Thailand found itself on the flip side of tourism dynamics, experiencing a historic tourism deficit with Japan in the first half of 2023.

 

The numbers tell a startling tale: one million Thais ventured into Japan, while a mere 300,000 Japanese enthusiasts made their way to the tropical haven of Thailand.

 

In a dramatic departure from the norm, Thailand, renowned for its tropical allure, consistently boasted a tourism surplus with Japan. The 2022 figures highlighted this trend, with 1.5 million Japanese tourists basking in Thailand’s beauty, while only 600,000 Thais explored the wonders of Japan. But 2023 ushered in an era of reversal, leaving experts and travel enthusiasts alike scratching their heads.

Multiple factors have orchestrated this twist in the tourism tale. Firstly, the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in Japan played a pivotal role.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-25

 

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Maybe it has something to do with the exchange rate for both sides.....

Demographic implosion in Japan starting to show?

Xenophobic old farts tend not to travel.

Also...Japan has been on a 30 year downward spiral, economically speaking. 

 

Thailand had one of the highest tourist numbers in the world in 2023. 

 

At what point do they stop obsessing with China and a few other countries?

 

They should stop looking at numbers, and look at quality tourists. Tourists who will spend in Thailand. Not tourists who book 'everything' on a zero dollar holiday before they leave their country, or tourists who come on an extreme low budget. 

Because robots have taken over Japan and enslaved all the meatbags. ⁉️

56 minutes ago, VinnieK said:

Demographic implosion in Japan starting to show?

Xenophobic old farts tend not to travel.

Can't imagine the Japanese think Thailand is "too weird"

 

These are people with game shows that hit male contestants in the nutsack when they give a wrong answer. 😄

They might not be so keen in spending their time with Russians and Chines

Who can blame them.

Because the yen is at an all-time low, and few Japanese want to leave the country.

 

Meanwhile, Thai's obsession with all things Japanese continues, and with the Thai Bhat going further than ever, a large influx into Japan.

 

Was that so hard?

 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The numbers tell a startling tale: one million Thais ventured into Japan, while a mere 300,000 Japanese enthusiasts made their way to the tropical haven of Thailand.

Compared to Japan, Thailand is a cesspit to be avoided.

Japan is by nature. clean, tidy, and almost un-polluted with clean, safe attractions and amenities, where people are welcoming and helpful.

In contrast Thailand is filthy dirty, polluted, noisy, people are only interested in fleecing you while offering poor service and value for money is hard to find, especially the double pricing at national parks.

Not to mention who would want to go from a nice clean modern toilet with hot water cleaning in Japan to an Asian squat toilet with a bucket and bowl with cold water??

 

2 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Thailand had one of the highest tourist numbers in the world in 2023. 

 

At what point do they stop obsessing with China and a few other countries?

 

They should stop looking at numbers, and look at quality tourists. Tourists who will spend in Thailand. Not tourists who book 'everything' on a zero dollar holiday before they leave their country, or tourists who come on an extreme low budget. 

Quality tourists want quality service and amenities... Thailand has neither.

It's a back-packers paradise with beer, beach and bar-girls.

3 hours ago, VinnieK said:

Demographic implosion in Japan starting to show?

Xenophobic old farts tend not to travel.

Thailand has the largest community outside of Japan.

As of October 2022 there are 78,000+ Japanese living in Thailand.

The Japanese are the most traveled population in the world.

It sounds like you're xenophobic.....

The Japanese, like the Chinese, are still reluctant to visit overseas countries post-covid and they both have a 'less than positive' view about Thailand now compared to 2015-2019. This IMO is mainly due to previous negative experiences of other tourists - and all the negative media stories about tourists being killed and injured.  The fact that the Baht is still too high is also a major factor in the decisions of the 'ordinary' tourist. 

I mostly agree with that T&G but not about the Baht, against USD and the Pound it's very close to fair value, the Oz Dollar on the other hand has faired less well. 

26 minutes ago, flyingtlger said:

Thailand has the largest community outside of Japan.

As of October 2022 there are 78,000+ Japanese living in Thailand.

The Japanese are the most traveled population in the world.

It sounds like you're xenophobic.....

Not even close:

Countries with the highest Japanese populations are Brazil (1.8 million), the United States (1.5 million), the Philippines (200,000), China (127,000) and Canada (109,000).

Edited January 25, 20242 yr by alex8912

Have to see the trend before COVID.

 

What was the figure for all of 2023?

 

2022 figures (1.5 m) may have been a post-COVID blip?

 

 

Maybe Thailand is outdated and have a few interesting things to do and show for the Japanese tourists.... If you have been once you have seen everything and over 25 years it is still the same...Except that it is more expensive because of the exchange rates and tourists scam

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Compared to Japan, Thailand is a cesspit to be avoided.

Japan is by nature. clean, tidy, and almost un-polluted with clean, safe attractions and amenities, where people are welcoming and helpful.

In contrast Thailand is filthy dirty, polluted, noisy, people are only interested in fleecing you while offering poor service and value for money is hard to find, especially the double pricing at national parks.

Not to mention who would want to go from a nice clean modern toilet with hot water cleaning in Japan to an Asian squat toilet with a bucket and bowl with cold water??

 

Wow, the Thailand you live in sounds disgusting. It bears no resemblance to the one I live in.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Not to mention who would want to go from a nice clean modern toilet with hot water cleaning in Japan to an Asian squat toilet with a bucket and bowl with cold water??

But I find ass wiping farangs are moving in droves to find their future brides in all those brothels fronting as bars and then eventually move to Issan and build their mansions surrounded by dilapidated wood dwellings. May be they find cold water in their asses amusing after wiping their asses with paper for years. 

Edited January 25, 20242 yr by CartagenaWarlock

46 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

I mostly agree with that T&G but not about the Baht, against USD and the Pound it's very close to fair value, the Oz Dollar on the other hand has faired less well. 

 

USD to THB is OK - but THB is over-valued against the GBP and YEN and most especially so against the AUD. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 25, 20242 yr by TroubleandGrumpy

31 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

Countries with the highest Japanese populations are Brazil (1.8 million), the United States (1.5 million), the Philippines (200,000), China (127,000) and Canada (109,000).

I should clarified my statement: Thailand has the most recent, first generation, Japanese retirees. Many Japanese would prefer to live in Thailand as opposed to China, Philippines or Brazil because of the better medical systems and cost of living. Many Japanese want to retire in the USA or Canada but it's nearly impossible and too expensive. The populations of the countries mention above have 8+ generations of Japanese that have become permanent citizens of those counties. 

1 hour ago, flyingtlger said:

Thailand has the largest community outside of Japan.

As of October 2022 there are 78,000+ Japanese living in Thailand.

The Japanese are the most traveled population in the world.

It sounds like you're xenophobic.....

Where do you get your statistics from?

I get them from the street.

Way more reliable..

Xenophobic? Fook yes.

It happens when you realize how stupid most ppl are.

..and the Japanese are among the stupidest sheeple I ever encountered.

There.

 

4 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

 

USD to THB is OK - but THB is over-valued against the GBP and YEN and most especially so against the AUD. 

 

 

 

 

 

A big part of the problem is that AUD is a proxy for the Chinese economy, when that improves, your ex. rate will improve.

 

https://www.afr.com/markets/currencies/investors-short-the-a-as-china-takes-centre-stage-20230821-p5dy27

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Compared to Japan, Thailand is a cesspit to be avoided.

Japan is by nature. clean, tidy, and almost un-polluted with clean, safe attractions and amenities, where people are welcoming and helpful.

In contrast Thailand is filthy dirty, polluted, noisy, people are only interested in fleecing you while offering poor service and value for money is hard to find, especially the double pricing at national parks.

Not to mention who would want to go from a nice clean modern toilet with hot water cleaning in Japan to an Asian squat toilet with a bucket and bowl with cold water??

 

When we were in Japan JR train managers made an apology on Tv for a train not leaving on time- it left 20 seconds early, oh the disgrace! On the train would have been nobody yakking away on mobiles or talking loudly. Here it's a gamble what time shop doors or car parks will open, bus and train times, up to driver.

7 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

But I find ass wiping farangs are moving in droves to find their future brides in all those brothels fronting as bars and then eventually move to Issan and build their mansions surrounded by dilapidated wood dwellings. May be they find cold water in their asses amusing after wiping their asses with paper for years. 

 

Well said - and there are some of those.  I know a couple and have met quite a few more. Most of them are extremely 'cognitive dissonent' about where they are and with who they are living. But each to their own I guess - I just wish they would stop 'loudly' proclaiming how great their life is living in the bush/sticks amongst 'the natives' where the nearest decent Hospital and Medical Specialist (and so many other things) is many hours away. 

 

Some Farangs will get offended about that paper ass-wiping comment mate. Like when a certain Thai said the words 'Dirty Farangs'.  Maybe they dont realise how badly paper actually 'removes' stuff, and why using water in a hot sweaty environment is the only way to go - or at least paper plus baby wipes when travelling. Just saying. 

41 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Maybe Thailand is outdated and have a few interesting things to do and show for the Japanese tourists.... If you have been once you have seen everything and over 25 years it is still the same...Except that it is more expensive because of the exchange rates and tourists scam

 

I know several Japanese who come several times a year only to go to music concerts, some are total fanatics worse than Thais

Long time Japan resident here.

 

Some of you are hitting on some answers. The exchange rate is a big factor for sure. The news is overflowing with stories of how the currency is taking a beating on world markets.  Domestic travel is doing much better. 

 

Also, lots of fear of travel in general. Not just about Thailand, but about visiting foreign countries altogether. China is also 'out' these days due to perceived danger.  The USA too.  

 

Inflation is not high, but combined with the exchange rate it has eaten into everyone's disposable income.  Flight costs are also almost double what they were pre-COVID.  Fewer flights too, especially on LCCs. 

17 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

A big part of the problem is that AUD is a proxy for the Chinese economy, when that improves, your ex. rate will improve.

 

https://www.afr.com/markets/currencies/investors-short-the-a-as-china-takes-centre-stage-20230821-p5dy27

Mike - what are you talking about mate?  This is about Japanese tourism - my point was that one reason for lower tourists is that the Thai Baht is over valued against most other currencies - including the Yen. 

20 minutes ago, VinnieK said:

Where do you get your statistics from?

I get them from the street.

Yeah, it's obvious you're from the streets......

23 minutes ago, flyingtlger said:

I should clarified my statement: Thailand has the most recent, first generation, Japanese retirees. Many Japanese would prefer to live in Thailand as opposed to China, Philippines or Brazil because of the better medical systems and cost of living. Many Japanese want to retire in the USA or Canada but it's nearly impossible and too expensive. The populations of the countries mention above have 8+ generations of Japanese that have become permanent citizens of those counties. 

Yes indeed - those other figures include Working Japanese Expats. When you look at  Retired/Married Japanese Expats - Thailand has the most.  I saw a media a few years ago about the Japanese Expats Group lobbying the Thai Govt - and they made that claim. 

2 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Mike - what are you talking about mate?  This is about Japanese tourism - my point was that one reason for lower tourists is that the Thai Baht is over valued against most other currencies - including the Yen. 

You're right, the subject is off topic, I was just covering off your statement about currency exchange rates when you said, "and most especially so against the AUD".