Direct competition from Vietnam now, which is experiencing record tourism.

On 7/4/2026 at 10:41 AM, Priorexpat said:

In typical Thai style, up the price!

I was going to say that but you got there first. Typical business model....no customers at the bars so lets raise the price of beer to make up for the loss.

It seems to be the right time to make it more difficult for tourists to enter and stay in Thailand! 😆

On 7/4/2026 at 12:43 AM, Georgealbert said:

Pattaya’s tourism sector is experiencing a particularly weak low season, with tourist numbers falling in Pattaya and Chon Buri, leaving many hotels unable to reach break-even occupancy levels. Many properties are reporting occupancy rates of just 15 to 20%, below the estimated break-even threshold of 40 to 50%.

The exact same whining from the tourist industry comes like clockwork every single low season.

Like clockwork, the TAT starts campaigns to increase tourist numbers over quality tourists, every single time badly thought through and ranging from ineffective to outright absurd and laughable.

Like clockwork, every high season, when those tourists then finally come -- magically, because nothing the TAT did would have been a reason -- the Tourism Ministry warns of too many tourists and that we would rather want quality instead of quantity.

And the wheel of time turns and turns... at least since 2004, when they abandonded the slogan "Amazing Thailand", one of the very few advertising campaigns that really worked.

No surprise with the steep drop people keep taking from balconies there

Thailand is developing a reputation for not being tourist friendly, when it comes to visa policy. Such inconsistencies and lack of a coherent strategy. First too easy, allowing criminals and lowlifes to enter easily, now too cumbersome, discouraging real tourists.

Until this nation gets smart adults as leaders, they will continue to march backwards into oblivion. Likely good for us expats, but I feel for rhe hard working locals just trying to make a living. Time to start lowering prices.

Two weeks ago I was travelling from Bangkok to Pattaya. It was the first in my 20 plus years in Thailand that the 10.30 am (rush hour) bus leaving Ekamai station was half empty. The slow down in Pattaya tourism is real.

14 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Direct competition from Vietnam now, which is experiencing record tourism.

Yes, we went to Da Nang last year and the room rate was about 40% of a comparable hotel in Phuket. Western meals in restaurants were about half the price in Thailand (and generally better prepared). It was only the street food where prices were on a par.

Every year I fly back and forth to Europe; apart from during the Covid pandemic, I’ve never seen the plane so empty on my flight back to LoS as I did recently in June.

I’m convinced that this is due to the unrest in the Middle East, particularly the stopovers there; these flights are usually cheaper than direct ones.

On 7/4/2026 at 10:41 AM, Woke to Sounds said:

They need to clean the drains, drain the swamps and mop the g-dmn floors.

Traditional Western backpackers, who'd propped up the tourist economy for decades, are no longer feeling welcome in LoS.

TH can still save itself, but it's gonna take brass balls.

On 7/4/2026 at 10:41 AM, Woke to Sounds said:

They need to clean the drains, drain the swamps and mop the g-dmn floors.

Traditional Western backpackers, who'd propped up the tourist economy for decades, are no longer feeling welcome in LoS.

TH can still save itself, but it's gonna take brass balls.

On 7/4/2026 at 10:41 AM, Woke to Sounds said:

They need to clean the drains, drain the swamps and mop the g-dmn floors.

Traditional Western backpackers, who'd propped up the tourist economy for decades, are no longer feeling welcome in LoS.

TH can still save itself, but it's gonna take brass balls.

100 percent correct. They need to refocus on what made Thailand, and South Asia popular, The back packers , the ones who supported small local businesses.

On 7/4/2026 at 9:59 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

Still, there are probably far more tourists than there were in 1980.

What are they complaining about?

You have not done your homework GG. Low season has always low season. Who wants to come somewhere during rainy monsoon season.

As to families tell me which countries have a healthy fin set up with cash for long trips.

The problem is not so much the lack of tourists but a country where they have saturated the market with too many massage, too many hotels and in the case of Phuket and pats too many bars.

Instead of doing what the west does and let the best business last and others fail. They want money to keep them alive when the market is bad but let them screw the people and tourists when it is good.

16 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Direct competition from Vietnam now, which is experiencing record tourism.

My thought as well- I suspect in another 3 or 4 years Vietnam will have more tourists annually than Thailand

1 hour ago, banyanman said:

Yes, we went to Da Nang last year and the room rate was about 40% of a comparable hotel in Phuket. Western meals in restaurants were about half the price in Thailand (and generally better prepared). It was only the street food where prices were on a par.

38 baht a beer in an air conditioned bar. Cheaper in a little hole in the wall bar.

Tourism up 14.9% in the first six months of 2026, compared to the same time in 2025.

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/international-tourist-arrivals-to-vietnam-rise-nearly-15-in-first-half-of-2026-post347706.vnp

What's Thailand do to compete? "Money go down, put price up." 😂

10 minutes ago, Legal Lifeline said:

My thought as well- I suspect in another 3 or 4 years Vietnam will have more tourists annually than Thailand

I mentioned similar a long time ago and was ridiculed on this forum.

The chickens are coming home to roost for Thailand. No investment in tourism infrastructure. Thailand thought the tourists, and their money, would just keep coming here forever.

When western tourist numbers dropped, they propped up the tourist stats with cheap Chinese package holiday makers. The zero baht tourists. No money in that.

Slowly, Thailand has outpriced itself in the South East Asian tourism market, and we are now seeing the effects.

On 7/4/2026 at 10:41 AM, Priorexpat said:

In typical Thai style, up the price!

Any examples? I'm staying in Bangkok this month and hotel rates I've checked haven't increased. AirAsia have doubled the airfare, but so have all airlines, Thai or not.

6 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I mentioned similar a long time ago and was ridiculed on this forum.

The chickens are coming home to roost for Thailand. No investment in tourism infrastructure. Thailand thought the tourists, and their money, would just keep coming here forever.

When western tourist numbers dropped, they propped up the tourist stats with cheap Chinese package holiday makers. The zero baht tourists. No money in that.

Slowly, Thailand has outpriced itself in the South East Asian tourism market, and we are now seeing the effects.

I agree with you entirely

I was taught many years ago by a very experienced old lawyer one simple rule - look after your clients or someone else will

I think Vietnam will learn from the errors that Thailand has made over the years and hopefully will not repeat them in their country

1 hour ago, Billpro785 said:

100 percent correct. They need to refocus on what made Thailand, and South Asia popular, The back packers , the ones who supported small local businesses.

Also, the ones who don't get in fights every night of the week, as reported on AN and elsewhere.

Pattaya.....at some point, the bad reputation precedes you.😏

1 hour ago, Billpro785 said:

They need to refocus on what made Thailand, and South Asia popular

That would be sex tourism. I think Thailand is way ahead in that sector of the tourism market. 😂

The more restrictive visa exempt exempt rules haven't even come into effect yet and they are already moaning about a lack of tourists? Amazing.

On 7/4/2026 at 9:44 PM, ikke1959 said:

They could have given promotions like simple things free breakfasts, an excursion by staying 7 or more nights, upgrade of a room,

Agree, they could/should. Having said that, some do exactly that. They often target the Thai market too.

So occupancy is at 20 to 25%

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Any examples? I'm staying in Bangkok this month and hotel rates I've checked haven't increased. AirAsia have doubled the airfare, but so have all airlines, Thai or not.

but it seems to be low season, and the hotel rates did not went down too??

2 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

Who wants to come somewhere during rainy monsoon season.

Speak for yourself.

Each to his or her own.

I love the sound of rain on my tin roof.

I doubt it will go tit's up, Thai's love bright lights and flashy things. A few Issan girls may be heading home until it picks up.

4 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

but it seems to be low season, and the hotel rates did not went down too??

PriorExpat wrote that prices have risen. I wrote that from what I've seen they haven't. Whether they should have gone down, maybe. But for mid-range hotels the difference is usually small, 200 or 300 a night. Hardly a deal breaker if they haven't gone down. Airfares are far more significant and, as I wrote, they have all increased - not only Thai airlines. The huge increases would certainly discourage me from flying long haul. Maybe, maybe, the daily reports of fights, attacks and robberies in Pattaya have played a part in discouraging visitors to the 'family friendly resort'. The article doesn't say whether the lack of visitors cover all kinds or a particular type.

1500-3000 baht barfines, 2-300 baht ladydrinks, mandatory lady and man drinks not to talk about the girls demand. More expensive than in Monaco.

On 7/4/2026 at 5:43 AM, Georgealbert said:

with tourist numbers falling in Pattaya and Chon Buri,

I am not surprised, who would want to visit Pattaya these days?

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Speak for yourself.

Each to his or her own.

I love the sound of rain on my tin roof.

Yeah but if you had your family and 3 kiddies would you be just as happy

I agree rains here are not bad but would not want to come here with a young family during the rain

On 7/4/2026 at 4:44 AM, greeneking said:

Did they? Really? Where?

Everywhere as per usual. 🤷🏼