 70,089 visitors
9. Laos: 68,204 visitors
10. Hong Kong: 67,771 visitors

 

https://www.thailand.go.th/issue-focus-detail/009_165

 

In 2020, UK tourists accounted for 2.4% of total visitors.

 

https://trail.bananabackpacks.com/thailand-tourism-stats/

     It's meaningless to use 2020 stats.  Those are covid numbers.  In 2019, UK visitors were about 1 million.  Less than the US at 1.16 million but more than any other European country except Russia.  In numbers UK, came in at  #11.   I don't think it's correct to say that UK is economically irrelevant to Thai tourism.   Even in your above recent totals, UK is at #8, and very close to USA at #7.   Obviously, neither country is sending tourists in numbers to match the numbers of China, India, Malaysia, etc., and likely never will.  But both are in the top 10 and do contribute to Thailand's tourism.  

[Lopburikid]

4 hours ago, ChipButty said:

It's not busy like it was last year, most mornings I take a drive down to the beach and have a coffee somewhere, few people down the beach early but when you look at the car and bike rental shops full of bikes for rent, locals are saying it's not busy like last year.

Not just tourist areas. None tourist areas are feeling the same pinch. just no money around. Locals where i live are all talking about the situation and 90 percent are not happy about the restrictions placed on this digital B10,000 hand out, as it doesn't really benefit them. Plus. It already looks like the handout will be delayed by 7-8 months.

[Jackbenimble]

If that really is the plan then so be it but..........maybe they should seriously think about making it easier for expats to actually live here long term instead of going out of their way to make it harder.

The expat community are fed up with milked and scammed. Already there are conversations about alternative places to live.

THAT needs addressing if the plan is to use them to replace international travellers. This new tax law isn't going to help either.

Edited December 13, 2023 by Jackbenimble
spelling

[Mike Lister]

8 minutes ago, newnative said:

     It's meaningless to use 2020 stats.  Those are covid numbers.  In 2019, UK visitors were about 1 million.  Less than the US at 1.16 million but more than any other European country except Russia.  In numbers UK, came in at  #11.   I don't think it's correct to say that UK is economically irrelevant to Thai tourism.   Even in your above recent totals, UK is at #8, and very close to USA at #7.   Obviously, neither country is sending tourists in numbers to match the numbers of China, India, Malaysia, etc., and likely never will.  But both are in the top 10 and do contribute to Thailand's tourism.  

Even in 2019 at 1 million, as percentage of 39 million, that's still only the same 2.5%. In relative terms, the UK contribution to tourism is not meaningful. The ranking number means nothing, the number of visitors tells the story.

Edited December 13, 2023 by Mike Lister

[stoner]

1 hour ago, kinyara said:

 

I haven't been to other tourists towns/cities recently but I think that's a very fair reflection of the state of the infrastructure in Pattaya these days. Walking around the daily obstacle course of appalling pavements or stuck in a baht bus on the central circuit as yet more holes are dug up and filled in for no practical benefit always designed for maximum high season inconvenience, I question the level of tourism they deserve for the state of the public services they provide.

 

it was cute and acceptable decades ago. 

[RandolphGB]

Don't worry, it's all fine, because tourists are willing to pay five million baht for a glorified tourist visa that includes a few free massages and a Toyota Camry collecting them from the airport.

 

 

[StayinThailand2much]

15 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

TAT why are they needed? they have no clue come with fake numbers and ideas that are stupid. And they call it a masterplan.. 

 

All their numbers have been fake since, at least, the early 2000s, when, after tourist numbers went south, they abruptly took the tourist statistics off their website. And their almost weekly changing projections are a joke. 

[StayinThailand2much]

16 minutes ago, Jackbenimble said:

If that really is the plan then so be it but..........maybe they should seriously think about making it easier for expats to actually live here long term instead of going out of their way to make it harder.

 

Here's an idea, with a good number of expats in Thailand, why not offer them (meaningful) promotions, discounts, and fair pricing in national parks, temples, etc., rather than overcharging and scamming them whenever possible? It might lead to more travel and spending in country.

 

Also, why do many have to do infrequent trips to other countries for visa purposes, spending money there that could also be spent in Thailand? Wouldn't it be smarter to make visa issuance and extension in country easier, thereby keeping more money here, rather than 'supporting' airlines and the economies of neighbouring countries?

Edited December 13, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[shackleton]

Well here's looking out for the mass arrival of Tourists foreign and domestic coming for the much anticipated extended opening hours of bars ect selling alcohol until 0400hrs over the Christmas and New Year holidays 🥳

Let's see what numbers transpire 🤔

[stoner]

3 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

With a good number of expats in Thailand, why not offer them (meaningful) promotions, discounts, and fair pricing in national parks, temples, etc., rather than overcharging and scamming them whenever possible? It might lead to more travel and spending in country.

 

i would gladly lube up for all of those things mentioned if i was simply given PR status through my marriage. 

[Mike Lister]

If Thailand could attract 39 million in 2019 and this year, the first year of covid economic recovery, a year when the global economy is only just beginning to recover, they can attract 28 million, even without the support of the Chinese mass market, what does that tell you about the volume of people who want to visit.

[StayinThailand2much]

22 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

Don't worry, it's all fine, because tourists are willing to pay five million baht for a glorified tourist visa that includes a few free massages and a Toyota Camry collecting them from the airport.

 

Yes, and in true Thai fashion they will probably come up with a scheme to double all prices and fees for foreign tourists 'to compensate for a 40-50% decline in arrivals'...

Edited December 13, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[stix40]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Thailand became popular last century as a cheap and cheerful place for a holiday with a bit of the exotic Oriental added.

Then the greedies built flashpacker places and ruined the beaches with concrete.

Then the government made it harder to stay long time, the smile vanished, the rip offs grew, the infrastructure decayed, it was dirty and full of rubbish and horrid concrete buildings. All the things that made LOS a desirable place for western tourists vanished.

Now they wonder why western tourists don't want to come any more. Duh!

Brilliant post 

So true ! 

[Skipalongcassidy]

5 hours ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

The "local tourists" with money are travelling to other countries... why would they travel to destinations in Thailand that really do not welcome Thais as their guests?

For the three confused forum members... Thai businesses typically would rather cater to foreign tourists than to Thais who do not spend much more than for basics nor do they tip... the business owners would prefer western tourists who tip except for the canadians of course.

[Lucky Bones]

25 minutes ago, shackleton said:

Well here's looking out for the mass arrival of Tourists foreign and domestic coming for the much anticipated extended opening hours of bars ect selling alcohol until 0400hrs over the Christmas and New Year holidays 🥳

Let's see what numbers transpire 🤔

The numbers will be awesomely humungous.

It is called self-serving propoganda.🙃🙃

[Lucky Bones]

4 minutes ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

For the three confused forum members... Thai businesses typically would rather cater to foreign tourists than to Thais who do not spend much more than for basics nor do they tip... the business owners would prefer western tourists who tip except for the canadians of course.

That is simply a matter of conjecture or your opinion.

Any data to back it up?🙃🙃

[SportRider]

5 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

The exchange rate does not help. This Country is expensive to holiday in now compared to several years ago. I am not an economist so can someone please explain how the loss of millions upon millions of foreign money coming into the Country from international tourists, ( Once a large part of GDP), can be made up by locals who are only circulating money already here?

Domestic consumer spending is a significant part of GDP in every country.  For example, in USA it's about 70%.

[Clarkey611]

29 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

If Thailand could attract 39 million in 2019 and this year, the first year of covid economic recovery, a year when the global economy is only just beginning to recover, they can attract 28 million, even without the support of the Chinese mass market, what does that tell you about the volume of people who want to visit.

Does the 28 million include me "visiting" the country 10 times this year?

[Mike Lister]

11 minutes ago, Clarkey611 said:

Does the 28 million include me "visiting" the country 10 times this year?

Yes

[positivevibes]

Have a hard time deciding which tourists are the worse, locals or the Chinese!