I can’t tell if those involved are in Thai tourism are naive or just plain stupid. Market expansion and cultural festivals aren’t going to cut it. They need address the key issue, the baht. People want value for money, the baht fluctuates on a daily basis and prices have increased. This is detrimental for tourism. Add the ridiculous conflict with Cambodia, which is being dealt with by almost childish response and the current unstable political situation isn’t assisting the situation either.
Inflation increasing in their own countries is an issue so potential tourists check out the internet for the places that offer the best value for money, hence why Vietnam is becoming more popular in the region. Until those in the tourist industry comprehend this, the almost daily wringing of hands about what to do about the dropping numbers, they’ll be stuck in this vicious circle of incompetence.

2 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

UK has become ridiculously expensive.

 

Exactly and yet the Brits and many others who live in Thailand complain at the cheap prices here, I can not understand it. 

Just now, IsaanGuy said:

I can’t tell if those involved are in Thai tourism are naive or just plain stupid. Market expansion and cultural festivals aren’t going to cut it. They need address the key issue, the baht. People want value for money, the baht fluctuates on a daily basis and prices have increased. This is detrimental for tourism. Add the ridiculous conflict with Cambodia, which is being dealt with by almost childish response, isn’t assisting the situation either. 
Inflation increasing in their own countries is an issue so they check out the internet for the places that offer the best value for money, hence why Vietnam is becoming more popular in the region. Until those in the tourist industry comprehend this, the almost daily wringing of hands about what to do about the dropping numbers, they’ll be stuck in this vicious circle of incompetence.

 

30 to 40 million tourists a year disagree with you.

4 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

We have to fill in the new entry document online or via an app, it took me at least 3 minutes to fill out. 🤣

You can do it on your smart phone but what if you dont have a smart phone? Chances are you are not going to take a computer with you and you dont to waste your time looking for somewhere to use a computer.

3 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

Exactly and yet the Brits and many others who live in Thailand complain at the cheap prices here, I can not understand it. 

Some people will moan about anything. Just shows you what a meaningless life they lead. But, I guess the bar stool will miss them when they are not around.

3 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

You can do it on your smart phone but what if you dont have a smart phone? Chances are you are not going to take a computer with you and you dont to waste your time looking for somewhere to use a computer.

 

If someone does not have a smart phone it means they are far too old to travel or too dim to know where Thailand is in the first place. 😀

Are there still bans on Beach sunbeds and Unbrellas on the beaches ?

1 minute ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

If someone does not have a smart phone it means they are far too old travel or too dim to know where Thailand is in the first place. 😀

What a stupid attitude you have. Does your mother know you are out by yourself?

11 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

Where a non polluted place and cheap in Europe? 

albania, montenegro, bulgaria, moldavia... 

5 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

There are a group of expats staying in An Bang, a back/flash packer destination 5km outside Hoi An towards Da Nang.  I love it there and am going back for April with 10 family members (also going to Nha Trang, Da Lat, Saigon, Phu Quoc and Hanoi).

A back packer destination...wow... No thanks.

5 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

30 to 40 million tourists a year disagree with 

1 minute ago, Photoguy21 said:

What a stupid attitude you have. Does your mother know you are out by yourself?

 

I doubt it, she died twenty years ago. 

 

It is not an attitude though, it is a fact.

 

Just now, IsaanGuy said:

9 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

30 to 40 million tourists a year disagree with 

The tourist figures are down:

 

Thailand received approximately 35.5 million foreign tourists in 2024 but has seen a dip in arrivals in early 2025, with 19.57 million visitors by early August, a 6.56% decrease from the previous year. The government has lowered its 2025 forecast to 34.5 million visitors due to intensifying regional competition and other factors. 

The facts speak for themselves.

1 hour ago, Aussie999 said:

TDAC is free, if being charged then they are not using the Thai government site.

I travel out of LOS quite frequently and have never found the Immig/Govt. TDAC website not working. 

I have it saved as a favourite on my notebook browser(s) and it takes 5 minutes to fill in and submit. 

(Take a look at the Australian arrival card by comparison...more of a lengthy legal declaration!)

 

I've seen lots of 'reminders' on airline  and Travel companies (like TRIP) websites to submit this in the time frame.

I put a reminder alarm on my phone for 3 days before departure back to TH.

Have noticed that, on arrival, Imm never want to see the QR code they send, only your passport. 

5 minutes ago, IsaanGuy said:

The tourist figures are down:

 

Thailand received approximately 35.5 million foreign tourists in 2024 but has seen a dip in arrivals in early 2025, with 19.57 million visitors by early August, a 6.56% decrease from the previous year. The government has lowered its 2025 forecast to 34.5 million visitors due to intensifying regional competition and other factors. 

The facts speak for themselves.

 

I wonder how that compare with other tourist destinations in the world, one dip does not constitute a trend.

 

The number of tourist fluctuate in all countries in the world, plus the year is not over yet so we do not know what the final count will be. 

9 minutes ago, diveasia666 said:

A back packer destination...wow... No thanks.

The Watermark and The Shoreline Stay are both boutique hotels with about 8 or so rooms, swimming pools and cocktails available at the pool.

 

Definitely not backpacker level.

 

 

11 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I doubt it, she died twenty years ago. 

 

It is not an attitude though, it is a fact.

 

Just you have brought yourself up. You didnt do a good job of it

4 minutes ago, orchidfan said:

I travel out of LOS quite frequently and have never found the Immig/Govt. TDAC website not working. 

I have it saved as a favourite on my notebook browser(s) and it takes 5 minutes to fill in and submit. 

(Take a look at the Australian arrival card by comparison...more of a lengthy legal declaration!)

 

I've seen lots of 'reminders' on airline  and Travel companies (like TRIP) websites to submit this in the time frame.

I put a reminder alarm on my phone for 3 days before departure back to TH.

Have noticed that, on arrival, Imm never want to see the QR code they send, only your passport. 

 

Yes as was my experience when I arrived back in Thailand a few weeks ago.

 

It took a few minutes to fill out the form and ten minutes to get through immigration.

 

I nearly died of exhaustion and through the pure shock of the experience. 🤣

1 minute ago, Photoguy21 said:

Just you have brought yourself up. You didnt do a good job of it

 

I was 49 at the time she died so I had already been well brought up and educated. 

 

Not all of us old folks are illiterate when it comes to smart phones and the like, especially after 40 years as a software engineer. 

 

Do you live in a cave and light fires by rubbing stick together?

22 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

If someone does not have a smart phone it means they are far too old to travel or too dim to know where Thailand is in the first place. 😀

Agree.

And the old paper TM6....what if you didn't have a pen 5555

Not so good news, the price of Bangkok hotels will go up, if they follow the usual Thai business logic..

2 minutes ago, orchidfan said:

Agree.

And the old paper TM6....what if you didn't have a pen 5555

 

Or the pen had run out of ink, we can recharge an iPhone at the airport or on the plane. 😄

47 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

This assumes everyone has a smart phone which is not true.

Nonsense.  That's about as rational as saying that not everyone has electricity.  Which part of society that is travelling internationally doesn't have a phone?  

20 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I was 49 at the time she died so I had already been well brought up and educated. 

 

Not all of us old folks are illiterate when it comes to smart phones and the like, especially after 40 years as a software engineer. 

 

Do you live in a cave and light fires by rubbing stick together?

You say you have been well brought up and educated.

You have been a software engineer and are far from being illiterate with smart phones.

You are in a strong position to mock the cavemen who are less fortunate.

But you lack empathy.

20 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I dont know what it's like around where you guys live? I can think of a few unfinished projects here in Phuket, one will never be finished for this time next year and another will not be ready for high season, That will create a good impression on the tourist who will end up breaking their necks walking around,

Always another Scam around the corner, that new TDAC people are gtting charged for it on some web sites, I was talking to a woman who paid $42, 

There are many reasons for a fall in western tourists. Exchange rates , tho new tourists don’t bother with that. The building collapse near Chatuchak made world headlines for days. Sinkhole too. Very bad infrastructure, lack of safe walkways/pavements, you cannot cross a road safely ! In your face prostitution / trans thieves/ drugs on every corner do not attract families. Big article on soi 6 Pattaya with explicit photo/ film blurred out. Drunk tourists , the list goes on. 
Thailand needs a huge clean up !! Even Phuket has earned its bad reputation.

Thai government has no expertise in tourism except the useless TAT .

France is about the same population, has 100.000 tourists in 2024 and rising .   Seawater is clean with regular check results, everything for handicapped people, lifts, rooms, beaches with ramps and help into sea with staff. Proper pavements , clean kitchens and qualified staff who have actually had an education unlike Thai people. Spain, Italy, Austria, Scandinavian, Portugal doing very well . People are fed up of paying thousands to get to Thailand for what they are offering. Stay close to home, great holiday, save money.

1 minute ago, geisha said:

There are many reasons for a fall in western tourists. Exchange rates , tho new tourists don’t bother with that. The building collapse near Chatuchak made world headlines for days. Sinkhole too. Very bad infrastructure, lack of safe walkways/pavements, you cannot cross a road safely ! In your face prostitution / trans thieves/ drugs on every corner do not attract families. Big article on soi 6 Pattaya with explicit photo/ film blurred out. Drunk tourists , the list goes on. 
Thailand needs a huge clean up !! Even Phuket has earned its bad reputation.

Thai government has no expertise in tourism except the useless TAT .

France is about the same population, has 100.000 tourists in 2024 and rising .   Seawater is clean with regular check results, everything for handicapped people, lifts, rooms, beaches with ramps and help into sea with staff. Proper pavements , clean kitchens and qualified staff who have actually had an education unlike Thai people. Spain, Italy, Austria, Scandinavian, Portugal doing very well . People are fed up of paying thousands to get to Thailand for what they are offering. Stay close to home, great holiday, save money.

One hundred Million tourists.!!!!! Sorry. 

21 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

I think this needs some global context. For example, is foreign tourism to other countries also down? Or up? Or level with previous year?

 

Reportedly, Chinese arrivals in Japan and Vietnam are through the roof, and so are Korean arrivals in Vietnam, as well as Thai tourist numbers in Cambodia and Bangladesh...

 

Westerners still coming to Thailand, but Chinese mostly opting for greener pastures, so, yes, 39.9 million international arrivals (2019) may have been the peak for years to come...

19 hours ago, BarraMarra said:

Everyday figures are produced by some Government in Thailand be it AOT or TAT or other groups stating figures or saying the worry is the decline of foreighn tourism. Some pump out the old " we are projecting " or we indicate " all rubbish instead of telling the truth. All they think about is the Chinese visitors. An old saying placing all your eggs in one basket. Thinking they will once return this or next year clinging on to to the hope they will return pre covid. You never hear or see them looking at European markets to turn away tourists from places like Spain or Greece where there booming destinations. Look at how they treat there tourists and at least make an effort instead of waiting for the Chinese golden Egg.

 

19 hours ago, BarraMarra said:

Everyday figures are produced by some Government in Thailand be it AOT or TAT or other groups stating figures or saying the worry is the decline of foreighn tourism. Some pump out the old " we are projecting " or we indicate " all rubbish instead of telling the truth. All they think about is the Chinese visitors. An old saying placing all your eggs in one basket. Thinking they will once return this or next year clinging on to to the hope they will return pre covid. You never hear or see them looking at European markets to turn away tourists from places like Spain or Greece where there booming destinations. Look at how they treat there tourists and at least make an effort instead of waiting for the Chinese golden Egg.

Spain and Greece “Look at how they treat there (sic) tourists”.

You mean Spain and Greece whose inhabitants have been demonstrating this year with placards saying “Tourists not welcome here” and “Tourists go home “?

3 minutes ago, geisha said:

There are many reasons for a fall in western tourists. Exchange rates , tho new tourists don’t bother with that. The building collapse near Chatuchak made world headlines for days. Sinkhole too. Very bad infrastructure, lack of safe walkways/pavements, you cannot cross a road safely ! In your face prostitution / trans thieves/ drugs on every corner do not attract families. Big article on soi 6 Pattaya with explicit photo/ film blurred out. Drunk tourists , the list goes on. 
Thailand needs a huge clean up !! Even Phuket has earned its bad reputation.

Thai government has no expertise in tourism except the useless TAT .

France is about the same population, has 100.000 tourists in 2024 and rising .   Seawater is clean with regular check results, everything for handicapped people, lifts, rooms, beaches with ramps and help into sea with staff. Proper pavements , clean kitchens and qualified staff who have actually had an education unlike Thai people. Spain, Italy, Austria, Scandinavian, Portugal doing very well . People are fed up of paying thousands to get to Thailand for what they are offering. Stay close to home, great holiday, save money.

100 million tourists to France 2024. Makes your points even stronger. 

22 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Could it be a lousy exchange rate and the fact that police are descending on clubs like storm troopers?

 

You think? Yeah, definitely turn-offs that add to scams, overcharging, high prices, alcohol laws, etc., etc.