What Do Foreign Tourists Think About City Of Angels

[george]

What do foreign tourists think about City of Angels

BANGKOK: -- Candidates for the Bangkok governorship have all been claiming their policy will be to promote Bangkok as a satisfying, lively, and safe tourist detesination. What do the city’s tourists think? Our reporter asked those visiting the City of Angels just what impresses them, and what turns them off, while staying in Bangkok.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand or TAT reported the number of visitors to Bangkok in 2007 dropped by 0.6 per cent from the year before. The basic figure is verified by personal information from tour guides, who say the numbers of tourists has decreased. According to the statistics, each tourist spends about 4,000 baht per day during their stay. The decreasing number of tourists indicates Bangkok is losing some tourism income.

Most tourists spend a few days in the capital before travelling to other provinces or to neighbouring countries. They say the food and hospitality impresses them.

The TAT says tourists in Bangkok prefer to rent a car. As a result, congested traffic in Bangkok doesn’t seem to benefit tourism. The problem doesn’t affect only Bangkok residents but also vistors from around the world. After the Bangkok governorship election on Oct 5, the new governor will need to address the issue.

Other problems tourists want the new Bangkok governor to solve are pollution, garbage management, availability of public toilets and reasonable taxi fares.

If the new governor looks into these problems as suggested by tourists, it might help increase the number of tourists to Bangkok in the future.

-- TNA 2008-09-27

[barky]

Tourists staying only a few days in a 4 to 5 star hotel and being escorted around town in a bus or van have little idea about the real BKK. They probably have a fairly high opinion of the place ie: ignorance is bliss. And there's nothing wrong with that. If your on your annual holiday why would you want to be confronted with any of the negatives?

Then in categories: Sex tourists relatively speaking, almost everything they could want is cheap, so generally they're gonna have a good opinion.

Families: A whirlwind tour of all the highlights and a spot of shopping at JJ Markets and Siam Square 2-3 days.

Backpackers: Cheap accommodation and beer at Khao San, touristy highlights, maybe a massage at Wat Po, a quick trip to Patpong to tick it off the list and then off to the islands.

It's not until you have lived and worked here for a year or so, that you start to get the real picture (warts and all). Even then, not many aliens are seen as an equal and taken into the family and community.

Edited September 27, 2008 by barky

[happyaussie]

One of the great cities of the world...warts and all. And yes, I have lived their for several years.

[DP25]

The TAT says tourists in Bangkok prefer to rent a car.

Yeah and they all want to buy Thailand Elite cards too.

[permanent_disorder]

currently TAT runs a spam campaign on youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/tourismthailand

about the "Thailand Tourism Situation" at the moment.

that are short street interviews with tourists at different places in bangkok, like siam², chatuchak, suan lum and so on.

[KohKarrang]

The TAT says tourists in Bangkok prefer to rent a car.

I've never ever known anybody to rent a car in BKK whilst on holiday or living here, is that a myth created by TAT??

[ashacat]

QUOTE (george @ 2008-09-27 12:50:22)

The TAT says tourists in Bangkok prefer to rent a car.

I've never ever known anybody to rent a car in BKK whilst on holiday or living here, is that a myth created by TAT??

Yeah, that sounds very strange to me too. Most tourists use BTS/taxis and unfortunately, TukTuks!

[al warner]

i definitely was not a tourist when i fell in love with BKK. It took several tourist trips to even start to like it.

[AlKing]

No disrespect, the ANGELS are definately top class and professional. They really sent you up to haven. You know what I mean.

[bkkmick]

"reasonable taxi fares"? What, do they want the taxi ride for free?? Must be one of the cheapest cities in the world for taxi fares.

Lots of tourists hire cars when coming to Bangkok.

[phetaroi]

I know I'll be criticized to begin with because I have not yet lived in Thailand. However, since 1985 I have spent most summers in Thailand, usually 7 weeks at a time, and within the next 3 months I will be applying for my retirement visa and ultimately permanent residency. So this is something I have been thinking about for many years.

The other evening I went out to dinner with friends and the two big questions were, "Why do you want to live in Thailand?" and "Isn't it third-worldish?"

Why? The people. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Over the years I've walked virtually every where in Bangkok...well, now that I think of it, I've never made it into the Klong Toey neighborhoods. But, not just the touristy places. My camera and I have walked (and walked and walked) and seen virtually every type of living situation Bangkok has to offer. I've never been afraid (although I have been nervous a few times)...I wish I could say that here in Washington, D.C. where one-third of the city is not a place you wanna be in for the sake of safety. I'm sure Bangkok is not the most wonderful city in the world...but it's never boring, there's always something new to explore, and it's one of the few places I've ever been where I feel "comfortable" being truly out of my comfort zone.

What don't I like about Thailand? The people. I know...same thing. But what I mean is that I detest people "using" other people. It happens everywhere, of course, but in Bangkok there's a culture of it. Scammers are probably the example most "regular" tourists see. I've fallen for a few of the more mundane scams over the years (the bird seed one near Sanam Luang, for example)...although usually my antenna is up when I'm in a touristy part of town. And then there's the sex tourism. I have hated the times I have been put on the spot by a Thai family I am very close with upcountry. "Why do Americans think they can come here just to have cheap sex?" It's embarassing to be put on the spot for those of us who go to Thailand for the more innocent pleasures of life (such as, for example, Buddhism). On the other hand, I do not agree with those who see Thais who work in the sex industry as just reacting to poverty. I know families in Issan who are very poor rice farmers. They work hard for their meager living. Life requires choices. Okay...enough preaching.

P.S. Almost every year I have spent 4-7 weeks in Thailand I have lived in a somewhat basic flat...not a tourist hotel. And, at some point during almost every visit I have rented a car...although not for driving in Bangkok. I use the bus or river taxi or other forms of mass transit 80% if the time, and taxis the rest of the time. But, when I travel upcountry I do rent a car so I can get to the out-of-the-way places (temples, historical sites, etc.). I HATE driving in and out of Bangkok, but in the rest of the country it's fine. Usually when I drive places in Thailand I go with a Thai friend, but plenty of times I've headed off on my own.

I LOVE Bangkok and I LOVE Thailand. However, I am fully aware of the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's all part of life...and it's what makes life interesting. I do have to admit, that each years I have come, the first few days I wonder why I like it...then all of a sudden...about 5 days into each trip it clicks and I feel right at home.

[tw25rw]

I thought, and still do, that it was a hot, sweaty & dirty dump. But thanks to the local ladies, I fell for the place after a couple of days, and kept coming back (for just the one lady now). Before long, the considerable grime and inconvenience becomes background noise.

[tommyj4]

It does state as a tourist, so you would obviousley only get to see the good points, he isnt promoting BKK as a place to work/retire/relocate.

[phaethon]

For the most part any negativity in people's reactions to my frequent trips to/plans to move to BKK involve the words 'dirty' and 'polluted'.

BTW - why is everything in this topic underlined?

Edited October 10, 2008 by phaethon

[TopDogger]

For the most part any negativity in people's reactions to my frequent trips to/plans to move to BKK involve the words 'dirty' and 'polluted'.

BTW - why is everything in this topic underlined?

Its been cleaned up a lot of the last few years, but polluted & congested sum it up pretty nicely..