Tourism Israel-Iran Conflict Puts Thai Tourism in Jeopardy

[connda]

Too bad.  Less Middle Eastern tourist for AN members to throw shade at. 

[newnative]

    So, maybe a 30-50% drop on a market that is only 7% of the Middle Eastern market, which also isn't that large.  No big deal.  

[Jiggo]

Most Thais don't really have a clue what's happening outside Thailand and really care.

[Magictoad]

6 hours ago, Upnotover said:

How would that impact tourists from the Middle East? 

Some tourists from the middle east would like to retire here it's not just farang. That idea that only native Europeans and Americans are interested  in retirement in Thailand is somewhat solipsistic or narcissistic even. I don't think white Europeans/ American/ Australians are the majority of tourists here as they used to be; probably more Indian, Arab and others including Malaysians.

 

[Lorry]

14 hours ago, bg53 said:

Thailand seriously needs to ease up on residency, mid or long term.

You want more Chinese and Indians?

 

And as for the smart guys wishing for easier land ownership: so then the last square meter will belong to Chinese.  Farang retirees cannot compete with Chinese who need to get there money out of China.

[frank83628]

Israel travel minister has banned Israelis from leaving the country, isn't that dictatorish?

[frank83628]

2 hours ago, Magictoad said:

Some tourists from the middle east would like to retire here it's not just farang. That idea that only native Europeans and Americans are interested  in retirement in Thailand is somewhat solipsistic or narcissistic even. I don't think white Europeans/ American/ Australians are the majority of tourists here as they used to be; probably more Indian, Arab and others including Malaysians.

 

Not down on the gulf islands, still mostly European, western, very few Indians, ME all look the same to me

[BarraMarra]

What a God send blame the Israeli  - Iraq War for declining numbers, a face saver. 

[ozz1]

Any excuse to blame on the lower tourist numbers

[NoshowJones]

On 6/18/2025 at 6:46 AM, Quentin Zen said:

I could single-handedly end the conflict, save tourism, and humanity.   But Ploy wants to get coffee, so I can't.

 

Before COVID, nothing could derail Thailand from being a top tourist attraction.   The irony was that immigration started getting super strict when things were good.   Then years of nothing.   Then a slow recovery.   Then Chinese were kidnapped, scams, Russian wars, and 60-day stamps brought in negative stories every day (continuing).  People started Googling Vietnam.   The baht got stronger.  Visas got confusing, maybe back to 30 days.  Earthquake.  Now another war.  America is protesting internally, and everything is super expensive abroad.  Scams are now widely understood before planning a trip.  Japan got crazy popular.  

 

My point.....Thailand put tourism in jeopardy, not anything else.  The world has an absolute ton of money.  If Thailand really wants that money, something major needs to happen soon and stop the downward momentum.  Death by a thousand cuts is hard to watch.    

No more 90-day check-in.  No 800k in the bank (figure out a better way).   Possibility to own a house (maybe if living here for 10 years).  Easier Visas (get it all in country).  Easier path to citizenship.   much more, but start there...

That is far too sensible for a Banana Republic of Thailand to comprehend.

[AhFarangJa]

On 6/18/2025 at 6:46 AM, Quentin Zen said:

I could single-handedly end the conflict, save tourism, and humanity.   But Ploy wants to get coffee, so I can't.

 

Before COVID, nothing could derail Thailand from being a top tourist attraction.   The irony was that immigration started getting super strict when things were good.   Then years of nothing.   Then a slow recovery.   Then Chinese were kidnapped, scams, Russian wars, and 60-day stamps brought in negative stories every day (continuing).  People started Googling Vietnam.   The baht got stronger.  Visas got confusing, maybe back to 30 days.  Earthquake.  Now another war.  America is protesting internally, and everything is super expensive abroad.  Scams are now widely understood before planning a trip.  Japan got crazy popular.  

 

My point.....Thailand put tourism in jeopardy, not anything else.  The world has an absolute ton of money.  If Thailand really wants that money, something major needs to happen soon and stop the downward momentum.  Death by a thousand cuts is hard to watch.    

No more 90-day check-in.  No 800k in the bank (figure out a better way).   Possibility to own a house (maybe if living here for 10 years).  Easier Visas (get it all in country).  Easier path to citizenship.   much more, but start there...

Totally agree, and stop the crazy taxing farang pensions scaremongering.