It's grim out there.

[bob smith]

yesterday I went for a walk in a major tourist hotspot.

All I could see around me were empty bars, restaurants, pubs etc..

 

Not to mention all the boarded up buildings, for sale signs, call to rent signs etc.

Establishments seem to be closing just as fast as they open!

This place is famous worldwide and it is on it's knees.

 

The Thai economy must be in dire straits at the moment.

I was on the blower to a pal of mine who lives really close to another famous tourist hotspot and he said it's the same there too.

 

I have also noticed a steep increase in the prices at certain establishments.

170 baht for a large local beer!

the retail price is between 55-60 baht..

what is going on??

 

The touts also seem extra pushy at the minute.

one tuk-tuk driver tried to physically usher me into his car for a ride.

you can see the worry and angst in their eyes.

maybe some days they don't make anything..

 

It almost makes me feel sorry for them, but then I remember how they treat foreigners when the going is good so it's no wonder they aren't coming back!

about the only place in Thailand that seems to be doing well is Phuket.

but for the life of me I can't figure out why!

 

bob.

[2baht]

Phuket is highly over rated!

[bob smith]

1 minute ago, 2baht said:

Phuket is highly over rated!

I agree.

 

But the tourists seem the love it!

 

bob.

[2baht]

Just now, bob smith said:

I agree.

 

But the tourists seem the love it!

 

bob.

Short time! 😏

[Fat is a type of crazy]

Jomtiem is nice at the moment. It is low season though. Nice summery atmosphere. People out and about. Beaches nice to walk on but sadly cannot swim. Happy place to be. This foreigner has been treated really well thanks. 

Phuket is ok. Many different parts to it. Do you mean middle of Patong or on a lovely beach in the east or somewhere in Phuket town. 

Have a nice day. 

[bob smith]

3 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Jomtiem is nice at the moment. It is low season though. Nice summery atmosphere. People out and about. Beaches nice to walk on but sadly cannot swim. Happy place to be. This foreigner has been treated really well thanks. 

Phuket is ok. Many different parts to it. Do you mean middle of Patong or on a lovely beach in the east or somewhere in Phuket town. 

Have a nice day. 

Tourists seem to love Phuket.

 

Not sure why though.

 

It's expensive and full of thugs.

 

bob.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

Just now, bob smith said:

Tourists seem to love Phuket.

 

Not sure why though.

 

It's expensive and full of thugs.

 

bob.

Last time I was there I did have my fill after a week and a bit and found Khao Lak a more pleasant relaxing option and much better bang for your buck to be fair. 

[MalcolmB]

15 minutes ago, bob smith said:

It almost makes me feel sorry for them, but then I remember how they treat foreigners when the going is good so it's no wonder they aren't coming back!

You seem to be focussed on the sex tourism side of things rather than the overall tourism which is going fine.

A bit of a stretch to claim Thai tourism is “grim” because Bobs local brothel and bar is quiet.

 

why not name where you were? Why the “mystery”? 
If your story is true, which I doubt because you are known to make up stories, I guess that you are talking about Nana ?

[save the frogs]

it's AN horror comedy hour.

 

[stoner]

5 minutes ago, bob smith said:

It's expensive and full of thugs.

 

i live in phuket bob. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

24 minutes ago, bob smith said:

yesterday I went for a walk in a major tourist hotspot.

All I could see around me were empty bars, restaurants, pubs etc..

 

Not to mention all the boarded up buildings, for sale signs, call to rent signs etc.

Establishments seem to be closing just as fast as they open!

This place is famous worldwide and it is on it's knees.

 

The Thai economy must be in dire straits at the moment.

I was on the blower to a pal of mine who lives really close to another famous tourist hotspot and he said it's the same there too.

 

I have also noticed a steep increase in the prices at certain establishments.

170 baht for a large local beer!

the retail price is between 55-60 baht..

what is going on??

 

The touts also seem extra pushy at the minute.

one tuk-tuk driver tried to physically usher me into his car for a ride.

you can see the worry and angst in their eyes.

maybe some days they don't make anything..

 

It almost makes me feel sorry for them, but then I remember how they treat foreigners when the going is good so it's no wonder they aren't coming back!

about the only place in Thailand that seems to be doing well is Phuket.

but for the life of me I can't figure out why!

 

bob.

Crikey, Mr Doom&Gloom at it again. 

 

You have many weak followers here, glass half empty types, who read your posts and convince themselves that the country is DOOMED. 

 

It's far from it, I'm happy as Larry, always have been, wouldn't live anywhere else. 

 

 

[bob smith]

Just now, stoner said:

 

i live in phuket bob. 

my condolences. 

 

no wonder you're always stoned! 😄 

 

bob.

[bob smith]

Just now, SAFETY FIRST said:

Crikey, Mr Doom&Gloom at it again. 

 

You have many weak followers here, glass half empty types, who read your posts and convince themselves that the country is DOOMED. 

 

 

 

I say what I see, SAFETY.

 

No more, no less!

 

bob.

[SAFETY FIRST]

Just now, bob smith said:

I say what I see, SAFETY.

 

No more, no less!

 

bob.

Get some glasses mate 👀

[bob smith]

Just now, SAFETY FIRST said:

Get some glasses mate 👀

I don't need glasses. 

 

my eyes work just fine!

 

bob.

[Prubangboy]

Nimman, Chiang Mai, is heaving. There's never an off-season here. 

[bob smith]

3 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

Nimman, Chiang Mai, is heaving.

never heard of it.

 

what do you have up there??

 

bob.

[Prubangboy]

Tons of restaurants and Chinese tourists. Weed shops four to the block. Chinese love weed.

 

No women, but there are handjob places.

[bob smith]

Just now, Prubangboy said:

Tons of restaurants and Chinese tourists. Weed shops four to the block. Chinese love weed.

...what do you think will happen to all those weed shops once the government reclassify cannabis as a narcotic?

 

bob.

[Olmate]

Horrors bobby baby, justbattle thru them. You have done it many times before according  to your freeky fables, either that or ring the fukarwi hotline! 🥺

[Prubangboy]

4 minutes ago, bob smith said:

...what do you think will happen to all those weed shops 

 

Other popular and useless Nimman businesses:  expensive straw hat stores, 150 baht durian ice cream cones, bakeries selling only one thing like chocolate chip cookies, toast restaurants, aroma therapy.

 

The weed stores will be replaced with something like that. Not much stays vacant here for long.

 

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, Prubangboy said:

Other popular and useless Nimman businesses:  expensive straw hat stores, 150 baht durian ice cream cones, bakeries selling only one thing like chocolate chip cookies, toast restaurants, aroma therapy.

 

The weed stores will be replaced with something like that. Not much stays vacant here for long.

 

But if you truck on down to the Moonmung/Loi Krow area of Chiang Mai, about half the shops are locked and abandoned.

Guesthouses, bars and restaurants many closed, those open mainly empty, usually more staff than customers.

[bkk6060]

Pattaya is still busy.  With any shops/bars that have closed,  new complexes have opened.  3rd road has Several new venues clubs or live music. 

Several larger bar complexes off 2nd and 3rd road.

My opinion the places that have closed is because they were old lousy businesses run by idiots.  

 

Another place is near the Dolphin circle across from Terminal 21.  The entire corner is boarded up they are building a large bar, restauarnt, shop complex.

Naklua is seeing several projects ongoing.

[Prubangboy]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

But if you truck on down to the Moonmung/Loi Krow area of Chiang Mai, about half the shops are locked and abandoned.

 

True. a lot of craft and silver biz never came back from Covid. A real cultural loss. 

 

Such stores do well in Nimman. You have to be where the customers who buy that stuff are. In general, the old Night Market seems to be on life support.

[FritsSikkink]

36 minutes ago, bob smith said:

I say what I see, SAFETY.

 

No more, no less!

 

bob.

7 in the morning is a bit early for things to open up.

[bob smith]

2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

7 in the morning is a bit early for things to open up.

...if you even bothered to read my OP Frits, then you would know that this post is talking about what happened YESTERDAY!

 

Project Manager...Really?

 

bob.

[frank83628]

58 minutes ago, bob smith said:

yesterday I went for a walk in a major tourist hotspot.

All I could see around me were empty bars, restaurants, pubs etc..

 

Not to mention all the boarded up buildings, for sale signs, call to rent signs etc.

Establishments seem to be closing just as fast as they open!

This place is famous worldwide and it is on it's knees.

 

The Thai economy must be in dire straits at the moment.

I was on the blower to a pal of mine who lives really close to another famous tourist hotspot and he said it's the same there too.

 

I have also noticed a steep increase in the prices at certain establishments.

170 baht for a large local beer!

the retail price is between 55-60 baht..

what is going on??

 

The touts also seem extra pushy at the minute.

one tuk-tuk driver tried to physically usher me into his car for a ride.

you can see the worry and angst in their eyes.

maybe some days they don't make anything..

 

It almost makes me feel sorry for them, but then I remember how they treat foreigners when the going is good so it's no wonder they aren't coming back!

about the only place in Thailand that seems to be doing well is Phuket.

but for the life of me I can't figure out why!

 

bob.

what tourist spot were you n your mate in?

 

Koh Tao is busy, was rammed all throughout mid Dec until May, it quietened slightly but certainly not deserted like what youre seeing.

[bob smith]

1 minute ago, frank83628 said:

what tourist spot were you n your mate in?

 

Koh Tao is busy, was rammed all throughout mid Dec until May, it quietened slightly but certainly not deserted like what youre seeing.

You couldn't pay me enough to visit that hole.

 

I value my life too much!

 

bob.

[FritsSikkink]

7 minutes ago, bob smith said:

...if you even bothered to read my OP Frits, then you would know that this post is talking about what happened YESTERDAY!

 

Project Manager...Really?

 

bob.

 

If you bothered to look at the time, you would have seen that i posted at 9.30

Yesterday, didn't have 7 o'clock?

 

That's why there are project managers as some people can't read or understand things properly.

[frank83628]

6 minutes ago, bob smith said:

You couldn't pay me enough to visit that hole.

 

I value my life too much!

 

bob.

good, nobody invited you.

 

, you're probably too old to come anyway, there isn't much in the way of hookers either, so nobody for you to mix with