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

[Hawki1970]

What planet are they from. My understanding is every country around the world the costs of living travel amd partying is rising, why do the checkskates think Thailand should be different, 

[jas007]

On 5/3/2025 at 9:50 AM, BangkokReady said:

This all must be quite difficult for some Thai people to come to terms with.  That Thailand mainly attracts backpackers, as it's a kind of cheap/safe/easy way to enjoy a taste of SEA.  In trying to make themselves a little more upmarket and attract those "high quality tourists", it seems like they may have put off the one group that actually wants to visit.

 

It's been a pretty challenging few years for Thailand.  First, thanks to covid, having to accept how much they need foreigners to survive, and now, having to admit that they cannot really attract the high class tourists that they covet, along with other countries taking their market share as soon as the prices change.  A lot to take in.

I'm not sure why it has to be an either/or proposition.  

 

Backpackers are backpackers and "high quality" tourists are "high quality" tourists.  They inhabit different worlds, to be sure, but isn't there room for everyone? 

 

For example, in Bangkok, many backpackers seem to gravitate to Khao Song Road. There's plenty of budget accommodation in the area and everyone has fun.  The "high quality" tourists are at the Peninsula or the Mandarin Oriental or some similar establishment.   And I'm sure they have a good time as well.

 

So, what's the problem?  Everyone is happy.  

[BangkokReady]

2 hours ago, jas007 said:

I'm not sure why it has to be an either/or proposition.  

 

Backpackers are backpackers and "high quality" tourists are "high quality" tourists.  They inhabit different worlds, to be sure, but isn't there room for everyone? 

 

For example, in Bangkok, many backpackers seem to gravitate to Khao Song Road. There's plenty of budget accommodation in the area and everyone has fun.  The "high quality" tourists are at the Peninsula or the Mandarin Oriental or some similar establishment.   And I'm sure they have a good time as well.

 

So, what's the problem?  Everyone is happy.  

 

I think the problem is twofold.  1, Thailand doesn't really have enough to attract the "high quality tourists" in great numbers.  2, they seem to have been trying to drive away backpackers for years.  That's their choice, of course, but it seems to be one that is somewhat counterproductive.

[jas007]

14 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

 

I think the problem is twofold.  1, Thailand doesn't really have enough to attract the "high quality tourists" in great numbers.  2, they seem to have been trying to drive away backpackers for years.  That's their choice, of course, but it seems to be one that is somewhat counterproductive.

I sort of agree.

 

Thailand has everything for the high quality tourist, but there aren't enough of them and people have other options. That kind of tourist can go anywhere in the world. Money isn't an obstacle.  

 

As for backpackers?  Driving away backpackers really is counterproductive.  Driving away those people doesn't automatically generate high quality tourists.  In fact, the backpackers are part of Thailand's "charm."  

 

 

[BangkokReady]

55 minutes ago, jas007 said:

I sort of agree.

 

Thailand has everything for the high quality tourist, but there aren't enough of them and people have other options. That kind of tourist can go anywhere in the world. Money isn't an obstacle.  

 

As for backpackers?  Driving away backpackers really is counterproductive.  Driving away those people doesn't automatically generate high quality tourists.  In fact, the backpackers are part of Thailand's "charm."  

 

I think one of the problems is that Thais are always far more concerned with how things look than how they are.  So they want to appear to be a place that attracts "high quality tourists" and not backpackers/budget travellers, even when it is really the opposite that is true.  They then end up kind of shooting themselves in the foot, rather than simply continuing to do what they do well.