The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations has issued a warning to the Thai government alerting that the level of tourism has reached a critical point. According to forecasts, the number of foreign visitors in 2024 will be about 40 million, similar to the last pre-COVID year, 2019. This could strain both local environments and tourist experience.

 

Phuket and Pattaya are the cities most affected, with 118 and 99 foreign visitors for every local resident respectively, as per a study by MoneyTransfers. But this data is already several months old and the actual ratios could be even higher. Chris Flynn, CEO of the World Tourism Association, suggested that Thai officials appear to have not foreseen the toll the influx could take.

 

Signs of excessive tourism in Pattaya include heavy traffic, worsened by tour buses jamming insufficient roads, and ongoing road repairs in and around the city center. As British tourist John Leeman described, "After dark, it takes me at least an hour to travel from Jomtien to central Pattaya, double the time it took last year, and finding a parking spot when you arrive is nearly impossible."

 

The already dire situation could intensify due to potential water shortages brought on by inadequate rainfall and the possible increase in passengers at U-tapao airport near Pattaya. Some airlines currently do not use the airport due to the lack of regular bus transportation into Pattaya. But, if this changes, daily arrivals at U-tapao may significantly increase.

 

Recently, the number of tourists in Thailand has risen, in part because the country has waived holiday visas for large markets like Russia, China, and India. In response, Thai authorities are attempting to divert tourists to less popular provinces to relieve pressure on traditional resorts. The Thai Tourism Council is also urging the government to charge a 300 baht entry fee to fund development and improvements. However, travel experts question whether such measures can effectively control over-tourism.

 

Tourism control is not just a Thai issue. For instance, Greece now requires advance booking and pre-payment for visits to the Acropolis. The Netherlands has strengthened drug laws and stopped the construction of new hotels to curb unruly behavior among tourists. Some believe Thailand's recent crackdown on foreign crime and the potential ban on recreational cannabis suggest it also aims to deter certain types of tourists. In the words of a Thai Cabinet minister, "We want quality tourists from now on."

 

Caption: Creative Common License via Google

 

-- 2024-04-25

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9 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

In the words of a Thai Cabinet minister, "We want quality tourists from now on."

Unbelievable. 

Pattaya is jammed with traffic and non quality tourists and it will just get much worse.

as Fonzie used to say, 'sit on it' thai tourism association.

they just want a bigger piece of the pie.

 

Time for a "tourist tax", just like Venice is introducing 🙂

The issues referenced in the OP have been ongoing for years yet Thai government keeps carrying on attracting ever more tourists without the improvements to the infrastructure required. Improvements that are made undergo repeated repair and maintenance - one can only assume due to issues created by the endemic corruption.

 

I have a house in Pattaya (in my wife's name) which we keep maintained in order she has a place to live near her family after I die. It's the only reason we regularly return to Pattaya as the traffic is appalling. I have to admit some of the environment has improved somewhat, such as beach cleanliness, over the years, but yet...

 

 

It was naive insanity to panic and wave visas for Chinese and Indians. 

 

Chinese tourism has returned to normal everywhere around the world, around the same time it has started to pick up in Thailand.

 

The fees they must have lost to waiving Chinese visas is astronomical. 2000 x 10 million is incredible. And it was needlesly waived for no reason.

 

Before the pandemic the government wanted quality tourism over quantity primarily because locals were becoming angry. 

 

But new government comes in, and just reverses everything and just lets in a free for all. It will only get worst. 

Waaa 🇨🇳

But......

https://aseannow.com/topic/1325759-thailand-enters-low-tourism-season-hopes-rest-on-chinese-visitors/

 

Time to make your mind up folks.

To much is done to make hordes of tourist teenage drunks come in.

 

Not enough is done to encourage the foreign retiree home owners to come and stay longer with more simple handling and less paperwork for  long stay visas for the retirees for instance.

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In the words of a Thai Cabinet minister, "We want quality tourists from now on."

Buses full of Chinese zero baht tourists causing traffic jams for example.

And the TAT and government want 80 million foreign tourists, or roughly three times the number they got over the past year! Nuff said... 

 

Perhaps they should invest into infrastructure (besides the airports) for once.

thailand is such a gong show run by total clowns. 

Fake scare?

Was there in high season and can confirm there was NO overcrowding inside any of the bars or businesses 👍

 

Sukhumvit Rd, Walking Street etc. were busy but bars, stores & businesses? mostly empty.

 

3rd world tourists abound

1 hour ago, Sigmund said:

To much is done to make hordes of tourist teenage drunks come in.

 

Not enough is done to encourage the foreign retiree home owners to come and stay longer with more simple handling and less paperwork for  long stay visas for the retirees for instance.

 

*Generally* 2 week teenage drunks spend big money whereas pensioners spend much less *Generally*

 

Therefore pensioners are well down the pecking order. 

Powers that be probably think its cute to have farm girls sponsored by old foreigners but doubt much if any of that money reaches their pockets so  it is what it is.

 

Bahtist country.  Money number one.

 

Edited April 25, 20242 yr by BigBruv

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Buses full of Chinese zero baht tourists causing traffic jams for example.

 

The huge busses going down little soi's are back. 

 

Utterly ridiculous they take these routes. 

9 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

The huge busses going down little soi's are back. 

 

Utterly ridiculous they take these routes. 

It's so the Chinese can look out of the windows at what's on offer.

11 minutes ago, BigBruv said:

 

*Generally* 2 week teenage drunks spend big money whereas pensioners spend much less *Generally*

 

Therefore pensioners are well down the pecking order. 

Powers that be probably think its cute to have farm girls sponsored by old foreigners but doubt much if any of that money reaches their pockets so  it is what it is.

 

Bahtist country.  Money number one.

 

You may well be interested to know that these "farm girls" as you say are very good earners for the economy. Much of what they earn goes back to support their familes. I saw once that's it's the second biggest export economy for Issan. As for the pensioner quip are you talking about expats that put money into the economy year in year out with many supporting families? I do realise though that the powers that be here sadly do not recognise this.

1 minute ago, dinsdale said:

You may well be interested to know that these "farm girls" as you say are very good earners for the economy. Much of what they earn goes back to support their familes. I saw once that's it's the second biggest export economy for Issan. As for the pensioner quip are you talking about expats that put money into the economy year in year out with many supporting families? I do realise though that the powers that be here sadly do not recognise this.

 

 

I get it but bottom line is that "the powers that be here sadly do not recognise this."

They don't know what they want.... Thailand wants tourists.... let them come in 40 million this year... Than tourists come and now the places are overcrowded, and not of a quality Thailand wants... Maybe fine everyone, for all kind of reasons and hope they will tell their friends to stay away as it is too crowdy and the RTP want to get your money, and than call again for tourists to come in.. But don't invest in anything, infrastructure, facilities, and regulations.... and don't deal with the mess

Pattaya is only full 3 months of the year  ,, the other 9 months  its just scraping by

6 hours ago, simple1 said:

I have a house in Pattaya (in my wife's name)

 

So you don't have a house in Pattaya.

The Thai government and tourism generals are showing their panic now and also how little they understand the market. They wanted the numbers, a fair few came, but they are not the "quality tourists" spending the amounts envisioned. The economy is struggling - just ask any normal Thai - and a lot of foreign investment has gone elsewhere in the last 10 years. The boom times are over. Truth is that the Thai government and Tourism ministers want the money but not the tourists who come. Can't have it all ways. The world is broke and many of those travelling have lower budgets, or travel less frequently than before. This is the reality.

 

13 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

 

Unbelievable. 

Pattaya is jammed with traffic and non quality tourists and it will just get much worse.

How many times have they sid this? If  I had a satang for every time. 

 

If they want quality tourists why don't they ban the Russian from using their bank cards and ban Chinese tours. That'll clean things up a lot. 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations has issued a warning to the Thai government alerting that the level of tourism has reached a critical point. According to forecasts, the number of foreign visitors in 2024 will be about 40 million, similar to the last pre-COVID year, 2019. This could strain both local environments and tourist experience.

So stop inviting them in....

yes, send them to Chiang Mai where they can choke to death

10 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Buses full of Chinese zero baht tourists causing traffic jams for example.

Russian draft dodgers

2 examples living here for several years that something is indeed wrong.

 

1) Driving down pratamnak road onto 2nd road never used to get busy until about 530. Its now always busy.

2) The video attached shows Kasetsin packed thursday 6pm. This was only ever reserved for Sundays and holidays.. Me thinks Oxygen / Choclate factory / 3 mermaids / Sky gallery is causing mega chaos down this way.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

suggested that Thai officials appear to have not foreseen the toll the influx could take.

Many cars have come, many domestic tourists but businesses are hurting. Pattaya are having many tourists without funds. A good high season has less cars and many tourists walk. People driving around cannot stop; because they cannot park a car and go to eat other car is to far from where they would like to eat.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Thai Tourism Council is also urging the government to charge a 300 baht entry fee to fund development and improvements. However, travel experts question whether such measures can effectively control over-tourism.

So the abundance of tourists now do not generate enough revenue to pay for infrastructure improvements, you want to charge every person 300 baht more on entry.