Why are there so "few" tourists in Thailand now?

[Jack Lumber]

Why are there so "few" tourists in Thailand now?

Could it be because more and more go to Vietnam and other countries instead? I honestly dont know, but have reflected a bit latelly as they still are wondering where the tourists are.

Thailand is not the only country in Southeast Asia with nice beaches and palm trees.

But of course, that was one of the main reasons why tourists come her for some weeks away from stress and cold weather. Everybody talked about Thailand, and these talks spread from mouth to mouth. Many of them also bought house or condo here so they could relax in a nice climate when they retire. Everybody said Thailand is a wonderful country.
 

Shortly after covid the world was desperate to travel again, especially the people from my part of the world, freezing cold Scandinavia. There were still restrictions everywhere, like vaccination etc. But people would pay a fortune to chill and enjoy a hot beach again.

In Thailand they estimated how many trillions they could earn every day when the tourists came back, it was all in the news. Credentials and number of stamps and requirements changed almost daily. More and more expensive and complicated. And the estimates of how much money they could earn just went higher and higher.

In the meantime Vietnam said "come to us instead". Here it is easy and predicatble.
 

It became so unpredictable that all large travel agencies in Scandinavia removed Thailand from their destination (!!!!) and sent the tourists to Vietnam instead. Where I am sure they had a good and hassle free holidays. And these people wont go elsewhere on their next holidays .. every year. And perhaps live there when they retire.
 

I live in a small city south of BKK. And I read the local news here after they got license as a "safe city" so they could have quaranteen hotels. And the local governement estimated 20 000 tourists to arrive within the first month. Most of them with their private jets (!!). Less than 100 came! Not with private jet, but in an overpriced taxi from Suvarnabhumi, to stay in an over priced "quaranteen" hotel before they were allowed to enjoy being here. My guess is that most were expats just wanting to come back. The tourists? They probably laid on the beach in Vietnam and couldnt care less.

So, mostly expats came back during that time. And we are the ones who support local business also during low seasons.
 

Now they also want to make it more complicated for expats. So I am starting to be a bit fed up too. "Quality expats" (means super rich people) is what they want. And that will boost the economy above the sky. I read it in the news!!
 

Have too many good friends here to move to Vietnam. Or Malaysia, Cambodia or whatever. But I think I would feel much more appreciated and welcome there.
Am I a quality expat? Probably not as I am not super rich. But I have been following the laws, paying respct to the culture and tradition. And I always smile to the locals and treat them with utter respect.
 

So what surprises me is that they still scratch their heads and wonder where the tourists are. And every time, the way to solve it is more complicated and expensive rules. Everybody still talks about Thailand, and that should never be underestimated, even if it is not in the news.
Just ask any taxi driver in Bangkok, he won't understand either.

[Ralf001]

low season.... use google.

[Kwausie]

Definitely low season, have never seen some bars so empty, think maybe so much uncertainty in the world with wars and Trump etc even hard to enter the States at the moment, have to cross your t’s and dot your i’s