Khao San Road Feels Pinch as European Tourists Hold Off on Bookings - video

[snoop1130]

 

Bangkok's celebrated Khao San Road, long a hub of backpacker activity, faces a slump in hotel reservations just ahead the festive season. Khaosan Business Association President Sanga Ruangwattanakul attributes the decline to European tourists' uncertainty amidst the persisting Russia-Ukraine conflict.

 

Coinciding with a wider downturn, reservations for the key dates of December 30 to December 31 have decreased to approximate 60%, falling from last year's 70%. European visitors, predominantly from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, usually contribute to 80% of Khao San's tourist demographic, with a lesser proportion hailing from other Asian countries.

 

In spite of the disappointing figures, Sanga remains positive, anticipating an influx of bookings closer to the festive period. Khao San Road, staying true to its energetic character, will host a New Year’s Eve countdown that aims to attract between 50,000 to 70,000 tourists. On an average, each tourist spends around 1,000 baht thereby potentially injecting over 70 million baht into the local economy.

 

 

Christmas festivities will commence on December 24 with a splendid display of Christmas lights. Sanga is optimistic about Khao San's enduring appeal as a tourist hot-spot, although he admits that sales of alcohol, a significant contributor to revenues, haven’t been as buoyant. A lack of spending from Thai visitors, conscious of financial constraints, is a factor dimming economic vibrancy.

 

To circumvent these financial challenges, Sanga proposes government measures to stimulate consumer spending, including tax breaks through initiatives such as Easy E-Receipt or the Khon La Khreung co-payment subsidy. He also supports plans to enhance revenues by focusing on the 5F industries — food, film, festivals, Thai boxing, and fashion — to attract more global tourists to Thailand.

 

Despite current obstacles, hopes remain high for Khao San Road as the New Year’s Eve countdown closes in. The belief is that the celebrated strip will once again buzz with the vibrancy and dynamism that make it an essential stop on every traveller's itinerary.

 

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-11-25

 

 

[ikke1959]

Always something to blame, but the real reasons are the polluted air, expensive THB the alcohol restrictions, more expensive tickets, double pricing and standards, and so on.... but nothing to with the Russia Ukraine war or the Israeli war.. Thailand should stop finding excuses .. They ruined the tourism sector several years ago already and it is very difficult to rebuilt it as no investments are made, of course in words but not in deeds..Welcome tourist with a smile and treat them as guests instead as potential criminals

[RSD1]

Unbelievable, how could bookings be down? Can't understand why somebody wouldn't want to fly 12 hours just to hang around in one of Southeast Asia's biggest and most expensive backpacker slums? It just doesn't make any sense that they aren't coming. I don't buy it!

[spermwhale]

6 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Always something to blame, but the real reasons are the polluted air, expensive THB the alcohol restrictions, more expensive tickets, double pricing and standards, and so on.... but nothing to with the Russia Ukraine war or the Israeli war.. Thailand should stop finding excuses .. They ruined the tourism sector several years ago already and it is very difficult to rebuilt it as no investments are made, of course in words but not in deeds..Welcome tourist with a smile and treat them as guests instead as potential criminals

Not sure what planet you're living on but I've seen no change in how I'm treated as a tourist. It's always tops. The Thais are always so friendly. Bangkok has had pollution for decades and everything is still extremely cheap compared to the West. Prices have not risen as dramatically in Thailand and you can still stay in a four star hotel for around $100. Try to find that in Europe or the US or Australia. 

[Mburo]

Just weeks ago we were told that it was going to be a bumper year for tourists. What happened ? 

[Jack Hammer]

It is a s@@t hole of a place.  Much nicer places and locations to stay.

[baansgr]

Is there still 300 baht rooms and can you get a beer and a bird for £10  after buying your fake degree? Might be worth a visit if I can

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Bangkok's celebrated Khao San Road, long a hub of backpacker activity, faces a slump in hotel reservations just ahead the festive season. Khaosan Business Association President Sanga Ruangwattanakul attributes the decline to European tourists' uncertainty amidst the persisting Russia-Ukraine conflict.

So why are Phuket, Pattaya doing so well?

[Can samui]

They destroyed the soul and ambiance of the area with their massive redo a couple of years ago. They killed the golden goose.

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, spermwhale said:

Not sure what planet you're living on but I've seen no change in how I'm treated as a tourist. It's always tops. The Thais are always so friendly. Bangkok has had pollution for decades and everything is still extremely cheap compared to the West. Prices have not risen as dramatically in Thailand and you can still stay in a four star hotel for around $100. Try to find that in Europe or the US or Australia. 

 

And you don't mention what's on offer in Vietnam, Indonesia / Bali....

[BritManToo]

Thought Thailand was expecting the most tourists ever?

High season just started, and now there's a problem!

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

So why are Phuket, Pattaya doing so well?

War in the Ukraine probably.

[gearbox]

Bangkok looks pretty busy to me right now, Iconsiam was packed with foreigners. Lots of Chinese too, didn't see too many Indians.

[BL1958]

Khao San's legend was built on 80 baht hotels, cheap food and beer. It was where you could meet up with other intrepid travellers and  book onward travel. The legend doesn't actually exist anymore, what you experience today is just the Thai love for the tourist baht. Trust me Khao San isn't what it use to be. For the tourist it is just a place to get that selfie. 

[RSD1]

40 minutes ago, BL1958 said:

Khao San's legend was built on 80 baht hotels, cheap food and beer. It was where you could meet up with other intrepid travellers and  book onward travel. The legend doesn't actually exist anymore, what you experience today is just the Thai love for the tourist baht. Trust me Khao San isn't what it use to be. For the tourist it is just a place to get that selfie. 

When I first went there over 30 years ago, there were only a few open air bars, no loud music, a few good used bookstores and mainly I used to go down there to watch Hollywood movies being played from VHS tapes on 19 inch TV screens in restaurants while I sat there eating 30 Baht chicken fried rice and 20 Baht banana shakes. The whole area was quiet and chilled. No in your face nightlife. Nothing pretentious. Those were the days.

[Dave0206]

If the numbers are down easy solution charge the ones who do come double 

[Hanuman2547]

Khao San Road is also no longer the cheap place it used to be.  Prices have risen considerably over the past decade.  

[shackleton]

Don't worry by the time Christmas comes Khao San Road will be packed with Tourists best ever numbers for 2024/25

The Thai Tourist Board will ensure this 💰 

[Clo237]

Way too many aggressive sales people all over the road. Place became horrible after they redid the road, pushed all the bars into the street and filled the tiny walking area with people waving signs in your face. Not surprised people don’t want to go there. 

[Grusa]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

focusing on the 5F industries — food, film, festivals, Thai boxing, and fashion

???*?

[KireB]

4 hours ago, Jack Hammer said:

It is a s@@t hole of a place.  Much nicer places and locations to stay.

Weren't you young once? Sour old dudes always complain about everything. Khao San is lovely, a real travel hub with a lot of bars and pretty girls from around the world. I loved it when I was in my 30's, a couple decades ago. 

[Taboo2]

Can someone tell me why is Khaosan Road trying to damage your ear drums?  My God, I thought I was in Saigon on that noisy walking street,  where you go deaf if you do not protect your ears.

 

It is too loud! 

 

I want to hear the person I am sitting down with to have a drink!

[Umlungu]

3 hours ago, Can samui said:

They destroyed the soul and ambiance of the area with their massive redo a couple of years ago. They killed the golden goose.

Correct. I visited in the early eighties and it was a great place for information, meeting genuine travellers (not the selfie generation), getting a fake stident ID card and airticket bucket shops. Like all such places (too many to mention, Ubud/Bali etc etc) commercialism has destroyed it. Folks are finally realizing that it's just a trap living off its memory/history.  Stay away from it, I say, waste of time and money.

[Umlungu]

50 minutes ago, Grusa said:

???*?

Fai foxing.

[Umlungu]

3 hours ago, BL1958 said:

Khao San's legend was built on 80 baht hotels, cheap food and beer. It was where you could meet up with other intrepid travellers and  book onward travel. The legend doesn't actually exist anymore, what you experience today is just the Thai love for the tourist baht. Trust me Khao San isn't what it use to be. For the tourist it is just a place to get that selfie. 

Agree, you've summed it up perfectly.

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

TAT needs to start marketing Khao San to the Chinese and Indian travelers.

[kingstonkid]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Thought Thailand was expecting the most tourists ever?

High season just started, and now there's a problem!

Thailand is still going to have a tourist boom  High Season will be great.

 

28 minutes ago, Umlungu said:

Correct. I visited in the early eighties and it was a great place for information, meeting genuine travellers (not the selfie generation), getting a fake stident ID card and airticket bucket shops. Like all such places (too many to mention, Ubud/Bali etc etc) commercialism has destroyed it. Folks are finally realizing that it's just a trap living off its memory/history.  Stay away from it, I say, waste of time and money.

 

I agree. I never went there until the late 90s, but in those days, there were 3 places that every tourist had to go to at least once in a visit:  PANTIP plaza, PATPONG night market and Khaosan Road for the ambience, cheap beer, and fake IDs or diplomas. It was also, due to the backpackers, a great place to get cheap travel. 

 

Alas, time have changed. Pantip is no more; Patpong is a shell of what it was, and Khaosan is just a tourist trap.  Backpackers can now get better deals in other areas that are more accessible, like NANA. Cheap hotels are a dime a dozen, and you can book cheap fights online.  Just looking at the pictures I know I do not want to go there when there is anything happening.  The last time I was there, there were very few ways out. I would also not go to Patpong during Songkran. It has gotten ridiculous.

 

Why are Phuket and Pattaya going strong simply because they are not backpackers only?  They have entertainment for everyone, they have beaches. They are easy to walk around. 

 

Simple question what good things does Khaosan have that you can not find in China Town or NANA

 

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, gearbox said:

Bangkok looks pretty busy to me right now, Iconsiam was packed with foreigners. Lots of Chinese too, didn't see too many Indians.

Evading the cowboys?

[JemJem]

Is it just me, or do you folks also think that Khao San was a lot more fun, say between 2000 and 2010, than afterwards? Actually, once, there was a trip of mine in 2008 or 2009 where I stayed at Khao San entirely. Nearly 2 months, I think. 

 

Of course, some would say it was even more fun in the 90's, or even earlier. Possible. Too bad I never went to Khao San those times. 

[khunPer]

Airfares are relative high for a long trip from Europe to Bangkok and the currency exchange rate not in favour for budget travellers...