Thailand's Tourism Faces 'Zero-Dollar' Tour Crisis

[Ben Zioner]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

How would that work on visa exempt visits?

It would not, no visa exempt, E-visa for everyone, very achievable. Accredited agency provides a tour reference, and you get your visa issued for the duration plus 48 hours for contingency.

[grain]

I saw the same thing in Perth when I was there recently. They stay in Chinese owned hotels, eat in Chinese restaurants, shop in Chinese owned tourist shops that sell Aussie souvenirs that were made in China, and they ride around the city on the free CAT buses. 

[brianthainess]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), voiced grave concerns, stating these tours not only offer substandard services but also exploit unsuspecting tourists.

They should be forcibly dragged of the bus and frog marched to Thai Hotels, restaurants, and 'Gift' shops, forced to only have a Thai Bus and Tyres, and only drink Thai beer, would that make ATTA happier ? or just refuse them entry if booked by a Chinese tour company.

   

[brianthainess]

20 hours ago, madmitch said:

Don't just whinge about it, do something about it! 

It must be pretty obvious to immigration when a ' no dollar' tour group comes to Thailand so why are they allowed entry. .....

[youngster30uk]

18 hours ago, candide said:

Nonsense! The principle of zero dollar tours is that the original fee doesn't cover the cost, and that the money is actually earned by commissions on what tourist spend in the country of destination. That's why It's called zero dollar tours. A large share of expenses occurs in Thailand.

 

On top of it, one of the key concerns for Chinese businessmen is to put as much money as possible out of reach of the CPC. The money stays in Thailand and is used to buy businesses and condos.

How do you think Chinese people can buy expensive condos in Thailand, while they are not allowed to take more then $50,000 per year out of Thailand?

Most tourists are not Chinese Businessmen.  Those that buy expensive condo are businessmen, who will typically have a business registered to Hong Kong, so they can fairly freely take their money overseas. It is not in any way relevant to the zero dollar tourism market. Whether you call it nonsense or not, this is the fact of what happens.

[candide]

19 minutes ago, youngster30uk said:

Most tourists are not Chinese Businessmen.  Those that buy expensive condo are businessmen, who will typically have a business registered to Hong Kong, so they can fairly freely take their money overseas. It is not in any way relevant to the zero dollar tourism market. Whether you call it nonsense or not, this is the fact of what happens.

And those who are not registered in HK are not trying to put their money out of the PRC and not ready to pay for it?

[youngster30uk]

12 minutes ago, candide said:

And those who are not registered in HK are not trying to put their money out of the PRC and not ready to pay for it?

I dont know what weird kinda trip you are on but nothing you are talking about is relevant, You seem to think all chinese are millionaire business people

 

[candide]

33 minutes ago, youngster30uk said:

I dont know what weird kinda trip you are on but nothing you are talking about is relevant, You seem to think all chinese are millionaire business people

 

Do you remember China's population number?

[khunPer]

23 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

Not the same by far.

 

All-inclusive holidays the hotel in the holiday country receives the money, and no forced visits to factories owned by foreigners are included

To my knowledge hotels are still paid for accommodation – how would it else work? – but just like "all inclusive", the guests don't need to spend money outside the hotel.

[NorthernRyland]

11 hours ago, zakalwe said:

Wrong. The Chinese didn't do this when they immigrated to Thailand. Now Thai-Chinese dominate the Thai economy/government. 

Fair enough I would say they integrated here far better than in the West, however I can't always tell who is Chinese here or not and how they view themselves. I do however see Thai people with Chinese shrines on a regular basis, people who have been here for hundreds of years probably.

 

The question is, are they racist against Thai's and only marry other Thai-Chinese? 

 

Actually I know a man here from a Chinese family that fled communist China but I would never know he was Chinese, he only speaks Thai now but he's a first generation immigrant. Key is that he didn't have a Chinese community where he settled in Thailand.

[keysersoze276]

On 6/19/2024 at 1:56 PM, madmitch said:

Don't just whinge about it, do something about it! 

They did!  The TAT specifically targeted these nationalities.  What could go wrong?

[Sydebolle]

Tell the goons at the tourism promotion board; apart from apparently smoking excellent weed with double and triple digit increases in arrivals there is seriously nothing they achieve. 

Thailand as a tourism operator finally got what they deserve as the "quality tourists" are no longer arhsed with "Thai style" rip-offs, double and triple tier pricing and a decline faster than the increase in pricing. Serves 'em right! 

[zakalwe]

20 hours ago, youngster30uk said:

I dont know what weird kinda trip you are on but nothing you are talking about is relevant, You seem to think all chinese are millionaire business people

 

According to this report 15,200 Chinese millionaires are set to leave the country this year.

 

Henley's report shows that China is set to lose the most millionaires in 2024, with a net outflow of 15,200.

Popular destinations for millionaires leaving China traditionally include Singapore, the USA, and Canada, with Japan a new destination to watch.

 

https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/06/20/uk-set-to-lose-thousands-of-millionaires-as-rich-vote-with-their-feet-and-move-overseas#:~:text=Henley's report shows that China,a new destination to watch.

 

[khunjeff]

On 6/19/2024 at 2:59 PM, NorthernRyland said:

Chinese have been in America for over a hundred years yet they still only marry other Chinese

 

I must pass this fascinating bit of information to my many Chinese-American friends who are married to non-Chinese 🙄

[BangkokReady]

On 6/19/2024 at 10:53 AM, webfact said:

“This tarnishes Thailand’s image, making the country appear cheap and unsafe,”

 

🤔

[BangkokReady]

On 6/19/2024 at 2:23 PM, bob smith said:

...Why don't they offer these kinds of tours to people from the UK?

 

They mostly not Chinese.

[MicroB]

On 6/22/2024 at 2:12 PM, khunjeff said:

 

I must pass this fascinating bit of information to my many Chinese-American friends who are married to non-Chinese 🙄

 

Don't forget to add they don't live in Wigwams like all other Americans.

[MicroB]

On 6/20/2024 at 4:25 PM, NorthernRyland said:

Fair enough I would say they integrated here far better than in the West, however I can't always tell who is Chinese here or not and how they view themselves. I do however see Thai people with Chinese shrines on a regular basis, people who have been here for hundreds of years probably.

 

The question is, are they racist against Thai's and only marry other Thai-Chinese? 

 

Actually I know a man here from a Chinese family that fled communist China but I would never know he was Chinese, he only speaks Thai now but he's a first generation immigrant. Key is that he didn't have a Chinese community where he settled in Thailand.

 

🤔

 

So much going on there. You accuse the Chinese of being universally racist, but to you, all Thai people look the same. You remark on Thai people visiting Chinese shrines, but not on Thai people visiting a temple dedicated to a man from Nepal, nor Churches where the congragation follows a carpenter from Nazareth.

 

You also allegedly met a Chinese man who must live in the one place in Thailand with no ethnically Chinese people.

 

 

[Cereal]

On 6/19/2024 at 2:00 PM, youngster30uk said:

A lot of the money from these zero dollar tours does not enter Thailand and does not benefit Thailand in any way. A chinese person would pay a chinese tour company, all the money stays in China, then they are taken to chinese businesses in Thailand all the money goes back to china

Thais taking foreigner to their 'Family' business is bringing money to the Thai economy, they are completely different situations

You are absolutely right about this. It's all import and export leakage. Relatively little money actually makes its way into the Thai economy and the huge majority of jobs that are created are low end hotel positions. Which again, do little to help the Thai economy.