Yeah I don’t know what to believe with their numbers first they write up Tourist wrap up and they write we’re down with Tourist numbers are down it’s the same <deleted> every year with this I don’t know if they know how to count TIT

Then they should value expat retirees better instead of treating them like criminals, dropping the 90 day reporting wood be good place to start.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, kevin612 said:

No matter what happens, the Thai baht will stay strong, tourism is not an issue 

The Thai Baht has gotten stronger since the soldiers staged their illegal coup in 2014, it was around 55 baht to the GBP, then was manipulated by the soldiers government. It only improved very slightly between then leaving office and now.

The Thais never understood why tourists flocked to Thailand and now they don't understand why they have stopped coming. 

 

One reason is that prices have gone up in the tourism sector hugely, compared to competitors like Vietnam that now have vastly improved tourism infrastructure.  Another is all the stories of horrible rip offs, dual pricing, stabbings of tourists by taxi drivers. kidnappings etc that Thai authorities never really do anything to stamp out. 

 

Thailand has some unique attractions  like prostitution but only a small and declining percentage come for that.  Anyway Thai hookers and girly bars are now price gouging.  After getting a bill fo 10,000 baht in a girly bar, not many people want to go back for a second shot.  They are on the way to becoming like the girly bars in Wanchai that were usually empty because they were only there to rip off first time tourists and yankie sailors when the aircraft carriers dumped off 5,000 sex starved farm boys who hadn't had a drink in weeks and all the bars made a killing but handed over nothing in return.   

 

It's simple: Japan and Vietnam are taking over tourism because their currencies are declining, and tourists get great value for their money.

 

Thailand is becoming expensive, and the baht is artificially high, so it's no longer attractive.

 

Even Thais now find it more interesting to vacation in Japan than to stay in destinations in Thailand!

 

How does TAT define a 'tourist'? Pre TDAC was it based on an incoming visitor ticking the box on the Arrival Card? Is it now based on Visa Exemption?

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand has to upgrade amenities and reinvent itself...

The same old year in year out entertainment has faded.

and be bureaucratically easier.  TDAC could be used to replace all the visas rubbish - electronically vet everyone before entry against criminal databases - Thai databases & Interpol database.  SO, if you got a TDAC the no need for visa applications.  Simple.  The track people in Thailand via TM30s, phone usage & purchases.  Dramatically reduce the grief due to excessive paperwork.

4 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I have lived here 25 years, nothing changes only more villas and more condo's going up, I cant walk along the main road where I live, no pavements, a death trap,

In Rawai we are doomed McDonalds has opened up on the beach front, 

Seriously, the infrastructure is out of date, a few months back it took me over 2 hours to do 13km, was it because of the rain? I needed to get to the hospital, could been writing "Dead on Arrival" 

I was always told Chinese are not repeat visitors, 

These days lots of Thai people travel abroad we have friends right now doing 10 days in China, 

Also Phuket is pricing itself out of business or maybe it already has done, 

4 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I have lived here 25 years, nothing changes only more villas and more condo's going up, I cant walk along the main road where I live, no pavements, a death trap,

In Rawai we are doomed McDonalds has opened up on the beach front, 

Seriously, the infrastructure is out of date, a few months back it took me over 2 hours to do 13km, was it because of the rain? I needed to get to the hospital, could been writing "Dead on Arrival" 

I was always told Chinese are not repeat visitors, 

These days lots of Thai people travel abroad we have friends right now doing 10 days in China, 

Also Phuket is pricing itself out of business or maybe it already has done, the cost of flights from the UK has doubled over the last couple of years, 

Unless you fly via China , can be had for 250 pounds one way . I wonder why they are so cheap ?

 

40 minutes ago, MarkBR said:

and be bureaucratically easier.  TDAC could be used to replace all the visas rubbish - electronically vet everyone before entry against criminal databases - Thai databases & Interpol database.  SO, if you got a TDAC the no need for visa applications.  Simple.  The track people in Thailand via TM30s, phone usage & purchases.  Dramatically reduce the grief due to excessive paperwork.

No thanks... Digital tracking used be something, not that long ago,  we looked at China and said 'Ooooo, evil empire violating human rights again'.  Now, post covid, all the shots have gone to our heads and we are all wanting digital tracking????

Not for me thanks...

7 hours ago, anemone said:

I live on Koh Chang and is more like a 70% decrease.... make peace not war would be my recommendation

Sad to say but Koh Chand has still not recovered from covid. 

22 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Don't worry new routes are available so soon the tourists will flock in

Dont you mean new Tat proclamations stating how good tourism is now?

My business model was " be the best at what you know best " ! So'if you know best at Beach and Nightlife than do not waist money in diversify in stuff where other countries are better than you . Consolidate what you are good at and consolidate your tourists first instead of fooling around with markets which doesn't pay ! Try to identify niches of innovative market where there is no competition and get strong in those fields . The new generations of tourists are different than those of 20-30 years ago ...

Today August 6th 2025 the value of 1 us$ is 32.30 Baht

10 years ago August 6th, 2015 the value of the same US dollar was 35.04 Baht.

Continuing like this we will get 30 Baht for 1 US$ and Thailand will receive 0 tourists.

Thailand will not be able to export anything too!!!

the Thai Baht is overvalued and this is the reason of Thailand problems!

7 hours ago, TheTightArseTraveller said:

How to say 'Indian tourists' without saying 'Indian tourists'....lol

 

Or to use a positive spin; no need to travel to India. Pattaya is becoming Calcutta anyway... 😆 

The article mentions Vietnam but that's about it. I don't think you can compare Japan with Thailand. They are two distinctly different destinations - with different kinds of tourists.

 

Vietnam and Thailand are much better comparitors. But I didn't notice the latest numbers of VN vs Thailand.

what day of the week is it ??? 

Sunday up ..  Monday down   wash repeat  xxxxx

11 hours ago, Jiggo said:

Repair the Sidewalks (Pavements) would be a start. 

Sidewalks / pavements all ok in Hua Hin

Obviously the expensive Baht has nothing to do with it

10 hours ago, Hardcastle P said:

Then they should value expat retirees better instead of treating them like criminals, dropping the 90 day reporting wood be good place to start.

 

 

 

Don't you have to have a tracker app on your smart phone as well?  Or did they not go through w/ that?

So many of these stories seem fake or (possibly?) modified based on real things that happened or still happen. I mean everyone that goes to thailand is an alcoholic?  Or is it just the alcoholics that get scammed. Every one of these stories is centered around booze.  No tea to-tilers in thailand?

 

Here are some pointers to why foreigners might find other destinations.

 

1. Global economy, expensive tickets.

2. Taxation of foreigners staying more than 180 days a year.

3. Dual pricing.

4. Too strong baht, making everything more expensive.

5. Immigration and visa issues, and strict immigration officers at borders.

6. Banking issues, very difficult opening new bank accounts.

7. Clash with Cambodia, and closed borders.

8. What on earth happened to the Thai smile?

9. Ripoffs and scams.

10. Burning season.

11. Too many Russians and Indians, signs and menus in Russian.

12. Neverending work on roads and pavements.

 

That said, I personally love being here. It's my retirement destination.

I think the main reason for Japan doing well is the yen is very weak at the moment and nothing to do with Thailand doing anything wrong.  

20 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I have lived here 25 years, nothing changes only more villas and more condo's going up, I cant walk along the main road where I live, no pavements, a death trap,

In Rawai we are doomed McDonalds has opened up on the beach front, 

Seriously, the infrastructure is out of date, a few months back it took me over 2 hours to do 13km, was it because of the rain? I needed to get to the hospital, could been writing "Dead on Arrival" 

I was always told Chinese are not repeat visitors, 

These days lots of Thai people travel abroad we have friends right now doing 10 days in China, 

Also Phuket is pricing itself out of business or maybe it already has done, the cost of flights from the UK has doubled over the last couple of years, 

It's horrible what they're doing to Phuket.   Give it a few years and there won't be any green spaces and you won't have any nice views. It will look more like the concrete jungle that is Bangkok. The only difference will be Phuket will have beaches. I don't doubt they would concrete over that if they were allowed.   

16 hours ago, anemone said:

I live on Koh Chang and is more like a 70% decrease.... make peace not war would be my recommendation

 

You mean now in the green season or does your observation include the last high season?

 

I was on Chang late-January 2024 and it was the busiest I'd ever seen it in the 13 years I've been visiting.

 

You had to sidle thru the aisles at the 7-Elevens.

 

Unpleasant all round and not the way I remember it.

2 hours ago, thaibreaker said:

Here are some pointers to why foreigners might find other destinations.

 

 

8. What on earth happened to the Thai smile?

Vaccination rate in Thailand is reported to be an average of 199 covid vaccine doses per 100 people. The actual percentage of people who didn't take any doses is a little more sketchy to nail down, apparently.

Taking experimental technology has consequences.  Most people everywhere are meaner, and that is putting it mildly.

18 hours ago, anemone said:

I live on Koh Chang and is more like a 70% decrease.... make peace not war would be my recommendation

I love Koh Chang and feel sorry about your recent troubles due to the chaos of border fighting which is certainly a no no for attracting tourists.

As a long time visitor of Koh Chang , I think I have stayed in every  upmarket 

hotel from White Sands to Kai Bee. Mostly the latter.

I will say that the hotels have gone a bit over the top with their rates in the last 2 years. I do admit that it’s not only a problem in KChang, but the island is difficult to get to and for me a car with private driver there and back to Bangkok starts to add up. The flight option doesn’t save time .

Another problem is that I have also noticed that the main villages there are being a bit neglected, with trash . It was much cleaner when there were less tourists.  When you pay more, you expect more.

3 hours ago, Pompeygeezer said:

I think the main reason for Japan doing well is the yen is very weak at the moment and nothing to do with Thailand doing anything wrong.  

Japan is a super fascinating country, lovely people , very polite , lots of food choice, lots to do there, super clean, and marvelous transport. I find the country mesmerizing and hope to go again early April for the Cherry blossom season. 

Saying what not many will say.

If three certain countries went elsewhere, then Thailand would have more success in sustainable tourism.

2 hours ago, Cult of the Sun said:

Vaccination rate in Thailand is reported to be an average of 199 covid vaccine doses per 100 people. The actual percentage of people who didn't take any doses is a little more sketchy to nail down, apparently.

Taking experimental technology has consequences.  Most people everywhere are meaner, and that is putting it mildly.

Hmm. Don't know what to say to that. I guess you didn't do any vaccinations during covid?

 

I didn't either, but for a different reason.

 

I very much doubt that's the reason why the Thai smile has vanished for so many though. But thanks for the input.

18 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I have lived here 25 years, nothing changes only more villas and more condo's going up, I cant walk along the main road where I live, no pavements, a death trap,

In Rawai we are doomed McDonalds has opened up on the beach front, 

Seriously, the infrastructure is out of date, a few months back it took me over 2 hours to do 13km, was it because of the rain? I needed to get to the hospital, could been writing "Dead on Arrival" 

I was always told Chinese are not repeat visitors, 

These days lots of Thai people travel abroad we have friends right now doing 10 days in China, 

Also Phuket is pricing itself out of business or maybe it already has done, the cost of flights from the UK has doubled over the last couple of years, 

What leads to this in your opinion? Why prices are increasing, wihout providing good infrastructures ? 

5 hours ago, Pompeygeezer said:

It's horrible what they're doing to Phuket.   Give it a few years and there won't be any green spaces and you won't have any nice views. It will look more like the concrete jungle that is Bangkok. The only difference will be Phuket will have beaches. I don't doubt they would concrete over that if they were allowed.   

My wife said only a few ago, there will be no tree's left in Phuket,