Did Tourism Actually Die Yet?

[redman]

I left on Monday from the airport and was shocked to see how few people were around. I have been here for 4 years and have never seen so little activity. Low season to be sure, but first time I ever saw only 2 gates for foreigners manned at the passport control/departures area.

[ThaiEye]

From the statistics i've been reading, tourist cancellations haven't been as significant as imagined. Certainly nothing to the extent of a whole airport being virtually void of tourists. My friend just came from the south two days ago and according to him, the plane he was on was fully-booked out.

Really looks like things are returning to normal, i dont think the protests have as affected tourism as much as previously thought.

[PhilHarries]

I passed through Suvarnabhumi July inbound and August outbound and for sure it was slack but from memory they still had 75% of the passport control desks open. Well a lot of people are saying this is the lowest low season they can remember, even post Bali bombing wasn't as bad. If they don't sort out the political situation soon maybe they won't need to expand the airport. I guess the crunch will come in November/December when the peak season kicks off.

[Gumballl]

I left on Monday from the airport and was shocked to see how few people were around. I have been here for 4 years and have never seen so little activity. Low season to be sure, but first time I ever saw only 2 gates for foreigners manned at the passport control/departures area.

And I for one love it! On both legs of my journey here to LOS (from the US) I had a row of seats to myself. I was able to actually get some sleep, in the horizontal position. Passing through LOS immigration and onto the collection my suitcase, could not have been more than 15 minutes.

[Boater]

Flew from Phuket yesterday, very empty

[jumnien]

The tourist situation here in Hua Hin is much improved over last year this time. Traffic light, town enjoyable!

[JetsetBkk]

From the statistics i've been reading, tourist cancellations haven't been as significant as imagined. Certainly nothing to the extent of a whole airport being virtually void of tourists. My friend just came from the south two days ago and according to him, the plane he was on was fully-booked out.

Really looks like things are returning to normal, i dont think the protests have as affected tourism as much as previously thought.

Exactly which department of TAT do you work for?

[JetsetBkk]

From the statistics i've been reading, tourist cancellations haven't been as significant as imagined. Certainly nothing to the extent of a whole airport being virtually void of tourists. My friend just came from the south two days ago and according to him, the plane he was on was fully-booked out.

Really looks like things are returning to normal, i dont think the protests have as affected tourism as much as previously thought.

Exactly which department of TAT do you work for?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Foreign-Arri...ue-t211976.html

[hanno]

Here in Vietnam, which has pretty much the same tourist season as Thailand, the airports are currently empty, too. This is, however, normal as September is always one of the slowest months of the year. Having said that, business has slowed down a little compared to last year. Obviously, this has nothing to do with the problems in Thailand but more with the global recession and the cost of traveling in general.

Seems to me there is a lot of fear-mongering going on on TV

[tartempion]

Sitting on an empty plane is mongering then

I'm out next week (fed-up as usual after dealing with all the crap here during 5 months) and hope to have a full row of seats, one can hope

And no, I'll be back soon enough to live this banana republic (never lived in a banana republic before)

[Scott]

Yes, one hopes it picks up, but that said, every year it seems that people get into a panic about what is/will happen.

[sassienie]

For me as an Ex-pat living in Chiang Mai the lack of tourists is brilliant.

Hotel rooms always available no need to book, massage parlour girls going well over the call of duty just to please me so that I may become a regular customer, same with the bars, restaurants and many other venues. Prices stabilized and some great deals around.

Never had it so good. I thank the Government for destroying the Thai tourist industry, leaving the spoils of war to us EX-pats.

Edited September 12, 2008 by sassienie

[PhilHarries]

For me as an Ex-pat living in Chiang Mai the lack of tourists is brilliant.

Hotel rooms always available no need to book, massage parlour girls going well over the call of duty just to please me so that I may become a regular customer, same with the bars, restaurants and many other venues. Prices stabilized and some great deals around.

Never had it so good. I thank the Government for destroying the Thai tourist industry, leaving the spoils of war to us EX-pats.

Sentiments echoed I'm sure by all those hoteliers, massage girls, bar girls, waiters/waitresses and restauranteurs who now have to fawn all over you like you're some minor celebrity.

Be cautious gloating over other's misfortunes for what goes around comes around.

[thaimiller]

I agree Chiang Mai is splendid at the moment, but for the sake of the local businesses i hope it picks up.

[toybits]

With fuel prices at record levels (okey, the cost of fuel has dropped -but don't celebrate because winter is just around the corner) - it is no surprise that there are fewer tourists. Have you checked plane ticket costs?

Schools in the west are opening at this time right? So there would be lots of expenses for parents sending their kids to school this time of year. The number of tourists usually pick up in October. Question is - by how much???

[12DrinkMore]

Yes, one hopes it picks up, but that said, every year it seems that people get into a panic about what is/will happen.

Yes, there is always some reason for a bad season. This year there are a couple of factors in play, though, airfares have gone up, the political situation is unstable, but most of all the economies in Farangland have been talked down so much that I think more people will prefer to stay at home.

For example a friend, who has come across every year, has been unable to find flights for him and his family less than EUR 2,500. On top of that hotels, food etc. He doesn't think he can afford it. He works in the tourist industry and is a little concerned about the employment situation as well.

[lannaman]

Well, i've just cancelled my planned trip to England at Xmas. Air fares sky high and the sinking pound down to 59 baht - just can't afford it. May use the saved baht to buy new laptop and contact the family by webcam, more carbon friendly too!

[rick75]

I would say it has more to do with the price of plane tickets, Thai air are 50% up on there charges from earlier this year. I am sure the political situation has not helped but we have had very little coverage of it in Australia, so I would say it is not a huge contributing factor.