6 minutes ago, MarkBR said:

They use astrology

 

Or crystal ball.

 

6 hours ago, dyertribe said:

I wonder why tourists are no longer coming?

TAT "values" own country's image.

But business as usual: Built-in  rip-off remains lol.

2 minutes ago, Zack61 said:

I concur. Right now they have made it too easy for entry into the country with the exact opposite outcome they hope to achieve. The place is overrun with a bunch of people from the other end of the spectrum who add nothing more than mass, which in turn is a deterrent to value tourism. 

I don’t quite see the connection between the low level people at the other end of the spectrum due to ease of entry, and high value tourists.

 

Both stay in different hotels, frequent different eateries, do different things.

 

The issue is that there are plenty of attractions here for the low value people and little of value for the high end tourist, other than high end hotels and spas which the high value tourist doesn’t move out of. 
 

So the issue isn’t ease of entry for all, it’s the value proposition of what Thailand offers. In the main it’s attractive for low end visitors and over the years the country has gained that brand and reputation.
For high end visitors there just isn’t that much to attract them and certainly no cache for having been here.

 

Hence, you attract the people with what you have on offer, and mass tourism is it.

 

You can turn off mass tourism low value tourists through tighter, shorter visa regulations, but do you think that will attract high end tourists? No. Because Thailand would still not have enough of what the high end tourist wants. It simply would mean that you have neither.

 

Its product offering, not ease of access, that is the issue.

How do they really define value? More Chinese?

On my last trip to Thailand last year I looked at booking a domestic flight from bkk to Udon Thani. Some of the add ons like Baggage fee were more than the flight itself.

As if the Chinese were top quality tourists...

I remember the first time the TAT went for value and looked down of backpackers, who bought street food and bought stuff in ordinary markets that the rich studiously avoided by only shopping in airconditioned malls. The backpackers gave money to ordinary Thais while the rich gave to the same billionaires who hid their money in Panama.

2 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

I don’t quite see the connection between the low level people at the other end of the spectrum due to ease of entry, and high value tourists.

 

Both stay in different hotels, frequent different eateries, do different things.

 

The issue is that there are plenty of attractions here for the low value people and little of value for the high end tourist, other than high end hotels and spas which the high value tourist doesn’t move out of. 
 

So the issue isn’t ease of entry for all, it’s the value proposition of what Thailand offers. In the main it’s attractive for low end visitors and over the years the country has gained that brand and reputation.
For high end visitors there just isn’t that much to attract them and certainly no cache for having been here.

 

Hence, you attract the people with what you have on offer, and mass tourism is it.

 

You can turn off mass tourism low value tourists through tighter, shorter visa regulations, but do you think that will attract high end tourists? No. Because Thailand would still not have enough of what the high end tourist wants. It simply would mean that you have neither.

 

Its product offering, not ease of access, that is the issue.

and often commentators confuse having money with decency; assuming that rich people are high quality people and poorer people are low quality.  Patently absolute rubbish -  look at recent & not so recent history & individuals, their relative wealth & whether they were judged as moral decent human beings.

5 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Thailand Shifts Tourism Strategy Toward Value Over Volume

Been there, done that, didn't work. 

LMAO! They never give up, do they!? Every year "same same, but not different"🤣🤣

31 minutes ago, terryofcrete said:

I go straight to city hospital on Buakhao and borrow a zimmer as the yanks call it for the holidays . Gets me a discount in Kink Go go and cheap Charlie’s ! 

Great idea

6 hours ago, dyertribe said:

I wonder why tourists are no longer coming?

We have more money- what do you expect? Go home if you don't like.

5 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

Someone needs to learn how to write clear prose. What a mess.

 

Chinese for various reasons not coming. Lots of serious issues including armed robberies, kidnapping. Chinese economy is also in toilet

 

The roads and boats are not safe. No idea how to fix that. Nothing really safe and that's not good for families

 

Tourist centers have become epicenters for petty crime which victims never compensated. Scams, thefts, assault.

 

Thailand will do nothing in the end.

 

The problem is world economic stagnation in general.

 

Millions have been and done Thailand and done with Thailand

 

Thailand will never EVER appeal to wealthy. Even if a few do come it will be one and done. Look at the rabble entering and existing immigration some time lol.

 

Alcohol bans, alcohol taxes.

 

All the while Thailand makes trouble for expat community. Visa and banking hassles, TAXES, discrimination often legal...

 

If they were smart they'd do a real expat package for the 55+ retirees. Easy banking, home ownership, no taxes on property purchase every 7 years (only one house), government health insurance. Maybe even a weed card for potheads.

 

If Thailand continues on this road it could soon see expat exodus. All it might take is the sour economy already taking shape, continued political stagnation.

 

====

 

Most of all what a bullshi+ thing to do... Thailand has all but given up on its people and industry and pins its entire future on a foreigners coming to the country to parasail and ride elephants.

 

Vaccus pols, totally devoid of ideas.

It's an adventure! Let the young Chinese come here and toughen up a bit away from the mollycoddling communist regime.  Serious crime is not a problem in Thailand except that which the Chinese bring themselves. Because they have more freedom here! They can't organise crime in China because the way the place is organised. Only the leaders can commit crimes. And they do!

I think there has to be done more than to exchange these 2 words

44 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

On my last trip to Thailand last year I looked at booking a domestic flight from bkk to Udon Thani. Some of the add ons like Baggage fee were more than the flight itself.

Have you ever flown Ryanair, Easyjet or any budget carrier in Europe? They are much worse than the Asian equivalents. In fact many major airlines are also following this model now. 

 

 

7 hours ago, dyertribe said:

I wonder why tourists are no longer coming?

 

I have a PINK Card, YELLOW House Book, THAI ARMY Hospital ID card, two other Thai Govt Issued ID's, all shown to gate attendant (  I have lived here 12 years ) and my Thai wife was told I had to pay the foreigner price for a National attraction my wife had never visited before.    Sucks!!!

 

 

Just now, edwardflory said:

 

I have a PINK Card, YELLOW House Book, THAI ARMY Hospital ID card, two other Thai Govt Issued ID's, all shown to gate attendant (  I have lived here 12 years ) and my Thai wife was told I had to pay the foreigner price for a National attraction my wife had never visited before.    Sucks!!!

 

 

You are not Thai.

Yet make the special gate for Chinese on arrival.What a silly thing to do.

They really get panicking now but its to late.They only talk about trillions of baht everyday and it never stops.

 

Something must be working, quite a few Chinese appered in the seafood market yesterday evening, I know a chef at 5 star hotel and she said the last few days a few Chinese booking in, 

2 hours ago, Formaleins said:

 

Does Thailand plan the economy and the future of the country using an hourly timeline?

 

Or do they ever do any research before making these plans ? Could they not talk to their target audiences ? It always seems like pie in the sky. 

A friend of mine is working in Norway on an oil rig on a 2 Month on - 2 Month off schedule. He comes to Thailand every time when he has 2 months off. That he got his Thai bank account blocked so he had to visit the office he had opened it to "unblock" it they just gave him his money and closed the account. Not allowed to have.

 

Things like that does not help Tourism also.

2 minutes ago, Eaglekott said:

A friend of mine is working in Norway on an oil rig on a 2 Month on - 2 Month off schedule. He comes to Thailand every time when he has 2 months off. That he got his Thai bank account blocked so he had to visit the office he had opened it to "unblock" it they just gave him his money and closed the account. Not allowed to have.

 

Things like that does not help Tourism also.

Did he get given a reason?

12 minutes ago, topt said:

Did he get given a reason?

That he could not open a Bank account unless he had a one year VISA. Im not even sure people with DTV Visa can open a account since they have to leave the country at least every 6 months.

No. No matter how many excuses they make, this shortfall is largely due to an utter and complete refusal to address the dozen or so problems that have plagued Thailand for the last decade and a half. 

 

Covid was a generational opportunity to reset this whole thing, learn from past mistakes, make some major improvements, change policy, lower luxury taxes, lower wine taxes, improve public transit, make it easier for people to get around, increase regional flight hubs, improve public safety, and more.

 

The list goes on infinitum. They just don't get it, and the ninnies just keep deflecting blame. 

1 hour ago, MarkBR said:

You are not Thai.

 

Youre a quick one eh. 

3 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

I don’t quite see the connection between the low level people at the other end of the spectrum due to ease of entry, and high value tourists.

 

Both stay in different hotels, frequent different eateries, do different things.

 

The issue is that there are plenty of attractions here for the low value people and little of value for the high end tourist, other than high end hotels and spas which the high value tourist doesn’t move out of. 
 

So the issue isn’t ease of entry for all, it’s the value proposition of what Thailand offers. In the main it’s attractive for low end visitors and over the years the country has gained that brand and reputation.
For high end visitors there just isn’t that much to attract them and certainly no cache for having been here.

 

Hence, you attract the people with what you have on offer, and mass tourism is it.

 

You can turn off mass tourism low value tourists through tighter, shorter visa regulations, but do you think that will attract high end tourists? No. Because Thailand would still not have enough of what the high end tourist wants. It simply would mean that you have neither.

 

Its product offering, not ease of access, that is the issue.

 

 

The problem is that Thailand has low-end tourists, but prices are increasingly high-end.

 

Someone at TOT thought that by setting high-end prices they would attract high-end tourists, and what they've achieved is scaring away their usual tourists, who now go to Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, and even Japan.

 

 

1 hour ago, Eaglekott said:

That he could not open a Bank account unless he had a one year VISA.

Sorry I'm confused. Opening one I understand but you said he had one and it got blocked and then closed?

13 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo for reference only

 

Thailand's tourism industry is bracing for a bumpy ride this year, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) projecting revenue to reach 2.87 trillion baht, falling short of the 3-trillion-baht target.

 

This shortfall is largely due to a sluggish Chinese market and ongoing global uncertainties. However, TAT remains optimistic, aiming for a 7% growth leading to 3 trillion baht by 2026.

 

Plans to introduce a 300-baht tourism tax have been postponed to next year to avoid deterring tourists. The decision came after a TAT Action Plan 2026 meeting, where strategies were discussed to steer the future course of tourism in Thailand. TAT governor, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, likened this year's tourism landscape to a "rollercoaster ride" due to its volatility.

 

With safety concerns affecting major markets like China, TAT is pivoting towards new opportunities in regions such as the Middle East. European markets, including the UK, France, and Germany, are expected to contribute significantly, each attracting around 1 million visitors. The overall target for foreign arrivals has been set at 35.5 million, matching 2024 levels and generating 1.77 trillion baht, while domestic tourism should add at least 1.1 trillion baht.

 

To revitalise international interest, incentives for chartered flights and partnerships with global airlines are in the pipeline. Looking ahead to 2026, TAT plans to shift focus from sheer volume to enhancing tourism value and spending, aspiring to reclaim the revenue levels seen in 2019.

 

Efforts will further concentrate on appealing to high-potential traveller segments, bolstering Thailand's safety image, and establishing it as a trustworthy destination. Key areas for development include sustainable tourism, supply chain improvements, and the promotion of Thailand’s cultural assets.

 

Vice-Minister of Tourism Jakkaphon Tangsutthitham highlighted the need for Thailand to adapt and stay competitive amid geopolitical uncertainties and fierce regional competition. The plan to implement the tourism fee is likely to be reconsidered in the second or third quarter of 2026.

 

While challenges persist, Thailand's tourism sector is strategically positioning itself for recovery, with hopes pinned on a steady growth trajectory and increased revenue by 2026.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-07-15

 

 

Forgot how many times i’ve heard this 💩 Nothing will ever change. 🤷🏼

Post breaking forum rules removec.

 

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9 hours ago, captain_shane said:

Holy cow, you're the types they coined the term Cheap Charlie for. Every door you walk through is charging you service fees? Seriously? Even if every door charged you $3 each, that's 30 doors for less than $100, hardly a bloody expensive holiday. Stay home dude, you can't afford to travel if $100 is gonna break you.

You don't get it.

It's the principle he's talking about.

Just how is that achieved?

Close down walking street?

Close down Bangkok night life?

Value tourism goes up - employment goes down?

Value tourists tend to want culture not booze and girls?

If that is the objective it's a long term strategy not an overnight headline.

How many times have I heard this. They have no option but to try, but it is too late. The past policies have ruined Thailand for quality tourists and expats. Day late and a dollar short.