Tourism Thailand's Tourism Industry Faces Pivotal Moment as Arrivals Decline

[mberbae]

The Easy Visas for Chinese, Russians, Indians-  allowed a criminal element to take advantage.

The Thai Tourism Minister did not think this through very well. 30 days Visas is MORE than enough

travel time for quality, responsible travelers with jobs back home. Who has 60 days to spend

on travel when  you're 30, 40, 50 years old ? Scammers mostly, is my guess.

[koele2]

Confucius say “it’s better to make less money than to have to deal with Chinese and Indian tourists.”

[ozz1]

More ladyboys for all

[Woke to Sounds]

Decent folk are sick and tired of the weed shops everywhere.

 

Bring back the 35 baht a go pad thai street vendors and tourism will rebound.

 

💯0%

[Woke to Sounds]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A significant contributor to this decline is the negative perception of Thailand, exacerbated by the film "No More Bets". The movie casts a spotlight on issues such as scams, human trafficking, and safety concerns. A Dragon Trail International survey reports a doubling in the number of Chinese tourists worried about visiting Thailand owing to safety concerns.

 

This was highly effective Party propa, and it worked.

 

More Chinese are spending their tourist yuan in-country.

 

Good for China, good for their economy 👍

[spidermike007]

The reality is that tourists simply have too many options these days, Thailand has gotten more expensive, and Thailand has not bothered to improve itself or address any of the problems that have been plaguing tourism for a decade or longer. 

 

I was in Phuket last year and the island is now one big garbage heap, people seem to keep on traveling to Phuket but it was such a pale shadow of what it was when I was last there 10 years ago. It was absolutely infested with low end Malaysians, Arabs, Indians and especially the spectacularly unpleasant Russians. No thanks, I never need to go back. 

 

The traffic was an abomination, everything was overpriced, Bangla Road was utterly horrific with barely an attractive woman in sight, and the entire place just reeked. Yikes. 

[Nicco]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Chinese tourist arrivals are projected to fall below 5 million.

 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

negative perception of Thailand, exacerbated by the film "No More Bets". The movie casts a spotlight on issues such as scams, human trafficking, and safety concerns.

 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Supasorn acknowledged this challenge, stating, "The perception of Thailand as an unsafe destination has had an impact.

 

 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

sharp decrease has caused daily arrival figures to halve, plunging from 21,300 in January to 10,000 in May.

 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Particularly troubling is the steep decline in the Asian market, which constitutes nearly 63% of the total visitors.

 

This is the industry that Thailand hangs it's hat on.

 

There are so many options and possibilities yet the government's successively have an inability to restructure, innovate, execute.

 

Moreover, while Chinese gangsters run amok around the nation - it bemoans the fact that fewer are coming. In fact it would appear the bottom has dropped out of that sector entirely.

 

Now, Russians overtake even Indians as a primary country visiting Thailand

 

The thought has never occurred to them to encourage long stay 50+ western foreigners. Instead, is next to impossible for even all Visa holders to open bank accounts, it's still impossible to legally own a tiny plot of land, the hospitals legally and routinely double and triple charge for services, the government and private sector goes out of its way to exclude foreigners from perks that would an exact same case it provided to a Thai. What is the extensions are still far more of a hassle and complicated than they need be.

 

Last but certainly not least is the new taxation coming online. Foreigners will be taxed for staying a mere 180 days in the country and for this tax they will receive absolutely nothing in return except for the privilege to live in a somewhat lawless and rather chaotic country.

 

One thing certain this government is absolutely helpless and nothing will be done until there is a change of government. This is yet another two years lost in addition to the 20 years prior to that. That's more than a generation of lost opportunity that Thailand will never have back

 

I think the thing that bothers me the most about all the foreign criminality is that it ends up tarring all of us with the same brush.

 

Vietnam well rapidly challenge Thailand in a number of industries and tourism is simply one of them.

[Nicco]

15 hours ago, Magictoad said:

Where have all the Chinese gone? Really? I don't believe two million watched a film and decided not to come because if it! Pull the other one!

The Chinese were a lot less rowdy than their Indian replacements.

I asked a Thai agent yesterday and she told me the government had clamped down on visas for Chinese people due to so many criminal activities, business scams,  nefarious goings on etc etc. Especially land & property deals...Bent..

 

Yes but they largely comprised nearly all the foreign criminal ity.

 

Good riddance to bad rubbish

[Nicco]

23 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds said:

Decent folk are sick and tired of the weed shops everywhere.

 

Bring back the 35 baht a go pad thai street vendors and tourism will rebound.

 

💯0%

 

There actually might be some truth to this. While Western countries are fairly liberal and their Outlook, Asian countries find the use of marijuana alarming and possibly highly criminal. It is used by the lowest rungs of the social ladder. I'm sure they don't want their children to see and be around people that are smoking the stuff and probably don't want to push their pram past weed shops. Then you have the people that are coming and going out of those shops that generally speaking look pretty sloppy

 

Certainly not the only thing but I could see how your family would find it problematic and not return

[khunjeff]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

"The perception of Thailand as an unsafe destination has had an impact." In response, he urged a comprehensive overhaul of Thai tourism

 

I guess that's better than their usual strategy, which is to sue the people questioning Thailand's safety for defamation...

[Woke to Sounds]

11 minutes ago, Nicco said:

There actually might be some truth to this. While Western countries are fairly liberal and their Outlook, Asian countries find the use of marijuana alarming and possibly highly criminal.

 

You get only truth from the Wokeinator.

 

When I was on Koh Chang recently I couldn't tell you the number of stroller pushers that had to walk past the weed shops holding their breath.  Not family friendly for sure!

 

Thailand should get back to basics, back to what made it a great place in the '85-2005 timeframe.

 

It could still be champion even amongst all the Vietnams, Cambodias and Phils of the world.

[still kicking]

13 hours ago, dutch boy said:

I am sure there are many handsome Indian men looking for a "premier global tourist destination."

At least they are not wearing wooden clocks.

[loong]

1 hour ago, mberbae said:

Who has 60 days to spend

on travel when  you're 30, 40, 50 years old ? Scammers mostly, is my guess.

 

I know quite a few people that come out 2 or 3 times a year for extended periods, they have well-paying jobs and don't have to work the full year.

[loong]

1 minute ago, still kicking said:

At least they are not wearing wooden clocks.

???????

[loong]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

For the first time in 12 years, Chinese tourist arrivals are projected to fall below 5 million.

Weren't they below 5 million during covid?

[still kicking]

Just now, loong said:

???????

Shoes 

 

[Patong2021]

3 hours ago, MarkBR said:

Get rid of visas totally.  Admit people via TDAC, Track people using TM30s & phones.  Any crimes ban them for 10 years minimum.

Every country has visas.  The issue is not visas themselves. It is their administration and the lack of consistency in their administration. The Visa policies are unreliable. Each immigration office seems to have its own interpretation of the rules.

 

The  big issue is the   poor value proposition. Visitors have been saying this for years. We all know it too. For example, there is no need for the almost 100 jet skis and  power boats at Patong Beach. People can't use the beach in peace.

 

 

 

[MarkBR]

9 minutes ago, loong said:

???????

Clogs

[sandyf]

15 hours ago, Magictoad said:

Where have all the Chinese gone? Really? I don't believe two million watched a film and decided not to come because if it! Pull the other one!

Nothing is ever the result of a single effect, invariably an accumulation.

It should be remembered that in the 30s, Chinese nationals accounted for about 12% of Thailand's population. My father in law was first generation Chinese, died in 2011, he and his family and friends were very much into the Chinese tradition and still had contact with family in China.

Not far from us there is a Chinese graveyard that stretches for as far as the eye can see and at the time of the main Chinese festivals it would turn into a canvas city with a multitude coming from the mother country to pay their respects. These days only a fraction appear at festival time and probably from within Thailand.

Over the years my father in laws generation have mainly passed away leaving the second generation Chinese.  Although still into the traditions it is not to the same extent as previously.

It is inevitable that as time passes the conection between the Thai-Chinese and the motherland will fade, reducing visitation on a family basis.

[ChipButty]

3 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Every country has visas.  The issue is not visas themselves. It is their administration and the lack of consistency in their administration. The Visa policies are unreliable. Each immigration office seems to have its own interpretation of the rules.

 

The  big issue is the   poor value proposition. Visitors have been saying this for years. We all know it too. For example, there is no need for the almost 100 jet skis and  power boats at Patong Beach. People can't use the beach in peace.

 

 

 

I know Rawai is not much of a beach but the amount of speedboats and longtail boats parked up along there gives you a good indication of the lack of tourism, long gone are the hoards of Chinese tourist waiting in the morning, I drive along there most mornings, you just don't see them, 

[DonniePeverley]

Weed laws (leading to harder drugs), and open door immigration visa policy has turned away quality tourists.

 

The rampant crime, awful tourists is actually harming.

 

Quality not quantity. 

[lordgrinz]

14 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Ok, Indians and Arabs I can understand, but what is generally wrong with the Ozzies?

 

I think he meant the "Brits", they seem to be in the news a lot recently, really bad characters coming from that Island nation. 🤪

[ChipButty]

5 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Nothing is ever the result of a single effect, invariably an accumulation.

It should be remembered that in the 30s, Chinese nationals accounted for about 12% of Thailand's population. My father in law was first generation Chinese, died in 2011, he and his family and friends were very much into the Chinese tradition and still had contact with family in China.

Not far from us there is a Chinese graveyard that stretches for as far as the eye can see and at the time of the main Chinese festivals it would turn into a canvas city with a multitude coming from the mother country to pay their respects. These days only a fraction appear at festival time and probably from within Thailand.

Over the years my father in laws generation have mainly passed away leaving the second generation Chinese.  Although still into the traditions it is not to the same extent as previously.

It is inevitable that as time passes the conection between the Thai-Chinese and the motherland will fade, reducing visitation on a family basis.

They say the founders of Phuket were Chinese, one of our best friends lives in the old town, you would think she is Chinese, as with a lot of people around the old town. 

[lordgrinz]

52 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The reality is that tourists simply have too many options these days, Thailand has gotten more expensive, and Thailand has not bothered to improve itself or address any of the problems that have been plaguing tourism for a decade or longer. 

 

I was in Phuket last year and the island is now one big garbage heap, people seem to keep on traveling to Phuket but it was such a pale shadow of what it was when I was last there 10 years ago. It was absolutely infested with low end Malaysians, Arabs, Indians and especially the spectacularly unpleasant Russians. No thanks, I never need to go back. 

 

The traffic was an abomination, everything was overpriced, Bangla Road was utterly horrific with barely an attractive woman in sight, and the entire place just reeked. Yikes. 

 

Exactly, taking a vacation to Thailand, especially Pattaya or Bangkok is like going on vacation to the Ghettos in NYC.

[spidermike007]

6 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Exactly, taking a vacation to Thailand, especially Pattaya or Bangkok is like going on vacation to the Ghettos in NYC.

I take exception to that. I do agree this applies to Pattaya and Phuket, but I think Bangkok is quite an incredible city. There's a lot to see, the food is great, there's a great museum in MOCA, and I always have a great time there. 

 

There is a good reason why it's the most visited city in the world. 

[lordgrinz]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I take exception to that. I do agree this applies to Pattaya and Phuket, but I think Bangkok is quite an incredible city. There's a lot to see, the food is great, there's a great museum in MOCA, and I always have a great time there. 

 

There is a good reason why it's the most visited city in the world. 

 

Bangkok is about the worst place I could have ever imagined, I hate this place with a passion, it is the perfect example of a cesspool. 

[harryviking]

17 hours ago, blaze master said:

You know what that means.....time to raise prices.

LOL! Yes! That is the Thai way!🤣🤣

[connda]

14 hours ago, dutch boy said:

I am sure there are many handsome Indian men looking for a "premier global tourist destination."

 

14 hours ago, blaze master said:

 

You should post a pic of yourself while you're at it.

[NoshowJones]

17 hours ago, PJ71 said:

My thoughts exactly, hope the indians, arabs and ozzies stop coming too.

Why Ozzies? In 20 years here I have never met any unlikeable Australians, or Americans either for that matter. I cannot say the same for the British.

[Nicco]

1 hour ago, Woke to Sounds said:

 

You get only truth from the Wokeinator.

 

When I was on Koh Chang recently I couldn't tell you the number of stroller pushers that had to walk past the weed shops holding their breath.  Not family friendly for sure!

 

Thailand should get back to basics, back to what made it a great place in the '85-2005 timeframe.

 

It could still be champion even amongst all the Vietnams, Cambodias and Phils of the world.

 

I've got no problems with weed, but that is ridiculous. I think even worse are the people that are smoking in very public places

 

It's like everything in Thailand they just have an inability to regulate in large part because the Thai population has no respect for the elite, police, bureaucracy, politicians and the rule of law.