Foreign Arrivals Drop Sharply Due To Political Turmoil

[longtom]

The other problem is, The poor and uneducated of this country are exploited for others gain (ie the rich) sad but true.

Toxin as he is known on here gave the poor a carrot, But took a giant watermelon in return. Good deal or what?

It's fun to have a discussion with yourself on a public forum, isn't it!

[cyborg22]

The other problem is, The poor and uneducated of this country are exploited for others gain (ie the rich) sad but true.

Toxin as he is known on here gave the poor a carrot, But took a giant watermelon in return. Good deal or what?

It's fun to have a discussion with yourself on a public forum, isn't it!

True.

It can be enlightening to yourself also lol.

[tig28]

Hitler was elected. Would you use the elected argument to support him?

erhhhhh-----"Hitler was elected"------no he was not!!

perhaps you mean "elect" in the same way as PAD suggests???---if so kindly disregard!!

[h90]

Hitler was elected. Would you use the elected argument to support him?

erhhhhh-----"Hitler was elected"------no he was not!!

perhaps you mean "elect" in the same way as PAD suggests???---if so kindly disregard!!

Hitler WAS elected, and appointed as Chancellor because his party was the largest party in the parliament.

[tig28]

Hitler was elected. Would you use the elected argument to support him?

erhhhhh-----"Hitler was elected"------no he was not!!

perhaps you mean "elect" in the same way as PAD suggests???---if so kindly disregard!!

Hitler WAS elected, and appointed as Chancellor because his party was the largest party in the parliament.

no he was not elected---he was appointed !

the President of Germany, Paul von Hindenburg, had appointed Hitler Chancellor (similar to Prime Minister). Having won more than than 37 percent of the vote in the previous year's legislative elections, Hitler's Nazi party had enough power to effectively paralyze Germany's democratic government, which had been in place since 1919. Hindenburg hoped that by appointing Hitler, he could satisfy Nazi legislators and break the deadlock, while maintaining control of the government behind the scenes. His miscalculation led to disaster for Germany, for Europe, and for the world.

How was Hitler, probably the most ruthless dictator of the 20th century, able to come to power in a democratic Germany 75 years ago? And could something like it happen?

does any of this ring a bell with the situation here?

[hammered]

What has some people's obsession with Hitler got to do with Foreign arrivals in Thailand?

[Wrong Turn]

Foreign arrivals drop sharply due to political turmoil

BANGKOK: -- Current political turmoil has already affected tourism both in the short- and medium-term, with the number of international arrivals having fallen by 70 per cent, according to the Thai Tourism Services Association.

Wow, that's a steep drop. A good time to get some good deals in LOS, me thinks.

Question is, how long will it last? How long is "medium-term?"

[Samuian]

What has some people's obsession with Hitler got to do with Foreign arrivals in Thailand?

Obsessed by Mr.Schickelhuber's Afterlife Spirits - let's wait for an answer!

Can't be called exactly "foreign arrivals" either, can't see a parallel to what happened to some 6 million people... then.

[tig28]

Hitler was elected. Would you use the elected argument to support him?

erhhhhh-----"Hitler was elected"------no he was not!!

perhaps you mean "elect" in the same way as PAD suggests???---if so kindly disregard!!

Hitler WAS elected, and appointed as Chancellor because his party was the largest party in the parliament.

no

perhaps some figures..........

In the presidential election held on March 13, 1932, there were four candidates: the incumbent, Field Marshall Paul von Hindenburg, Hitler, and two minor candidates, Ernst Thaelmann and Theodore Duesterberg. The results were:

Hindenburg 49.6 percent

Hitler 30.1 percent

Thaelmann 13.2 percent

Duesterberg 6.8 percent

At the risk of belaboring the obvious, almost 70 percent of the German people voted against Hitler, causing his supporter Joseph Goebbels, who would later become Hitler's minister of propaganda, to lament in his journal, "We're beaten; terrible outlook. Party circles badly depressed and dejected."

Since Hindenberg had not received a majority of the vote, however, a runoff election had to be held among the top three vote-getters. On April 19, 1932, the runoff results were:

Hindenburg 53.0 percent

Hitler 36.8 percent

Thaelmann 10.2 percent

Thus, even though Hitler's vote total had risen, he still had been decisively rejected by the German people.

[philstone]

NEWS FLASH , you do not or cannot own land in thailand , over 50 and still have not got the message , Thailand is for Thais , you are only welcome for your money , no matter how much you love it driving around on your Harley(noise-bucket) . AS long as you keep spending YOUR money you will get some kind of respect , but it is more for the dollar than you , do not believe me , stop doling out the dollars and see how deep the respect goes . Yes , Thailand is a fabulous land for tourists to travel around and about , but do not hold your breath just yet about troubles being localised , which they are not , they have touched the length and breadth of the country in some way or another , just that the brunt of it has been in BKK . Come out from behind your smoked face shield and take a real look at reality , the reality that faces all foreigners in one way or another that seem to think this is their retirement home , wish you well in your disneyland of expectations .

Oh , incidentally , i do not drink beer , bad for the brain and the (huge) gut .

I can not own House in Thailand so what But my young beautiful Thai Wife 24 years younger than me never went to schools never had a regular job owns 4 houses her children that do not work but drink own 11 houses and I was allow to buy the houses for them. See you get around the law just buy in wife name.

Maybe you should drink and think like my wifes children. Farang should just buy but not own.

Edited September 13, 2008 by philstone

[dumball]

The other problem is, The poor and uneducated of this country are exploited for others gain (ie the rich) sad but true.

Toxin as he is known on here gave the poor a carrot, But took a giant watermelon in return. Good deal or what?

It's fun to have a discussion with yourself on a public forum, isn't it!

Most likely the only way you can get an honest opinion that you totally agree with .

"So i said to myself , Self , finaly i agree with an answer ".

[tig28]

What has some people's obsession with Hitler got to do with Foreign arrivals in Thailand?

you are quite right----subject ended (from me). i was simply trying to respond to a factual error elsewhere in this post which i felt should not be ignored.

pretty obviously the current mess will adversely effect incoming tourism ------ lets hope not too much.

[robsamui]

Not every Thai benefits from tourism and the increase in farang. Prices rise dramatically, rents rise, services go down, water shortages occur, etc. The drop in tourism caused by the recent political turmoil may end up doing more good than harm to Thai people, excluding filthy rich hotel and airline owners.

I have to question that. Certainly not every Thai benefits, but I am sure that tens of millions do. Every person that's working in the tourist industry (from sex-workers to airline staff) is sending money home to their family or children. And thus the Thais not in direct contact with farangs - the small restaurants, the market traders and street vendors and they guys who peddle round the workers construction camps selling snacks (and those workers themselves) - are all being paid with money generated directly from tourism.

Certainly prices have risen, but they would do that if NO tourists came here at all. The price of everything is tied to fuel costs: whether you own an airline or a tricycle selling fruit, you're paying more for transport and so you have to put your own prices up to cover it.

12 million tourists a year coming to Thailand, each spending - a guess - $1,000 each while they're here?

I really fail to see how a reduction of a billion dollars coming into the pockets in the Thai people can do "more good than harm"!

Rob

[jimjam23]

As a lot of you would have heard - XL airlines has just gone into administration leaving 90,000 British tourists stranded at airports in different locations. Another 30 Airlines are also predicted to fail and go out of Business this year. We have a global credit crunch with energy bills soaring and recessions just around the corner.

I am sure this is resulting in a lot of further individuals looking to vacation within their own country or at the least somewhere a lot closer to home - not far off exotic locations such as Thailand.

[ray23]

Darn well he asked. What do you think is goind to happen with tourist in Thailand for this season?

[albertsproggins]

Ray23.

I don't really thinkthat the drop in tourist arrivals is as bad as certain sections of our society would have us believe.

In my experience most people plan their holidays months in advance of the anticipated departure date and as such the only affect on U.K arrivals is probably due to the economic outlook rather than the little ongoing spat that we have at the moment.

Remember please, the way we collate figures and statistics here in Thailand is at times somewhat 'artistic''.

I don't envisage a slump of the epic proportions (or any proportions) akin to the slump of 1929.

I haven't noticed a mass exodus of non Thai's or Thai's for that matter from Thailand either,in essence this is not a bad place to be for many people of either Western or Oriental origin.

Thailand is as diverse as the United Kingdom it's just that the United Kingdom is more practised in the art of intergration and of course the U.K is politically and democratically mature too.

Started if my history recall is right with King John at Runnymede and Magna Carta,around a thousand or so years back,we have a year or two to go here in Thailand if the U.K model is our yardstick,we'll get there though never fear.

[Publicus]

are we going to discuss here foreign arrivals or internal politics?

The two are inextricably intertwined for a number of reasons, the Thai tourism industry being but one.

Thais are hoplessly and helplessly disorganized, self-contradictory and compelled to chaos. It's a failed society, culture and civilization.

In Thailand, normalcy equals chaos. There is only more of the same. Witness Samak being dumped.

Hopeless.

[ray23]

Well guys yuo have to admit it's no boring

My guess it will evolve but probably kicking and screaming all the way

[nickh]

Singapore travel advisory on Thailand stays in effect

September 15th, 2008

by Martin Fellowes

The Foreign Minister of Singapore, George Yeo, commented on Sunday

that he expects there will continue to be a period of instability in Thailand

even though the State of Emergency Decree has been lifted,

http://news.carrentals.co.uk/singapore-tra...ct-3423680.html

[Scott]

Does anyone have a list of other countries who have travel advisories on the country, or countries that have lifted their advisories?

[Splatter]

Singapore travel advisory on Thailand stays in effect

September 15th, 2008

by Martin Fellowes

The Foreign Minister of Singapore, George Yeo, commented on Sunday

that he expects there will continue to be a period of instability in Thailand

even though the State of Emergency Decree has been lifted,

http://news.carrentals.co.uk/singapore-tra...ct-3423680.html

I'm betting Mr Yeo doesn't want those in Singapore getting too many ideas on how to hold a demo. Many of the Singaporeans I meet in Thailand laugh at these advisories

[ray23]

Worried about tourist I don't buy into that anymore. Cancel the Emergency act, so what.Get rid of Samak make Thaksin's brother in law the PM, yep that should calm things down.

Armed in intrusions into disputed Cambodain territory, I was so busy watching the political fire works I missed that.

So they bring a thousand reporters to Phucket and show em a good time, yep that should solve everything.

I sorry I see nothing truly directed at getting tourist here to spend money except smoke and mirrors.

Maybe an even a bigger billboard then when Bush came here would do the trick.

This is just going to get worse in the coming weeks

[sriracha john]

Thailand to lose 70 Billion Baht if turmoil continues

BANGKOK, Sept 16 (TNA) - Thailand is expected to lose tourism revenues estimated at about 35 Billion Baht if the country's political crisis ends this month, and at least double that amount if the problem continues until the last quarter of the year, a tourism expert said Tuesday.

Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) president Kongkrit Hiranyakit said at a brainstorming session of senior executives of 60 major tourism firms and hotels that the local political crisis had eroded foreign tourist confidence.

Consequently, he said, visitors had adopted a wait-and-see attitude and might cancel trips to Thailand during the high season late this year if the problem continues.

The TCT urged the caretaker government to urgently explain to foreign tourists and governments the real situation in Thailand. Thai diplomats in countries which had warning to their citizens not to travel to Bangkok to also waive the warning as well.

Mr. Kongkrit also asked Thai senators to quickly act to pass the 2009 government budget spending law before this October 1 when the new fiscal year starts in order to drive the local economy.

Sarayuth Mallam, deputy chairman of the Phuket Tourist Association, said the recent closure of airports in the South by Airports of Thailand (AoT) had caused cancellations of 30 per cent of hotel bookings in the southern resort of Phuket which was the hardest hit in the country.

Mr. Sarayuth urged the government to also solve the problem of insufficient flights to Phuket after two low-cost airlines had suspended flights to the island.

Pattaya, a popular Eastern seaboard resort, is also affected by the political turmoil, according to Thanet Supornsaharungsi, president of Pattaya Business and Tourism Association. He estimated that if the political situation does not improve, Pattaya hotel bookings will fall some 30 per cent in the fourth quarter, or about 7.5 Billion Baht in terms of revenue.

The Northeastern region where 95 per cent of tourism is domestic is least affected. However, the revenues of tour companies has already tumbled by 30 per cent.

Thai and international tourists visiting the North fell by 20 and 10 per cent respectively. Some 2.6 million domestic tourists visited the north while 2 million foreign visitor came to the region annually.

This year, the TCT forecasts that the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand would be 15.7 million and the country would earn about Bt600 billion compared to 14.4 million tourists in 2007 with earnings of about Bt600 billion.

[LaoPo]

Thailand to lose 70 Billion Baht if turmoil continues

The TCT urged the caretaker government to urgently explain to foreign tourists and governments the real situation in Thailand.

I think it would be best to explain to foreign governments that the PAD is not protesting at Government House but that it is in fact just a training camp for another Jamboree

Most governments will understand and send their tourists straight forward.

LaoPo

[geriatrickid]

Thailand to lose 70 Billion Baht if turmoil continues

No problem once PAD starts running things. They can print more money. It's a great way of creating wealth. Just ask PAD's soulmates in Zimbabwe. Billionaires abound.

[AlKing]

Cambodian Arrivals Drop Sharply Due To Temple Turmoil

[photojourn]

This except from Tavel Mole, the largest online community for the travel and tourism industry.

Hotel occupancy has fallen by 40 percent, according to the Thai Hotels Association. International arrivals are down 30 percent from this time last year, said the Association of Thai Travel Agents.

Thai Airways is flying with 20 percent fewer passengers than the same period last year, company officials said. The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, the city's most famous hotel, has vacancy rates around 50 percent, the manager told reporters.

A&F Tour, a travel agency in Bangkok, has had three groups cancel their trips for November, costing the company nearly $12,000.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand fears the number of tourists this year will fall nearly 8 percent to 14 million.

Full story here: Thailands politcal crisis keeps tourists away

[davejonesbkk]

So what? Sars, Bali bombings, Bird flu, Tsunami etc etc. Thailand has bounced back every time, can't see why it should be different now...

[ray23]

Sure it will bounce back question is will it be this year.

Turmoil stopping I see nothing in today's development that would indicate that. Might in fact worsen.

The intrusion, last night I read an arircle that said the Cambodians violated Thai territory, so take you pick

[jts-khorat]

So what? Sars, Bali bombings, Bird flu, Tsunami etc etc. Thailand has bounced back every time, can't see why it should be different now...

... and that is what the Thais are thinking as well. Maybe finally we have reached the straw that breaks the camels' back. To this date I have not seen any specials advertised and a good number of hotels still tell us they are "full" for peak season and hope for walk-ins.

A friend of mine works in a hotel in Nai Thon with 120 rooms, current occupancy is 2 rooms, last week it was 5. How a staff of 160 shall be fed from this income is nothing short of a mystery.

After a year or two of local mass unemployment, missing tax incomes for the government, etc, maybe service will come back to the 'Land of Smiles". My hopes are not high though, knowing that the locals rather raise prices and diminish service when business is down.