Living the Thai life: Kingdom rolls out red carpet for big spenders

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of Feel Free Travel

 

By Bob Scott

 

Thailand is upping the ante in its tourism game, spotlighting the allure of luxury and high-spending travellers to power up the economy post-pandemic.

 

Known for its warm hospitality, stunning landscapes, and world-class attractions, the nation is seeing a surge in plush hotels and branded properties to cater to this elite crowd.

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) set its sights on affluent tourists, primarily professionals earning over US$60,000 (2.05 million baht) annually.

 

These big spenders splash out more than 6,000-7,000 baht daily, far surpassing the average tourist spend of 4,200 baht per day or 120,000 baht per trip. This exclusive club is largely made up of couples, families, and LGBTQ visitors.

 

TAT’s Deputy Governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, revealed that these segments contributed a hefty 40-50% of last year’s 2 trillion baht in tourism revenue.

 

However, while basking in success, private sector voices are urging the government to tackle infrastructure and supply chain issues to sustain the competitive edge in luxury travel.

 

The US and South America have been identified as growing sources of luxury travellers looking for extended stays, while China, Australia, and New Zealand remain key short-haul markets, said Siripakorn.

 

“We’re promoting Thailand as an affordable luxury destination with exclusive experiences under budget, unmatched by other hotspots.”

 

Siripakorn also noted the impact of Michelin-approved eateries elevating the fine dining scene for luxe tourists.

 

 

“Many tourists have saved for years to create magical moments in Thailand.”

 

A focus on sustainable activities is driving luxury tourists towards responsible travel experiences, a trend gaining traction globally.

 

To lure even more premium tourists, TAT is teaming up with US luxury travel advisor Virtuoso and discussing a chic new city guidebook with Louis Vuitton for the upscale European market. Plans are also afoot to make waves at the International Luxury Travel Mart in France.

 

In the world of luxe retail, Central Retail Corporation Plc (CRC)’s Piyawan Leelasompop sees huge potential in Thailand’s world-class shopping centres. A boost in luxury sales, particularly from Middle Eastern shoppers, hints at Thailand’s potential as a leading luxury tourism hub.

 

Yet, with stiff competition from Hong Kong and Singapore due to their lower import taxes, Piyawan advocates for tax cuts to woo more international tourists and keep locals shopping at home.

 

With an ambitious target of welcoming 9 million Chinese tourists next year, a resurgence in Chinese luxury shoppers, previously top consumers before the pandemic, is on the horizon. Economic shifts, including Beijing’s push for domestic spending and anticipated US tariff hikes on Chinese goods, remain pivotal factors, says Piyawan.

 

The luxury travel sector also finds promise in wellness offerings. Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks, noted Thailand’s wellness economy ranked 24th globally in 2022, with 22.4% of its 1.2 trillion baht market stemming from wellness tourism.

 

Phuket, in particular, shines as a wellness beacon, offering holistic health programmes and housing international hospitals and resorts.

 

Krabi, famous for its natural allure and upscale hotels, presents additional opportunities to attract luxury guests. Chamnan Srisawat, President of the Tourism Council of Thailand, is investing in a cutting-edge wellness centre in Krabi and planning to expand his fleet of boats for premium tourist services.

 

Despite these sunny prospects, challenges loom. Siripakorn highlights the need for stronger tourism infrastructure, including enhanced safety, cleanliness, and language skills among workers. Chamnan echoes this, noting that while private operators are raring to deliver luxury, public amenities often lag behind. Taking cues from Japan’s impeccably designed facilities and stellar service could be the golden key to boosting Thailand’s pull with the luxury set.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-12-16

 

 

[bigt3116]

2 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

This exclusive club is largely made up of couples, families, and LGBTQ visitors.

 

And pray where do the stats for the LG(whatever they are today)Q come from ? Asking people at check in and immigration now are they? " You sir/madam/penguin/snowflake, how much do you intend to spend per day?"

 

[NE1]

another load of old cobblers.

[bkk6060]

13 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) set its sights on affluent tourists, primarily professionals earning over US$60,000 (2.05 million baht) annually.

People making this from western countries are mostly considered middle class.  They are not affluent or exclusive and probably seeking a non luxury vacation experience.

[quake]

5 minutes ago, NE1 said:

another load of old cobblers.

 

Well, at least they are consistent on that front. 

[ikke1959]

Big spenders will not coming in big numbers as the THB is  very expensive already, which makes Thailand extra more expensive

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand is upping the ante in its tourism game, spotlighting the allure of luxury and high-spending travellers to power up the economy post-pandemic.

Paint Pattaya walking street and Bangla road red so it looks like a red carpet?

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Big spenders will not coming in big numbers as the THB is  very expensive already, which makes Thailand extra more expensive

Big spenders aren't looking for trash...

[fredwiggy]

Again not realizing that those that spend that 4700 a day far outnumber those that spend more, 100 to 1.

[Ben Zioner]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

These big spenders splash out more than 6,000-7,000 baht daily, far surpassing the average tourist spend of 4,200 baht per day or 120,000 baht per trip. This exclusive club is largely made up of couples, families, and LGBTQ visitors.

I suppose that these numbers don't include accomodation.?

[lordgrinz]

If I was a "high-spending traveler", the last place on Earth I would be coming to is to Thailand. 

[eddyod]

14 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

 

And pray where do the stats for the LG(whatever they are today)Q come from ? Asking people at check in and immigration now are they? " You sir/madam/penguin/snowflake, how much do you intend to spend per day?"

 

That happened to me when I was recently flying out of Surabaya. A gov't person interviewed me with those type of questions.

[impulse]

36 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

If I was a "high-spending traveler", the last place on Earth I would be coming to is to Thailand. 

 

I love Thailand, warts and all. 

 

But when I think about inviting my well healed family to join me on one of my monthly visits, I wonder how they'd feel about the homeless people we'd step over, the dildo merchants we'd pass, and the "aromas" we'd experience in between all the high end opportunities to spend their sweaty tourist money.

 

Thailand needs to develop a pristine area (there are lots of them, but poor access) and keep the standards, instead of pandering to the lowest end of the budget spectrum.  But that's never going to happen if they aspire to $60K tourists spending 6,000-7,000 baht a day.  They need something more along the lines of Fantasy Island where a plane, helicopter, or yacht is the only way in and out...  To keep the likes of yours truly out.

 

[Yagoda]

Ill confine my big spending for occasional trips to Nana.

[lordgrinz]

24 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I love Thailand, warts and all. 

 

But when I think about inviting my well healed family to join me on one of my monthly visits, I wonder how they'd feel about the homeless people we'd step over, the dildo merchants we'd pass, and the "aromas" we'd experience in between all the high end opportunities to spend their sweaty tourist money.

 

Thailand needs to develop a pristine area (there are lots of them, but poor access) and keep the standards, instead of pandering to the lowest end of the budget spectrum.  But that's never going to happen if they aspire to $60K tourists spending 6,000-7,000 baht a day.  They need something more along the lines of Fantasy Island where a plane, helicopter, or yacht is the only way in and out...  To keep the likes of yours truly out.

 

 

They'd be better off embracing the low-end, and advertising it everywhere. Trying to chase a fountain of Gold could end up bankrupting them if it doesn't work out, and they would've already spent way too much trying attract them. Not worth the risk, they already have what they need to support the lower to middle-end of the spending crowd. In fact, it was working for years, they just need to do away with the nonsense of the ever changing immigration policies, paperwork, and harassment. 

[FritsSikkink]

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Big spenders will not coming in big numbers as the THB is  very expensive already, which makes Thailand extra more expensive

People with money don't' care about the expensive THB.

[MalcolmB]

The negative thai hating chorus is all over this thread.

 

Thailand does a great job appealing to all budgets, all ages and all nationalities from budget accommodation to five star luxury resorts and staffed beachfront pool villas.

 

Which is why Thailand is the most successful tourist destination on the planet. 
 

Funny that of all the countries in the world these haters have chosen to holiday and even live in Thailand and spend their spare time posting on a thai forum.

 

 

[impulse]

3 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Which is why Thailand is the most successful tourist destination on the planet. 

 

Not even close.  Not by revenue, not by body count, and certainly not by the quality of life of the people.

 

[lordgrinz]

13 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

People with money don't' care about the expensive THB.

 

They don't care about Thailand period, they know its the place that pedophiles, drunks, and old men go to find wives. It's not the domain of the Rich and Famous, and never will be.

[FritsSikkink]

2 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

They don't care about Thailand period, they know its the place that pedophiles, drunks, and old men go to find wives. It's not the domain of the Rich and Famous, and never will be.

Absolute BS. I have met quite a few of them: Boris Becker in his good times (multiple times), Jimmy White (multiple times), Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jimmy Page (comes here a lot). 

Maybe you should change the places where you go.

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, FritsSikkink said:

Absolute BS. I have met quite a few of them: Boris Becker in his good times (multiple times), Jimmy White (multiple times), Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jimmy Page (comes here a lot). 

Maybe you should change the places where you go.

There is a lot more people in the world than a "few" celebrities, Thailand is indeed known more for its sins than anything else.

[impulse]

24 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

People with money don't' care about the expensive THB.

 

Agreed.  All they'd have to do to prove that is to announce a Taylor Swift concert and see how quickly the local airports run out of private jet parking reservations.

 

36 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

They'd be better off embracing the low-end, and advertising it everywhere. Trying to chase a fountain of Gold could end up bankrupting them if it doesn't work out, and they would've already spent way too much trying attract them.

 

I don't see that as mutually exclusive.  That bell can't be unrung in some places, but it doesn't have to be that way in future development.  At some level of spending the wear and tear on the infrastructure (and the environment) exceeds the benefits of the revenue. 

 

There are many examples of tourist venues that started out as meccas for backpackers that upgraded over time.

 

[mdr224]

Thailand is where people go to be cheap though. They think their country is japan

[EVENKEEL]

I'll bet Bob got the red carpet when he returned.

[sqwakvfr]

$60,000+ is now "affluent"?  I earn over $60,000 per year and i have never even close to being "affluent".  I would recommend for TAT to "aim higher".  

[Nid_Noi]

« RICH and Famous » have their own playgrounds where they can dock their yachts and parked their jets. Among these playgrounds are West Palm Beach, St.Barth and a few other secluded Caribbean islands. Add a few Mediterranean hot spots, Ibiza, St.Tropez, Monaco, Costa Smeralda, Cinque Terre

as well as a few other private Pacific atolls and motus surrounding Bora Bora.

For years Thailand has been promoting cheap vacations, all included and now it’s difficult to reverse the trend.

[daveAustin]

Just treat ALL incomers with respect irregardless of expenditure… okay maybe not the Russians and Chinese 😜 

[G_Money]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

I love Thailand, warts and all. 

 

But when I think about inviting my well healed family to join me on one of my monthly visits, I wonder how they'd feel about the homeless people we'd step over, the dildo merchants we'd pass, and the "aromas" we'd experience in between all the high end opportunities to spend their sweaty tourist money.

 

Thailand needs to develop a pristine area (there are lots of them, but poor access) and keep the standards, instead of pandering to the lowest end of the budget spectrum.  But that's never going to happen if they aspire to $60K tourists spending 6,000-7,000 baht a day.  They need something more along the lines of Fantasy Island where a plane, helicopter, or yacht is the only way in and out...  To keep the likes of yours truly out.

 

 

“the dildo merchants we'd pass”

 

LOL…good one.

[impulse]

1 minute ago, G_Money said:

“the dildo merchants we'd pass”

 

LOL…good one.

 

My nieces and nephews all have kids of an age where I can't imagine explaining to them what those are.  Especially the hot pink ones that are over 12" long...  Which makes it uncomfortable for a family walking in most touristy areas. 

 

[Sydebolle]

These big spenders splash out more than 6,000-7,000 baht daily, far surpassing the average tourist spend of 4,200 baht per day or 120,000 baht per trip. This exclusive club is largely made up of couples, families, and LGBTQ visitors.

 

TAT’s Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, revealed that this exclusive club, largely made up of couples, families, and LGBTQ visitors, contributed  a hefty 40-50% of last year’s 2 trillion baht in tourism revenue.

TAT’s Siripakorn Cheawsamoot might be delighted to learn, that there is another segment spending obscene amounts of money, namely the upper crust of retiree residents. Some brainless goons in the Finance Ministry floated the idea of taxing retirees on their entire assets they accrued over 45 years of working - resulting in tens of thousands of the better-off to move on. In my circle of friends some 15% to 20% are ready to move away the minute that taxation dream becomes Thai reality; they correctly state that their savings has nothing to do with Thailand as earned, taxed and saved before moving here. 

The semi-divine simply forgot, that non-Thais of any walk of life, have moved at least once in their lifetime and, wonder over wonder, are able to do that anytime again. There is sun, fun and nothing to do in many other countries with easier entry conditions such as visa, asset ownership and taxation! 

Meanwhile Siripakorn, "looking" after Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, will have to live with the fact, that his colleague running South Asia and China is considerably luckier - as far as arrivals are concerned - they come in by the millions and leave a trickling small trail - per capita - compared to the rest of the world. 

Siripakorn's segment faces two obstacles; one is the immigration under the police under the Ministry of Interior and they - quite obviously - never ever spoke to each other. The thorny way to a long(er) term tourist visa, for instance the entire winter of the Northern hemisphere is a ballistic journey of bureaucracy, photocopies duly signed in only blue ink, photographs of the applicant who may not smile whatsoever on the shots etc. etc. etc.  To be ahead of others and remain competitive in the anticipated luxury travel market, Thailand needs to ease some bureaucratic obstacles, upgrade the infrastructure and supply chains - all of which remain persistent weaknesses with no attempt for change in sight. 

Absolutely unknown remains also, why a tourist cannot open a bank account and get an ATM card. There is zero risk for the bank as the ATM only splurges money as long as there is money on the account. But have it your way and carry on dreaming - or get real and welcome the 21st century of tourism business!