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

[Nicco]

51 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

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. 

 

You obviously know nothing about Bangkok. Yes, Sukhumvit is a hole, especially lower. I can't believe that there are people that actually live and even own condos around 4 and Nana. Nevertheless, you can't judge the entire city by that main artery. You really love my little part of the city.

 

I'm curious as to what cities you're comparing it to? Especially in June of 2025. Los Angeles? London?

[lordgrinz]

Just now, Nicco said:

 

You obviously know nothing about Bangkok. Yes, Sukhumvit is a hole, especially lower. I can't believe that there are people that actually live and even own condos around 4 and Nana. Nevertheless, you can't judge the entire city by that main artery. You really love my little part of the city.

 

I'm curious as to what cities you're comparing it to? Especially in June of 2025. Los Angeles? London?

 

All cities suck, Bangkok and NYC most of all. But dealing with the horrible people and culture here, makes things much worse. I stand by my original assessment, Bangkok is a cesspool. 

[RAZZELL]

2 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

All cities suck, Bangkok and NYC most of all. But dealing with the horrible people and culture here, makes things much worse. I stand by my original assessment, Bangkok is a cesspool. 

 

Have you been to Pattaya? 

[lordgrinz]

4 minutes ago, RAZZELL said:

 

Have you been to Pattaya? 

 

Yes, back when My daughter was younger and my wife had to go for work conferences/meetings, not planning on returning either.

[Lucky Bones]

23 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

All cities suck, Bangkok and NYC most of all. But dealing with the horrible people and culture here, makes things much worse. I stand by my original assessment, Bangkok is a cesspool. 

You are generalising so I assume you had a bad experience in Bkk. Perhaps you need to travel more?🙃🙃

[lordgrinz]

6 minutes ago, Lucky Bones said:

You are generalising so I assume you had a bad experience in Bkk. Perhaps you need to travel more?🙃🙃

 

As long as it's not a city, I have never been attracted by concrete jungles, traffic, or polluted and over-populated areas......and never will be.

[Spilornis]

The average holiday period for working couples these days is a week. Often less

From Europe why would you come to Thailand. One day to Bangkok and one more day to your destination island/resort.

Thailand competes with so many destinations closer to Europe. Turkey and Egypt for example not to mention Spain and Greece.

From USA the competition is Mexico and the Caribbean not to mention that from the East coast Europe is much closer than Thailand.

American retirees who have more time are a massive market but what does Thailand do to attract this crowd who I like to call bubble tourists. (bubble in the sense that they fear independent travel).

[lordgrinz]

7 minutes ago, Spilornis said:

The average holiday period for working couples these days is a week. Often less

From Europe why would you come to Thailand. One day to Bangkok and one more day to your destination island/resort.

Thailand competes with so many destinations closer to Europe. Turkey and Egypt for example not to mention Spain and Greece.

From USA the competition is Mexico and the Caribbean not to mention that from the East coast Europe is much closer than Thailand.

American retirees who have more time are a massive market but what does Thailand do to attract this crowd who I like to call bubble tourists. (bubble in the sense that they fear independent travel).

 

I don't see the attraction of Thailand, unless you ooh and aah over gaudy looking temples, lets not even get into the overcrowded attractions and traffic.

[Lucky Bones]

23 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

As long as it's not a city, I have never been attracted by concrete jungles, traffic, or polluted and over-populated areas......and never will be.

You didn't explain about your bad experience in Bkk or why you went there. More information required.🙃🙃

[lordgrinz]

6 minutes ago, Lucky Bones said:

You didn't explain about your bad experience in Bkk or why you went there. More information required.🙃🙃

 

I came here (2016) to support my wife and daughter (that's it), which was supposed to be only a 4 year stint, and ended up getting stuck here. I have zero attraction to this country, there is absolutely nothing here that even remotely attracts me.

[Furioso]

I'm coming back to Thailand tomorrow as I'm just finishing up my 6 week stay in Vietnam. Vietnam has been great but I did have to try 5 different hotels before I found a good one-the pictures on booking are always so misleading. As for Thailand I'm going to see if I can do 4 straight months and stay in a good mood. Going to the gym will help out but yeah I'm thinking 4 months out of any year is enough for me. Being low season helps..I hope. 

[BarraMarra]

The Tourism ministry was told pre-pandemic if you carry on ignoring European tourists you will suffer down the line. This was ignored and carried on believing the Chinese will turn up in large numbers. Once they realised the Golden Goose was nesting elsewhere so they allowed Russians and Indians and Arabic nations into the kingdom dangling the carrot Infront of them with free visas. Now the crimes have began its little wonder people are heading to other country's like Viet and Malaysia where are they are looked after better. How many locals in retail have said we don't want Indian tourists we want Europeans. In the end the TAT and ministry will sit round and do what they do usually like one poster said they will just up prices to reduce the loss in Chinese visitors, either through stupid new taxes on new arrivals or charging more in the tourism sector.

[TroubleandGrumpy]

critical juncture    It is much worse than that - IMO it is a cliff - either they change direction (minimum 90 degrees) of they are going over.

 

In a few weeks the BOT is meeting with their new CEO in place. Hopefully they will drop interest rates by 0.5 to 1 % and hopefully they will abandon their drive to keep the Baht at 30-35 to $USD and therefore stop buying it when it falls.  Since July 2024 the BOT has been buying the Baht and keeping interest rates way too high.  Many politicians have been calling for lower interest rates since mid-late 2024, saying that exports and manufacturing industries and tourism all need the Baht to be lower - and they were right.  But we all know who wants the Baht to stay high - and it aint those working in exports, manufacturing or tourism.

[Furioso]

7 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

 Now the crimes have began its little wonder people are heading to other country's like Viet and Malaysia where are they are looked after better. 

 

..they will just up prices to reduce the loss in Chinese visitors.

I agree, going to these other countries is very eye opening. They have a lot of pros with fewer cons. 

[norsurin]

11 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

critical juncture    It is much worse than that - IMO it is a cliff - either they change direction (minimum 90 degrees) of they are going over.

 

In a few weeks the BOT is meeting with their new CEO in place. Hopefully they will drop interest rates by 0.5 to 1 % and hopefully they will abandon their drive to keep the Baht at 30-35 to $USD and therefore stop buying it when it falls.  Since July 2024 the BOT has been buying the Baht and keeping interest rates way too high.  Many politicians have been calling for lower interest rates since mid-late 2024, saying that exports and manufacturing industries and tourism all need the Baht to be lower - and they were right.  But we all know who wants the Baht to stay high - and it aint those working in exports, manufacturing or tourism.

Right.The baht is ridiculous strong.They manipulate the baht and they know it.The greedy thais want more and more and don't care.They have priced themselves out compared to other countries around Thailand.

One day karma bite their butt and then its to late.

[norsurin]

28 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

The Tourism ministry was told pre-pandemic if you carry on ignoring European tourists you will suffer down the line. This was ignored and carried on believing the Chinese will turn up in large numbers. Once they realised the Golden Goose was nesting elsewhere so they allowed Russians and Indians and Arabic nations into the kingdom dangling the carrot Infront of them with free visas. Now the crimes have began its little wonder people are heading to other country's like Viet and Malaysia where are they are looked after better. How many locals in retail have said we don't want Indian tourists we want Europeans. In the end the TAT and ministry will sit round and do what they do usually like one poster said they will just up prices to reduce the loss in Chinese visitors, either through stupid new taxes on new arrivals or charging more in the tourism sector.

True.I remember i used to sit in beer garden for a beer.It was more and more quiet.. almost no customers.

One day the price for a beer raised alot..i asked why The manager said because no customers have to make it more expensive.A normal reaction in fex Europe would be to lower the price but the greedy thais don't care.

 

[johng]

15 minutes ago, norsurin said:

The manager said because no customers have to make it more expensive.

Yes that seems  to be the “normal" Thai business plan...never made sense to me.

[impulse]

1 hour ago, lordgrinz said:

As long as it's not a city, I have never been attracted by concrete jungles, traffic, or polluted and over-populated areas......and never will be.

 

I'm a country mouse by background (actually a product of the suburbs), but I fell in love with Bangkok during the 6 years I worked in Asoke.  Warts and all, I love Bangkok.  Especially (gasp) Chinatown, where there's never a dull moment. 

 

It's great to get out of the city for sanity breaks, and for that, I love Kanchanaburi and Jomtien.  Contemplating a Thailand retirement, I'm debating between BKK, K-Buri and Hua Hin or Jomtien.  Maybe rent a place in the city and another one outside.  That was another surprise...  I no longer feel the need for 3+ bedrooms and a yard.

 

 

 

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, impulse said:

Contemplating a Thailand retirement, I'm debating between BKK, K-Buri and Hua Hin or Jomtien.  Maybe rent a place in the city and another one outside.  That was another surprise...  I no longer feel the need for 3+ bedrooms and a yard.

 

My goal is to escape Thailand and never return.

[BarraMarra]

11 minutes ago, johng said:

Yes that seems  to be the “normal" Thai business plan...never made sense to me.

That's how they think norsurin they only think about money not the customer. Eventually it will sink in there's a reason your bar is empty but first you must want the customer to come to your Bar not turn them away by charging high prices in your bar. Its not Rocket Science reduce the price customers will come bump it up and your sat alone with no customers. The days are gone where a plane lands every five minutes with a packed cabin full of potential tourists.

[impulse]

16 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

My goal is to escape Thailand and never return.

 

I wish you well.  To each, his own.

 

[impulse]

18 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

The days are gone where a plane lands every five minutes with a packed cabin full of potential tourists.

 

349,000 flights a year just into Swampy.  That's about 3 planes every 5 minutes.  Add in DMK and the outliers and it's 836K flights a year.  That's about 1.5 flights per minute, 24/7/365.

 

 

[Photoguy21]

It is the start of the rainy season when there is always a reduction in tourists plus the building collapse recently did nothing to inspire confidence in safety, something I think is a little ridiculous but but some are easily scared off.

[norsurin]

28 minutes ago, johng said:

Yes that seems  to be the “normal" Thai business plan...never made sense to me.

Its so stupid thinking.But their so greedy u know.

After i finished my beer she asked me if i want a new one.I said no thanks and that i was going to 7/11 and buy beers.She get upset right away but i didn't care.Same happened in soi 5..when i comment the price for a beer and said that a beer in Europe is cheaper then Thailand they get angry right away.

[norsurin]

18 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

That's how they think norsurin they only think about money not the customer. Eventually it will sink in there's a reason your bar is empty but first you must want the customer to come to your Bar not turn them away by charging high prices in your bar. Its not Rocket Science reduce the price customers will come bump it up and your sat alone with no customers. The days are gone where a plane lands every five minutes with a packed cabin full of potential tourists.

Right.Sadly but true.They pricing themselves out because of stupidity and greedyness.

[Burma Bill]

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

now grappling with structural changes and a noticeable dip in tourist arrivals.

 

Thailand now the "Titanic" in SE Asian holiday destinations!

[Sir Dude]

Many people are asking why the Chinese visitor numbers are going down. Well, if you dig a little deeper, then you will find that part of the problem is that the Chinese authorities are making it harder for Chinese citizens to leave the country, and I've read lots of articles about them having passports confiscated/cancelled for no reason, people being stopped from boarding flights for the slightest reason... almost as if the are actively trying to stop people from leaving/fleeing. Internally, China is in deep do-do really at the moment due to a collapsing financial system/debt and many are trying to get out, including the rich that want to take the new American Gold Visa offer for $5 million which starts soon. 

Also, as mentioned, Thailand has had a bad rap recently about not being safe with all the scam centers and kidnapping etc., but what they fail to tell the Chinese people is that it is Chinese scam gangs that are doing this... so, Chinese kidnapping and enslaving their fellow citizens.

[Jimjim1]

21 hours ago, impulse said:

The time for change was before the dip in arrivals.

It is the vast amount of stupid changes and flip flopping around with entry visas that has caused the problems that Thailand now faces.

The politicians have never got their collective heads around the plain and simple fact that all tourists want is value for money and to be able to just get on with their holiday.

we do not want over pricing by all and sundry, armed cops looking at us as if they have just stepped in something nasty, scammers in taxis and idiot drivers doing everything they can to to mow you down even when we are struggling to walk on broken death trap pavements

[GanDoonToonPet]

6 hours ago, mberbae said:

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.

 

I suppose all the world's worst scammers holiday in these countries:

 

Australia, 12 month tourist visa

UK, 6 month tourist visa

US, 6 month tourist visa

Canada, 6 month tourist visa

EU, 90 day tourist visa

 

How can people from poor countries get the time off and have enough money to visit rich countries for that long, when the people from those rich countries can't get enough time off visit Thailand for 60 days?

[LivingNThailand]

5 hours 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. 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

I have a friend that is a taxi driver here in Phuket. She told me yesterday that Phuket People, born & raised in Phuket,  don't understand what the government is doing to Phuket.  A lot of her family customers don't want to see all those weed shops and expose their children to them.  They don't want to come back.  Only weed smokers enjoy all the shops.  I think everyone should have a choice, but it needs to be regulated more.  The last time I was in Rawai, I counted 40 shops just in a short drive.  Does Phuket really need all those weed shops that cater to a lower end tourist?