Thailand Aims For More Mid-east Tourists

[george]

Thailand aims for more mid-east tourists

BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand is targeting more medical and wealthy tourists from Middle Eastern countries now that the agency has set up an office in Dubai.

It is the TAT's 21st overseas office and the first in the Middle East.

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said last week that the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the Middle East were becoming more important markets for tourism because Thailand and these nations now enjoy closer relations.

He said the cooperation in trade between the Kingdom and the Middle East had gradually increased during the past 10 years, and now the tourism business is becoming more vital.

Weerasak said the agencies would promote niche products to the region, especially hospital, healthcare and medical activities. "We now have many world-class operators to serve medical and healthcare needs, and tourists from the Middle East are key targets."

The private sector is also promoting Thailand as a medical hub as part of making the country a better destination.

Agencies plan to initiate more activities and marketing strategies during this low season to lure more tourists from those countries.

"The new TAT office in Dubai will help by working with local agents to add Thailand to their packages," said Weerasak.

Meanwhile, the TAT will be negotiating with Emirates airline to operate more flights between Bangkok and Dubai. The government will also encourage expatriates living in Thailand and multinational companies based in the Middle East to increase investment.

TAT governor Phornsiri Manoharn, said the agency was running a joint promotion with a department store chain to promote Thailand.

The partner will be bringing celebrities to Thailand for photo shoots and also taking them to visit tourist attractions. The TAT expects the campaign to reach more than 300,000 targeted tourists.

Phornsiri said her agency would advertise Thailand tourism products in Emirates' holiday magazine, to which all airlines subscribe.

The TAT will be introducing Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, Koh Chang and other emerging destinations, and also new boutique hotels.

"The TAT is also talking with Emirates to run a direct flight between Dubai and Phuket," said Phornsiri.

The TAT and operators recently joined the Arabian Travel Mart in Dubai, at which 50 per cent of operators attended for the first time while more than 70 per cent believed the mart would increase their sales volume.

-- The Nation 2008-05-19

[basjke]

And this is another article opposing the whole thing.

Medical tourism poses threat to public healthcare system

source: The Nation May 15, 2008

There is a growing realisation within Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS) that its attempts to promote the country as a regional medical hub may make retaining physicians within the public healthcare system difficult.

The centre is now trying to address the challenge by taking it up with all concerned agencies.

Dr Pornchai Matangkhasombat, a professor emeritius and president of TCELS' board of directors, said a new challenge for TCELS was

how to keep a balance between promoting the country as a medical hub that would generate huge income for the country while retaining a universal public healthcare system.

"We can't go further than this. We have 2 million foreign patients already and it is affecting the country's healthcare. Private hospitals have sucked human health resources from public hospitals. Even medical schools have lost their top experts," he said.

Pornchai said TCELS will have a discussion with all agencies to look for a way out together.

"Thailand as a medical hub needs to be promoted, but the programme must be implemented with a balance, he said. "We cannot allow it to damage the country's healthcare system."

He suggested that a possible way out is to control the number of

foreign patients who come to receive medical care in the country.

One way of doing that could be to increase the treatment costs for foreign patients.

One reason foreigners come for medical care is to take advantage of the lower cost of the treatment available here, he said.

Chief executive of TCELS' board of directors Dr Thongchai Thavichachart encouraged small private hospitals to improve their facilities to prepare to serve more foreign patients.

Thongchai said TCELS was going to hold a special lecture for private hospitals. The speaker will be an expert in developing big private hospitals to meet international standards, a measure that will attract foreign patients.

"The lecture will provide a chance to small private hospitals to seek advice from experts to get involved in the medical hub project," he said.

Thongchai said since the medical hub project was promoted in 2003, the number of foreign patients increased by more than 50 per cent. He expected the numbers to get even bigger.

One effect the medical hub project had on the country's healthcare system turned into a big concern for the Public Health Ministry - many top medical specialists have jumped to the private sector since the project was launched in 2003 by the Thaksin Shinawatra government.

The medical hub project includes three facets that aim to boost medical services, such as sickness prevention, spa services and Thai massage. It also promotes Thai herbal medicinal products.

[thaigene2]

So does this mean more bhurka-dodging in lower Sukhumvit when trying to get from Soi 3 up to 11? Some of these women are as wide as the pavement (or what little is left of it after the hawkers have invaded it)! Not being racist here, but I try to avoid brushing against them when passing them in the overcrowded area (since I believe you're supposed to avoid touching a muslim woman even by accident)...

[geriatrickid]

Post 1: Desperate and ill advised. When you lose credibility with tier 1 tourists and even tier 2 tourists (junket travelers) you go to tier 3.

Post 2: Finally. Someone woke up.

Post 3: You can expect that and alot more behaviour that will make the worst of the tier 2 drunkards seem to be polite and generous in comparison.

[Felt 35]

Post 1: Desperate and ill advised. When you lose credibility with tier 1 tourists and even tier 2 tourists (junket travelers) you go to tier 3.

Post 2: Finally. Someone woke up.

Post 3: You can expect that and alot more behaviour that will make the worst of the tier 2 drunkards seem to be polite and generous in comparison.

Post 5: Exactly

[Brigante7]

So does this mean more bhurka-dodging in lower Sukhumvit when trying to get from Soi 3 up to 11? Some of these women are as wide as the pavement (or what little is left of it after the hawkers have invaded it)! Not being racist here, but I try to avoid brushing against them when passing them in the overcrowded area (since I believe you're supposed to avoid touching a muslim woman even by accident)...

Are you a muslim Thaigene2? If not then why worry about bumping into a muslim woman, if they are so worried then they will do everything to avoid bumping into you, until we stop pandering to them they will keep on pushing and pushing.

Never ever tried to avoid contact with a "Ninja" and before anybody accuses me of being racist, that is what muslim men call woman who dress like that and if they can say it then I suare as hel_l can also

Rant over.

[Martin]

TAT is being realistic.

"...medical and wealthy tourists..." can be hoped for from "Middle East countries" since these are the oil-exporting countries benefiting from the prices resulting from excess demand for oil at a time when supplies can no longer be increased.

It seems unlikely, though, that the resulting inflow of money will counterbalance the falling-off of tourism from the oil-importing countries from which people used to come here, in the days when they could pay for their food, shelter and heating bills and still have money left over for holidays.

As to medical workers flowing into private practice, the solution is to encourage more to enter the medical professions.

Judging from the size of Medical and Associated Medical Services faculties at Thailand's universities, this seems to be well in hand.

[think_too_mut]

And this is another article opposing the whole thing.

Medical tourism poses threat to public healthcare system

source: The Nation May 15, 2008

....

There is a growing realisation within Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS) that its attempts to promote the country as a regional medical hub may make retaining physicians within the public healthcare system difficult.

......

"We can't go further than this. We have 2 million foreign patients already and it is affecting the country's healthcare. Private hospitals have sucked human health resources from public hospitals. Even medical schools have lost their top experts," he said.

He is right for the wrong reason - now, it is like telling tourist industry to stop promoting high end tourism - all those Sheratons, Hiltons, Marriotts and Dusits have attracted best staff so 500B a day shitholes in Pattaya are losing to them.

Doctors have been deserting public hospitals for years, since the 30 baht scheme was intoduced. The Naval Hospital in Sattahip has world class state of the art diagnostics equipment - and hardly any doctor left who knows how to operate it.

[samran]

So does this mean more bhurka-dodging in lower Sukhumvit when trying to get from Soi 3 up to 11? Some of these women are as wide as the pavement (or what little is left of it after the hawkers have invaded it)! Not being racist here, but I try to avoid brushing against them when passing them in the overcrowded area (since I believe you're supposed to avoid touching a muslim woman even by accident)...

much prefer to be dealing with middle east tourists than then farang yobbo tourists that frequent the area. The area off the side of Soi 3 with all the middle eastern restuarants is one of the most vibrant parts of BKK. Compare that to the craphole of Nana across the road, and I'll take the Middle Eastern resturants any day.

As for doctors going private, that is something for the government to do something about.

[Gravelrash]

Well put Samran, and quite so, perhaps you should extend your sojourns out of Nana altogether to avoid those yobs, the Grace Coffee shop used to have a nice Middle Eastern clientelle, do drop in. Those guys will have you in stiches for hours. One can only hope the middle eastern enclaves extend, they do indeed bring a vibrancy and even more importantly a refreshing philosophical outlook.

[samran]

Well put Samran, and quite so, perhaps you should extend your sojourns out of Nana altogether to avoid those yobs, the Grace Coffee shop used to have a nice Middle Eastern clientelle, do drop in. Those guys will have you in stiches for hours. One can only hope the middle eastern enclaves extend, they do indeed bring a vibrancy and even more importantly a refreshing philosophical outlook.

Point taken....

Never quite managed to make it to the Grace......

Though you do get a good view of the goings on from Bamboo bar across the road.

[steveromagnino]

You people do understand that the bulk of Middle East tourist growth is staying at the Four Seasons etc....not the Grace Hotel right???!

That's like saying that all Americans hang out at Nana Hotel and their idea of great food is the breakfast at Foodland Soi 5.

Spending per visitor....length of stay....ability not to be complete nobs on holiday.....there is a reason why a lot of Middle Eastern money is being invested in Bangkok, and why some are a very desirable group to encourage to visit.

As for medical tourism, since most of the private hospitals are in the ownership of TRT or former TRT party, and since they also introduced 30b healthcare and medical tourism, one needn't wonder whether the complaints will fall on deaf ears. Doctors are a commodity to be bought and sold under the great TRT/PPP empire.

But at least for tourism, this continued focus away from the traditional markets is proving to pay dividends and provide diversity. If the whole focus had been on North America for the last 10 years imagine the reduced number and type of tourists we'd be getting during this sub prime market dive...... would not be great.

[Heng]

Steve the thread killer.

[britainmal]

My old debater is back Samran. The situation is this: Middle eastern restuarants are more interesting than Western, but don't forget most middle East travellers are men and they are there for the same reason as the farangs.

[larvidchr]

My old debater is back Samran. The situation is this: Middle eastern restuarants are more interesting than Western, but don't forget most middle East travellers are men and they are there for the same reason as the farangs.

Agree, and it is very worrying to se that the depraved morality here in Thailand now is spreading to these upstanding middel east gentlemen the true last defenders of high morals and clean living

[Seneque]

Thailand is trying hard to sell a tourism that barely exists ...

They will realise too late how this move to promote middle eastern people to come here will affect them...

Everything that shines is definitely not gold !

[steveromagnino]

Thailand is trying hard to sell a tourism that barely exists ...

They will realise too late how this move to promote middle eastern people to come here will affect them...

Everything that shines is definitely not gold !

No idea what you are talking about; any reduced dependence on the 'white skinned ghosts' as they are so nicely referred to in Chinese is a good thing...with sub prime and so many farangs in one place here on TV talking up Vietnam, Cambodia etc; why would a country be so stupid as to build its tourism on one area?

Diversity, there ain't nuthin wrong wid dat said Sam Weller. Or he might have, if Pickwick had let him get a word in edgewise.

There is huge growth in two markets; ME and India. Middle Easterners come...they spend...they invest. What could be worse? An arabic language teacher mafia coming in with fake degrees and infiltrating schools to pervert the course of education? Drive through halal food? A construction of monumental size to create an artificial James Bond like Island near Phuket out of sand?

What is there not to like? Agreed they aren't propping up some worthwhile monuments to the mighty farang such as Washington Square, Soi Cowboy or Walking Street, but even so, they may serve some useful purpose. After all, there is such a thing as 'too many unwashed Beer Chang Singlet wearers in one place'

Or do you think that they are going to storm the streets, throw down their Korans and yell 'all of your Isaan women are now belong to us????'

Good grief, just cannot see that happening; the ideas some people have about the middle east are cartoonish at best. I know I consider the UAE to look something like Doraemon's head at certain angles. And with all that oil money, we say 'suits you sir ;_)'

BTW, there are indeed many shiny things that aren't gold. If anything, gold isn't that shiny anyway. Have you checked our Chrome spinners? Man dem wheels ez dop homes, shine up dem realllllllllllllll good essay.

Edited May 21, 2008 by steveromagnino

[Seneque]

Thailand is trying hard to sell a tourism that barely exists ...

They will realise too late how this move to promote middle eastern people to come here will affect them...

Everything that shines is definitely not gold !

No idea what you are talking about; any reduced dependence on the 'white skinned ghosts' as they are so nicely referred to in Chinese is a good thing...with sub prime and so many farangs in one place here on TV talking up Vietnam, Cambodia etc; why would a country be so stupid as to build its tourism on one area?

Diversity, there ain't nuthin wrong wid dat said Sam Weller. Or he might have, if Pickwick had let him get a word in edgewise.

There is huge growth in two markets; ME and India. Middle Easterners come...they spend...they invest. What could be worse? An arabic language teacher mafia coming in with fake degrees and infiltrating schools to pervert the course of education? Drive through halal food? A construction of monumental size to create an artificial James Bond like Island near Phuket out of sand?

What is there not to like? Agreed they aren't propping up some worthwhile monuments to the mighty farang such as Washington Square, Soi Cowboy or Walking Street, but even so, they may serve some useful purpose. After all, there is such a thing as 'too many unwashed Beer Chang Singlet wearers in one place'

Or do you think that they are going to storm the streets, throw down their Korans and yell 'all of your Isaan women are now belong to us????'

Good grief, just cannot see that happening; the ideas some people have about the middle east are cartoonish at best. I know I consider the UAE to look something like Doraemon's head at certain angles. And with all that oil money, we say 'suits you sir ;_)'

BTW, there are indeed many shiny things that aren't gold. If anything, gold isn't that shiny anyway. Have you checked our Chrome spinners? Man dem wheels ez dop homes, shine up dem realllllllllllllll good essay.

Oh yes I know what i am talking about ... I won't argue here about this crowd, TV is not a real free speach forum, but i just tell you one thing ... if this scheme to bring them here is successfull, you will see the result and we then can talk about it ... .

[burman]

Steve has been spot on with his posts in this thread. Bottom line is mid east tourists have a lot of money to spend, they are the high quality tourists that TAT is aiming for.

A lot of white foreigners will be disappointed by this, no doubt fearing their lesser spending power will not be able to keep them the 'top dogs' which they always seem to think they are.

[steveromagnino]

Steve has been spot on with his posts in this thread. Bottom line is mid east tourists have a lot of money to spend, they are the high quality tourists that TAT is aiming for.

A lot of white foreigners will be disappointed by this, no doubt fearing their lesser spending power will not be able to keep them the 'top dogs' which they always seem to think they are.

:-)

Thank you, making me sound like an expert always makes 'Big Steve feel him like top dog.'

Why we am say top dog? Dog is bad businet in MCG matrick, we wan cash cow. Cash cow make der money and also star dem good too. But dog is wort businet type. Low growt and low market share. So why I want to be top dog?

An I no undersa-tan farang. Him say to me, dog is man bess fren. I am sure for dis. But den dog is also low growt low market share? Why am to be fren with loser like dit?

I tink maybe BCG him not undersa-tan businet too good. I much prefer have fren to be dog same same my farang fren, not cow. Cow very expensive for grow and look after. Dog him easy, can eat scraps and good for be fren and lick face and sa-tuff. Cow, him cannot live in my condo at all, him complain too mutt space too small, and him do too much kee too.

Maybe dis why Thai economy hab problem, too many people wan cow, Mista Thaksin him give us 1 million cow. But we not wan cow, we want best fren. Maybe him can call top dog!

BCG him all wrong. Dam u too bad man!

[burman]

^ The above post not included in my praises.

[Farma]

I wonder if there’s a kickback for the Middle East hospitals.

In the past couple of months I’ve had 2 Arabs ask me for Bangkok hospital recommendations. They’d been advised to seek transplant treatment in Bangkok by a major Middle East hospital.

Also another major Arab hospital recommended/suggested a farang work colleague have the specialised surgery he required in Bangkok.

[thaigene2]

As for doctors going private, that is something for the government to do something about.

Samran - the Government IS DOING something about it - don't ya get it? The privildged elite are taking advantage of this. It doesn't matter which Government (because this started before TRT) - it's called no-holds-barred capitalism. Happened in the UK some time ago - they (Lord Beverage) introduced private health care which eroded the state funded system to what it is now - just like what's happening here, and what is about to happen in Canada (the so-called "Cadillac" of state-funded health systems - poor fools can't see the forest for the tress - ironically in a country full of forests too!). By the way, in the UK, Beverage said 'they (the doctors) shouldn't complain as I'm "filling their mouths with gold" - a reference to the fact they could now 'go private' - and capitalise. Now in the UK doctors routinely cancel NHS procedures (surgical - some serious) in order to take on a private patient who wants his/her surgery 'today' - no waiting. IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY THERE.

Edited May 21, 2008 by thaigene2

[thaigene2]

I wonder if there’s a kickback for the Middle East hospitals.

In the past couple of months I’ve had 2 Arabs ask me for Bangkok hospital recommendations. They’d been advised to seek transplant treatment in Bangkok by a major Middle East hospital.

Also another major Arab hospital recommended/suggested a farang work colleague have the specialised surgery he required in Bangkok.

I don't know either- but have noticed there's an upsurge in press reports about Thai companies doing biz over there - including the property company Harrison. (today's Nation I think it was). Coincidence?

[thaigene2]

So does this mean more bhurka-dodging in lower Sukhumvit when trying to get from Soi 3 up to 11? Some of these women are as wide as the pavement (or what little is left of it after the hawkers have invaded it)! Not being racist here, but I try to avoid brushing against them when passing them in the overcrowded area (since I believe you're supposed to avoid touching a muslim woman even by accident)...

Are you a muslim Thaigene2? If not then why worry about bumping into a muslim woman, if they are so worried then they will do everything to avoid bumping into you, until we stop pandering to them they will keep on pushing and pushing.

Fair enough - advice accepted - elbows out.

[alexandrine1258]

I don't understand how it can be bad to target yet another group of foreigners as potential tourists for Thailand. This can only be beneficial. Thailands tourism industry is growing and to continue this growth it will eventually have to target new segments - in this case Middle Easters wealthy segment.

[steveromagnino]

I don't understand how it can be bad to target yet another group of foreigners as potential tourists for Thailand. This can only be beneficial. Thailands tourism industry is growing and to continue this growth it will eventually have to target new segments - in this case Middle Easters wealthy segment.

I suspect the types that watch CNN/Fox can only see the world in black and white....and consider everyone white (and preferably westerners) to be gods gift and everyone else to suck.

Similar threads in every english language forum about Thailand

- Japanese ruin bar pricing by paying too much

- Africans and Muslims and Indians ruin bar pricing by not paying enough

- All Russians are ruining Pattaya by being cheapskates and or spending too much

- Muslims are over running lower Sukhumvit, as 'we' (i.e. Septics and Brits) were here first, this is our area

- Thais ruin everything (and have bad attention spans)

- Chinese ruin everything

- Koreans ruin everything

- Middle Eastern women are an insult to humanity wearing their veils

- All foreigners should speak english

- All Thais should speak english

- etc etc

Ah well, up to everyone, at the end of the day most people's point of views are irrelevant to everyone except themselves in any case.

[Kerryd]

I find it kind of funny that a place that is trying to become the "tourism hub" of the Middle East would want anything to do with helping another country increase it's tourism.

Dubai (and some of the other emirates) is trying to set itself up so that when the oil eventually runs dry, it will still have an ecomony. Only it will be driven by tourism instead of oil. What profit would there be in helping Thailand increase it's tourism, which would mean fewer tourists (and $$) in Dubai ?

(gotta run. sirens just started going off)

[jstumbo]

Maybe they figure they can get more people transiting through Dubai.