Travel Rising Prices, Broken Systems Dim Thailand’s Tourist Charm

[Barnet1900]

6 hours ago, geisha said:

It was the long empty beaches that attracted the tourists, the nice hotels and the kind and friendly people.

The beaches are now dirty and crowded, the nice hotels are now 7000 baht plus a night, and the Thais are fed up with it all. That smile has gone.

For me , the worse problem is the traffic jams , whether it be Phuket , Pattaya or Bangkok, and the filthy air that we are forced to breathe.

Go to a non-tourist beach after a Thai public holiday and see the state of it. Traffic....air pollution....that's 99 percent Thai.

 

I agree that the standard is much worse but the "Thais are fed up with it all," doesn't add up. They cause a lot of their own problems.

[Woke to Sounds]

The charm wore off at least 10 years ago.

 

What happened in the interim?

 

Covert-19 lockdowns/panic/paranoia and then gates thrown wide open to all and sundry.

 

Rarely though does a tourist behave as badly in the neighbouring countries.

 

Thais in general are just sick of it.

[newbee2022]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

Thailand, once a beacon for budget-conscious travellers worldwide, is increasingly facing criticism from international tourists over escalating costs and shifting experiences. Historically renowned for its picturesque beaches, lively cities, and affordability, the kingdom is now being reevaluated by tourists disenchanted with what it currently offers.

 

Cost Concerns: Value for Money Diminishing

 

In recent weeks, a surge of online complaints—evident through nearly 2,000 comments on a Bangkok Post Learning social media post—has echoed the sentiment that Thailand is no longer the cost-effective destination it once was. Travellers have noted exorbitant increases in accommodation prices, especially in popular tourist enclaves such as Koh Samui and Pattaya. For instance, visitors report that hotel rates have tripled, with dining expenses for a simple meal skyrocketing to unprecedented levels.

 

While global inflation plays a role, many argue that Thailand's price hikes outpace standard inflation, describing the increases as "pure greed." Tourists who previously paid $300 for a flight to Thailand now face fares nearing $1,000, a substantial deterrent for those attracted to Thailand’s erstwhile affordability.

 

Bureaucracy Blues: Navigating a Maze of Regulations

 

Another major grievance is the increasingly cumbersome visa and immigration processes. The mandatory TDAC system, requiring prior online registration, has proven especially vexing for older, less tech-savvy travellers. Additionally, the reduction of tourist visa duration from 60 to 30 days has displeased long-stay visitors, further complicating travel plans for those seeking extended stays.

 

Cannabis Concerns: A New Identity Taking Shape

 

Thailand's liberalisation of cannabis laws, once heralded as progressive, has led to an unexpected identity crisis. Many visitors express their discomfort with the widespread aroma of cannabis, particularly those travelling with children. The pervasive smell is seen as detracting from Thailand's family-friendly appeal and drawing tourists more interested in partaking in cannabis than enjoying traditional attractions.

 

Two-Tier Pricing: Fueling Frustrations

 

Adding to the grievances is the clear disparity in pricing between locals and foreigners. Tourists recount paying significantly higher entry fees for attractions compared to Thai nationals, a system they deem discriminatory. This pricing strategy is prevalent across many services, including restaurant menus and transport costs, leaving a sour taste for many.

 

Alternative Destinations: Neighbours Offering Better Experiences

 

Disillusionment with Thailand's current trajectory is pushing tourists to explore neighbouring Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines, which are increasingly perceived as providing better value and experiences. These countries boast growing infrastructures, welcoming atmospheres, and lower prices on comparable travel offerings.

 

 

 

"I spent three months in Vietnam compared to just one month in Pattaya," recounts one traveller, highlighting the shifting preferences. Tourists are finding that destinations such as Boracay in the Philippines or Bali in Indonesia offer stunning natural beauty at a fraction of the cost seen in Thailand.

 

Quality Matters: Scrutiny Over Infrastructure and Cleanliness

 

Concerns extend beyond costs and cannabis. Travellers have highlighted issues with Thailand’s tourist infrastructure, particularly the cleanliness of its beaches and the state of public facilities. The pollution in urban areas and the neglected conditions of pavements further erode Thailand's appeal.

 

Overcrowding in tourist hotspots—an issue exacerbated by aggressive tourism campaigns—has also diminished the serene beauty once synonymous with destinations like Phuket and Hua Hin. Additionally, recent events, such as the earthquake and building collapse at Chatuchak market, have raised safety concerns, leaving some wary of staying in high-rise accommodations.

 

Future Directions: Thailand's Path Ahead

 

While current trends point towards dissatisfaction, some locals see this as a chance for reassessment. Reduced tourist numbers could provide an opportunity to rehabilitate the environment and improve the country's infrastructure, focusing on attracting tourists who offer more than fleeting visits and superficial spending.

 

Several tourists express enduring fondness for Thailand, but caution that without significant reforms, the country risks losing market share to competitive neighbours. Future efforts should prioritise restoring cost-effectiveness, simplifying travel processes, and addressing infrastructural shortcomings.

 

In conclusion, maintaining Thailand's global reputation as a must-visit destination requires overcoming these current challenges. Without meaningful change, tourists will continue to explore alternative adventures offered by Thailand's neighbouring countries, which are fast becoming the new darlings of Southeast Asian tourism.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-04-30

 

 

Just one example: a tour with one night on a raft accomodations will costs around 18.000 Baht for Khao Sok National park.

Not a bargain.

[newbee2022]

Hopefully it keeps out all the riffraff and DTV junkies.

[Celsius]

12 hours ago, Cameroni said:

I don't get this price moaning either. You can get leg of pork with rice for 60 baht, pad thai for 50 baht. Massages are so cheap. What more do people want?

 

It's definitely a thousand times cheaper than in their home countries.

 

And yes, CM is great. Spot on.

 

And ehm flights from Bangkok to CM are cheap

[Hindy]

4 hours ago, bokningar said:

Think your math is a bit of.

1000 times would price that Pad thai 50 000 thb in Us or Europe. 50 000 thb is around 1645 US$.

Stop posting pure BS

Off not of

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Historically renowned for its picturesque beaches, lively cities, and affordability, the kingdom is now being reevaluated by tourists disenchanted with what it currently offers.

Nothing new?

[renaissanc]

10 hours ago, jas007 said:

Every time I get that, and every time it gets thrown into the trash, along with a packet of some liquid spice they send.  A real waste.  Who puts ketchup on a pizza? 

I last had a pizza in the 1990s, I think it was. It was delicious with real tomato sauce. Not the sachet nonsense. I don't eat pizza anymore because it's so bad for you. The tomato sauce they give is mostly sugar nowadays. 300 baht for unhealthy junk food is such a bad decision. 

[frank83628]

This is the exact same story from a coupl of days ago?

[reflectionx]

Let me guess? The entitled boomers and their descendants are complaining that their fake money printed out of thin air are no longer covering their entitlements? Surprise, surprise.

 

of course, they can always go back and their $1000 pension would only give them a tent in the downtown camps and access to the food banks!

 

It’s ridiculous to compare Pattaya and Phuket with Vietnam. There are thousand of untouched paradise spots in Thailand that are still cheap (e.g Nakhon Si Thamarat beaches).

 

obviously the purpose of this nonsense article is to collect clicks…

[lockyv7]

13 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

When were flights $ 300?

 

13 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

When were flights $ 300?

I flew Brisbane to Chiang Mai last year for under $300AUD 

[ronster]

10 hours ago, jas007 said:

Every time I get that, and every time it gets thrown into the trash, along with a packet of some liquid spice they send.  A real waste.  Who puts ketchup on a pizza? 

Don't forget the free packet of dried herbs for sprinkling on top of it !!

I just never get the tomato sauce on pizza , I make it for family and friends and I tell them over and over that under the cheese is tomato sauce so what the hell are they doing adding ketchup ! 🙈

[frank83628]

300$ to fly from where and what year,

I've never flown for less than 600$ in the last 25yrs

That whole article is just gen Z moaning.

 

 120b for a chicken fried rice in cheweng, next to ark bar back in 2006, walk the steet behind and it was 50b

Imported food is always more expensive.

Double prices, well yes, annoying, Its not as if you are doing it every day.

The tourist spots are always going to be more expensive.

Moan moan moan, mind you quite fitting for this forum

[terryofcrete]

13 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Koh Samui is full of tourists and some tourists are dumb. They dont know how to find cheap prices.

Well if they want to fly there from BKK they are being ripped off before they even get there by the monopoly of Bangkok Airways over the route and the prices for a 45 min flight. 

[Naamblar2014]

There's a huge inflow from India which I feel has diminished the serene beauty and atmosphere. Massive immigration from India actually happening in most countries and the general consensus is it impacts negatively, causing housing shortages and increasing the strain on healthcare and causing rising cost of living.   Not sure why but it's a common worldwide phenomenon.

[rumeaug]

Quote "Reduced tourist numbers could provide an opportunity to rehabilitate the environment and improve the country's infrastructure"  :    No. Thais are the main polluters of their own country, by far. They have no education/concern/awareness/consciousness (etc...) about what that means. Any patch of available ground rhymes with dumpster for most. 

[recom273]

25 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Just one example: a tour with one night on a raft accomodations will costs around 18.000 Baht for Khao Sok National park.

Not a bargain.

 
This is one of the jewels in the crown, everyone talks of it forums. An overnight stay in the jungle and a night on a floating bungalow. 
 

We booked a cheap bungalow, we arrived by bike and they tried to sell us a tour, we declined and upset them for the duration. We already had the government bungalows on the lake booked. Dinner - was outrageously priced, breakfast - stopped at a coffee shop where the vans were picking up, the wife picked up the menu and put it down, refusing a coco. An unguided walk in the jungle was nothing I hadn’t seen anywhere else for free at a local authority park (no doubt there are some great sites inside the park when on a guided tour).
 

Next we went to the dam, where we negotiated a ride out with a boatman, the price was OK, but I could hear what prices other people paid when they booked via an agency .. extortionate. In all, we paid a fair bit of money for a bank holiday weekend, whatever, it was a break out on the bike from the city, but visitors paid a whole lot more and got less. I just thought visitors were being exploited, I felt ashamed. 

[jas007]

28 minutes ago, renaissanc said:

I last had a pizza in the 1990s, I think it was. It was delicious with real tomato sauce. Not the sachet nonsense. I don't eat pizza anymore because it's so bad for you. The tomato sauce they give is mostly sugar nowadays. 300 baht for unhealthy junk food is such a bad decision. 

Normally, I make a real effort to eat healthy, but once in a while, I order a pizza for delivery. I know it's not healthy. 

 

If I had an oven and wanted to fool around, I could probably made some good sauce from scratch. No sugar. And I could probably make healthy dough for the crust.  Maybe someday I'll be back in a place with a real kitchen. 

[jcmj]

I doubt they will open their eyes and see the real issues and try to fix them. Instead they will send more people into different countries to promote Thailand. They just don’t see what’s in front of their faces. 

[newbee2022]

3 minutes ago, recom273 said:

 
This is one of the jewels in the crown, everyone talks of it forums. An overnight stay in the jungle and a night on a floating bungalow. 
 

We booked a cheap bungalow, we arrived by bike and they tried to sell us a tour, we declined and upset them for the duration. We already had the government bungalows on the lake booked. Dinner - was outrageously priced, breakfast - stopped at a coffee shop where the vans were picking up, the wife picked up the menu and put it down, refusing a coco. An unguided walk in the jungle was nothing I hadn’t seen anywhere else for free at a local authority park (no doubt there are some great sites inside the park when on a guided tour).
 

Next we went to the dam, where we negotiated a ride out with a boatman, the price was OK, but I could hear what prices other people paid when they booked via an agency .. extortionate. In all, we paid a fair bit of money for a bank holiday weekend, whatever, it was a break out on the bike from the city, but visitors paid a whole lot more and got less. I just thought visitors were being exploited, I felt ashamed. 

It's a lovely place. One of these "must visit' areas. And it costs a lot of money. However it's a "once in your life" experience 🤗

[riverhigh]

It's all relative. Yes things are getting more expensive in Thailand but compared to my home country, and neighboring countries, people can only dream of paying so little for accomodation, dining out, taxi services,etc. Cost of airflights is a universal problem not a problem specific to Thailand. For what it's worth, travellers need to reduce their expectations of travelling to Thailand to meet the new world realities. While prices are going through the roof in the traveller's home country, there is this "fantasy" expectation that Thailand should reduce the value of the Thai baht and keep prices low just for them (smile).

[Grandpa Cool]

14 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

When were flights $ 300?

Up until the pandemic I flew to Bangkok from the Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia) many times on budget airlines (Air Asia and Flyscoot) for as low as Aust$160 one way and not more than Aust$220.

[jippytum]

the main topic is conditions facing tourists is to blame for the decrease in numbers. However the overpowering influx of Russian tourists at every location is a big minus for many people. 

[Lee4Life]

13 hours ago, Magictoad said:

It sounds like Americans whining & whinging to me!  When you read through the list it's like some out of a BLM or feminist meeting. Disparity in pricing!! Give me a break. Can some explain about THE DISPARITY IN WAGES.

Cannabis concerns. Pathetic  Just shut your window. As for children. Then don't bring them here- take them to Disney Land.

Neighbours offer betters experiences? NO THEY DONT.

Quality Matters: Scrutiny Over Infrastructure and Cleanliness

This is a third word country and people get reminded of it sometimes. 

Cost Concerns: Value for Money Diminishing

This might be an issue in some cities such as Bangkok and Pattaya but it's still VERY CHEAP in Issan and the North East.

I wouldn't go to a tourist dump like Chaing Mai.

So yes Thailand is still worth visiting.

Sounds like you are just looking for a chance to dump on Americans to me. Back up your opinions with some facts, most of your statements hold no truth, they are just your opinions, and according to the chatter on many online forums, are untrue.

[kenny m]

My Thai wife and I got back from Nha Trang and Dalat yesterday.

From my experience - Nha Trang - No watersports so the ocean is a crystal clear blue/green, the beach is spotlessly clean, the landscaping between the beach road and the beach itself is stunning. Food and drink is inexpensive and great (15 baht for a 330ml can of Bia Saigon for example and many local dishes for 20-30 baht).

Dalat - absolutely stunning place. My wife asked me if we can go and live there so, her being Thai, I don't think I need to say more.

This was our 3rd trip to Vietnam visiting several places and we've never been disappointed. If only I could say the same about Thailand.

[Maxbkkcm]

13 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

It's all relative. Yes things are getting more expensive in Thailand but compared to my home country, and neighboring countries, people can only dream of paying so little for accomodation, dining out, taxi services,etc. Cost of airflights is a universal problem not a problem specific to Thailand. For what it's worth, travellers need to reduce their expectations of travelling to Thailand to meet the new world realities. While prices are going through the roof in the traveller's home country, there is this "fantasy" expectation that Thailand should reduce the value of the Thai baht and keep prices low just for them (smile).

You should never compare with own country but with the place itself. And the value is no longer there. Prices should be lower

[riverhigh]

2 minutes ago, Maxbkkcm said:

You should never compare with own country but with the place itself. And the value is no longer there. Prices should be lower

We will have to agree to disagree on that one (smile).

[NorthernRyland]

2 hours ago, Barnet1900 said:

Go to a non-tourist beach after a Thai public holiday and see the state of it. Traffic....air pollution....that's 99 percent Thai.

 

 

Thai people are chronic litterers and they should be ashamed of themselves.

 

Went down to the river after Songrkan and the people left trash everywhere. Any place where you could sit and hang out had trash there. People just eat whatever and throw it on the ground because they're too lazy and disrespectful to keep their own river clean.

 

[NorthernRyland]

56 minutes ago, Naamblar2014 said:

There's a huge inflow from India which I feel has diminished the serene beauty and atmosphere. Massive immigration from India actually happening in most countries and the general consensus is it impacts negatively, causing housing shortages and increasing the strain on healthcare and causing rising cost of living.   Not sure why but it's a common worldwide phenomenon.

 

Because people are greedy and short sided and the quickest way to make money is more bodies, and that's where India has, bodies.

[bkk6060]

Good news.  I suggest they all go some place else.