Japan dethrones Thailand as top tourist spot

[Hawaiian]

3 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Japan has very strong border controls ... and does not allow mass cheap tourism from the likes of China, India, African continent etc 

 

THAILAND is basically the holly grail for cheap mass tourism. It's the only country in the world that allows Indians in visa free. MASS CHEAP TOURISM

 

The whole obsession in Thailand with an arbitary number of visitors is ridiculous. If USA, UK, Australia opened up to cheap mass tourism from India and China they would get millions more visitors, but they want QUALITY TOURISTS, not cheap tourists who spend nothing and do nothing but create carnage and turn away quality tourists. 

 

Thailand is a mess and awash with cheap tourists. 

Being an economic power with a diverse economy, Japan can afford to be choosy  about the caliber of tourist they welcome. 

[NanLaew]

15 hours ago, ezflip said:

If you are exchanging US dollars or Euros, sure. Almost cheaper than Thailand.

 

It's something that Thailand does forget. Much more tourists are attracted to places that are cheaper and offers more.

 

Or maybe, like the other doom and gloom merchants that swarm any news that's vaguely detrimental to Thailand like fleas on a dog, you've all simply been here too long?

[hotchilli]

37 minutes ago, steven100 said:

and cheats lair's and scammers.  It must be heaven going to a place where that isn't the norm or part of the culture like here.  

Which is why quality tourists go elsewhere

[NanLaew]

15 hours ago, Flyguy330 said:

Just got back from a 1 week skiing holiday in Hokkaido. Great snow, great food, but very expensive and bitterly cold - as in arctic. But, it snowed every day, and that's what we went for. It's guarenteed there, unlike the Alps which have been unreliable lately. It's a place for serious skiers though. Beginners should probably avoid. Too cold.

Yes, my skiing trip there was fantastic as well, but all a bit anodyne. The European apres ski wins it for me.

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Or maybe, like the other doom and gloom merchants that swarm any news that's vaguely detrimental to Thailand like fleas on a dog, you've all simply been here too long?

 

Thailand hit it's peak years ago, now the shiny turd is on its way down, the endless gaudy temples and cheap trinkets aren't going to save them going forward. They need to start working on public safety, corruption, and pollution.

[NanLaew]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

You need more than Walking streets, bars and temples.

...and massage parlors and jet skis and floating markets and flying with gibbons and posting with idiots.

[mdr224]

Japan gets the kind of tourists that thailands government is trying to attract but cant because they allow chinese and russians to freeflow in

[DonniePeverley]

11 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

Being an economic power with a diverse economy, Japan can afford to be choosy  about the caliber of tourist they welcome. 

 

 

So can Thailand. Thailand has the weather and much more natural beauty. 

 

Thailand choses an addiction to cheap mass tourism. It could easily become a 'Barbados' and work itself up to a quality tourist destination.

 

Unfortunately in it's panic after covid it has opened up to the world, removed all restrictions, and has destroyed the country in an ugly way. Yet they like to claim they have to so many visitors as though it's to be congratulated. If you invite people to your country who don't spend much then it's not much of a celebration.

 

They have destroyed the country with the enviromental impact, the pollution, the mess, dirt, masses of people, ecological damage. 

 

Japan doesn't have the weather or the beach of a Thailand, yet maintains quality tourism. Malaysia does too to an extent (At least they don't let indians enter free for all). 

[DonniePeverley]

Just now, mdr224 said:

Japan gets the kind of tourists that thailands government is trying to attract but cant because they allow chinese and russians to freeflow in

 

 

I don't even think they are trying to attract quality tourists anymore, they have given up on it. 

 

Revenue from tourism is down, so the Thai logic is to get more people to come in to make up for the shortfall - not realising you are digging an ever bigger hole for yourself, as you are just inviting in cheap tourists, as the quality spending tourists leave. 

 

Ex PM Sretta was a disaster. The new PM i doubt will change anything, as more than likely the decisions came from elsewhere. And none of them probably actually see the situation on the ground to even care. 

[john donson]

the air is clean there?

 

for radiation sake, I would never go there

 

fuki<deleted>ta still releasing right...

[DLock]

Thailand is what it is. It will not, and cannot change.

 

Trying to compete at Japan's level is ridiculous. 

 

Thailand will stay with what it has - beaches, temples, cheap food and entertainment...and sooner or later, casino's.

 

They are different...not same same.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, JimHuaHin said:

Thailand is slowly falling behind the times, sinking further back in time, and soon maybe at the bottom of many rankings in ASEAN.

 

Move forward into the future Thailand, or sink back into the dark ages.

Oh wow, are things really that bad over in Hua Hin? Just last week I read that your airport will be going "international" next year.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Other than the lack of new selling points, none of those things exist in Thailand.

 

By claiming there's no culture, friendliness and attractions here, you are leading the pack on the Thai bash this morning. Have you thought about getting out more?

[JoeyMac]

Locals in Japan are in uproar regarding the sheer volume of tourists. 

 

The same scenes will come to Thailand too, especially in light of how Russians have basically started to live here and raised rent prices so locals are forced out. 

 

Japan though attracts high spend tourists from Europe, Americas. Thailand has opened up to Indians ... which is rather grim. 

[Aussie999]

40 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

Why not?  We have that in Hawaii.  Snow on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa while it is sunny (80 to 85F) and warm at lower elevations.

this is about Japan, if you want Hawaii snow, go to Hawaii, where there are no ski resorts, or ski lifts... have fun

[pomchop]

16 hours ago, Flyguy330 said:

Just got back from a 1 week skiing holiday in Hokkaido. Great snow, great food, but very expensive and bitterly cold - as in arctic. But, it snowed every day, and that's what we went for. It's guarenteed there, unlike the Alps which have been unreliable lately. It's a place for serious skiers though. Beginners should probably avoid. Too cold.

i was there in august and it was brutally hot and humid...also had a typhon come through and poured rain for several days...it was so hot that a ten minute  walk had u dripping wet with sweat like an april day in bangkok.  Not pleasant at all.  Found overall prices to be not so bad for basic type restaurants and mall food courts.

[lordgrinz]

5 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

By claiming there's no culture, friendliness and attractions here, you are leading the pack on the Thai bash this morning. Have you thought about getting out more?

 

Out of Thailand more? Yes.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

I've been here over 6 years, and the beach was nice, but after you've seen a few large temples and driven around a bit, it all looks the same and is very boring, especially if you choose to live in Isaan. Nothing to do besides gardening, if that's your thing. Mine are hunting and fishing. No hunting here and the fishing isn't good besides private lakes and pay to fish. It's a nice place to visit, but besides that, if you don't live near the beaches, and love that thing, it's no different than any other country place that's boring, like the US Midwest.

 

Feeling trapped by your life's choices maybe? Maybe give Japan a shot, I hear it's marvelous.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

and cheats lair's and scammers.  It must be heaven going to a place where that isn't the norm or part of the culture like here.  

There are cheats lair's and scammers (sic) in pretty much every country. They also tend to prey on a certain demographic or locale. From what I hear, barstools are a really risky place to be.

[Phillip9]

39 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

While part of Japan, Okinawa has its own unique cuisine and culture. 

That is true of every region in Japan.  The people, food, and culture of each region are quite different.  It's a big diverse country, and not a mono culture like most westerners think.

[Hawaiian]

6 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

By claiming there's no culture, friendliness and attractions here, you are leading the pack on the Thai bash this morning. Have you thought about getting out more?

Perennial complainers tend to sit in their corner and mope.

[NanLaew]

47 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

57 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

I was just back in Texas last month, and a soon as I got there I was home again. If I could I would be there right now but re establishing again isn't easy, and will take some time. This has never been home. I will move one last time back there, and when I'm there, can make trips hunting and fishing again anywhere I want throughout the states.

Expand  

 

Yup, went back in April and enjoyed driving through a few different states, every road trip was a delight and not a single issue with any other drivers in the almost month long stay. The clean air, laid back atmosphere, lack of crowds, and cooler weather was intoxicating!

 

Really looking forward to the next installment of @lordgrinz & @fredwiggy's Excellent Adventure. Hopefully, it will feature Japan?

[steven100]

5 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

From what I hear, barstools are a really risky place to be.

not if you ignore that bs or even tell the person to go away...   as I do. 

[lordgrinz]

3 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Really looking forward to the next installment of @lordgrinz & @fredwiggy's Excellent Adventure. Hopefully, it will feature Japan?

 

You can read all about it from your barstool, don't drink too much while waiting though, we wouldn't want you to hit your head and come to your senses.🤪

[lordgrinz]

8 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

Perennial complainers tend to sit in their corner and mope.

 

...or just maybe Thailand is the overhyped shiny turd that it is.

[kinyara]

Must admit I didn't realise Japan was a mass tourist market attracting even more numbers than hopelessly tourist overrun Thailand

[MalcolmB]

59 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Thailand is a mess and awash with cheap tourists. 

Clown comments from an anti thai clown.

Thailand still attracted millions off tourists and is successful. 

[Hawaiian]

19 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

this is about Japan, if you want Hawaii snow, go to Hawaii, where there are no ski resorts, or ski lifts... have fun

I just happen to live in Hawaii.  Lived here all my life.  I've been all over the Pacific, but never to Australia and have no desire to go there.

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, Hawaiian said:

I just happen to live in Hawaii.  Lived here all my life.  I've been all over the Pacific, but never to Australia and have no desire to go there.

 

I'm jealous, my dream is to live in Kauai, as soon as I win the lottery....LOL

[Hawaiian]

24 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

this is about Japan, if you want Hawaii snow, go to Hawaii, where there are no ski resorts, or ski lifts... have fun

Good! No ski bums here.