Tourists Start Making A Comeback To Thailand

[Ulysses G.]

Thai have become known as money grabbers , the internet makes the world a very small place .

So they are going to Vietnam and Cambodia instead? Thai people are much more honest and much less bothersome than inhabitants of most of the countries in question.

[dumball]

Thai have become known as money grabbers , the internet makes the world a very small place .

So they are going to Vietnam and Cambodia instead? Thai people are much more honest and much less bothersome than inhabitants of most of the countries in question.

At this current time , Phnom Penh is loaded with tourists , your acclamation is 'Vicky-Verky

[henryalleman]

Whatever TAT or others like to make us believe. 2009 will be a very bad year for tourism, not only for Thailand. Reason? The worldwide economical crisis. Last week there was an survey in my country

60% are afraid to loose their job next year

29% are thinking that they will loose their job almost certainly

34% would accept a wage cut if they can keep their job or work longer for the same salary.

83% believe that the economic situation will be worse in 2009

The shops have an high overstock, they even announce a very sharp drop of prices during the sales who start 3 of January, starting with -40% and further till -70% in the last 2 weeks.

I think the results in other countries will not be much different.

Does somebody think that non of this people will not change their holiday plans next year, and that there will be no dramatic drop in the tourist industry.

And if, maybe for your own peace of mind keep on believing that the drop of tourism is due the closings for 1 week of some airport is the reason for the downfall of tourism in Thailand keep on doing so.

But the world is in an economical crisis who just started, prepare yourself for his effects on tourism in Thailand. The figures will drop dramatically.

[tb86]

I suppose if you keep saying the same thing over and over again, you may begin to believe it.

HMM, did you even bother to read the article? Khun Chai is saying that there will be a economic downturn in thailand, especially for the middle class, but that tourism will not continue to drop off. We have seen a sharp recovery from almost a 58% drop in biz in the rsta district, the oriental at one point in time was at a 1% occ, oriental dhara devi was at 24%, the intercon at 20% ect ect occupancy has increased fairly rapidly over the last few weeks, granted its not where it should be but weekly growth has improved, so no the world isnt gonna come to a end because the airports were closed for a few days

I read it very clear, and considering I actually live and work here, with one sector of my biz involved in tourism I am all to aware of it. Take the saffron tinted glasses off, wake up, and smell the coffee

yeah i guess owning 3 buisnesses in rsta would qualify me as living and working here buddy, but hey I guess sitting in weekly update meetings with the srivikorns on the status of rsta and the surronding buisness disctricts, keeps me from having enough free time to smell the coffee

[LaoPo]

But the world is in an economical crisis who just started, prepare yourself for his effects on tourism in Thailand. The figures will drop dramatically.

Nothing new here Henry; I've been saying that for many months now.

The RSTA article in the OP is nothing but promotion trying to ease the bad news. The present tourists in Thailand are tourists who booked well in advance of the bad economical news as well as the Thai political news and airport closings.

The worse is yet to come.

LaoPo

[rono]

A friend of me went to Singapore for his visa, came back, the 737 was fully loaded but only 2 foreigners on the plane, he could count the foreign arrivals at the immigration counters in the airport.

Another friend of me just came back from taking his friend to the airport, a 747 from Germany had landed with 25 persons on board.

[dumball]

Well , you cannot deny that as being a trickle can you , very small trickle mind you , but still a trickle .

[astral]

Any increase has to be a plus after recent events............

[LaoPo]

Any increase has to be a plus after recent events............

That's correct.

But an increase after a decline is always more difficult.

10% down of 100 ends up in 90

10% up from 90 is 99

LaoPo

[tartempion]

This must be a mis-information campaign !

According to many of the anti-PAD posters, Thailand's tourism industry was "irrevocably" and "irreparably" damaged by the PAD shutdown of the airport !

This anti-PAD poster claims that December 2008 Thailand's tourism was totally fuc_kked-up by the airports occupation.

Are you satisfied with this statement now?

Not just tourism by the way, many businesses lost a few baht also, would you agree?

But no wrongdoing, 'twas for the good of the working force and who cares for only 300.000 pissed off tourists?

They will all be back in 2009, regardless the doom sayers.

Remembers me many posters here who were negating anything could go wrong with the far away foreclosure (bubble), high oil price (bubble) excessive credit buying (bubble) - even Toxin said it: buying on credit is good for the economy.

BTW (edit to add comment)

I came back from Vietnam the day our friends closed the airport.

Hanoi was bursting with tourists, so was Bangkok on the 24th of November no?

Question: 24th December: How many tourists are in Bangkok and how many in Hanoi? Don't think Bangkok was bursting on Christmas

Edited December 27, 2008 by tartempion

[Mosha]

Before the tourist industry starts crowing, they should let the festive season get out of the way. Things are bad in the world, but the people that have arrived on holiday may just have decided to try to have a good Christmas and new year anyway.

[southerndown]

It is rather obvious to me that these stats show Thailand would have experienced a significant drop in tourist numbers even without the shutdown. From the article above, it looks like the decline started last spring and has been continuing.

Yes, the PAD shutdown of the airports had a significant impact on the numbers, but the downward trend was in existence long before they shut down the airports.

//edit - had to note difference between "passenger movements" and "arrivals"

A very valid point that those operating in the tourist sector need to appreciate.

The political factor was either already impacting on customer's choice of destination - with the PAD demonstrations just exacerbating the situation - or the reduced numbers were reflecting the start of the economic downturn.

I still believe that the airport closure will be quickly forgotten and tourist numbers will start to pick up - I hope so, for all those trying to make a living from the sector. I fear they will not return to former levels - economics, not politics being the majot factor.

get real. i suppose you dont believe that thailand is the seventh most dangerous country in the world either! stick to facts gary and stop trying to talk the problem away

[Ulysses G.]

And if, maybe for your own peace of mind keep on believing that the drop of tourism is due the closings for 1 week of some airport is the reason for the downfall of tourism in Thailand keep on doing so.

But the world is in an economical crisis who just started, prepare yourself for his effects on tourism in Thailand. The figures will drop dramatically.

The reason that THIS tourist season was ruined was mostly because of the illegal antics of PAD that went on for months and topped off with highjacking the two most important airports in the country. No one knew how long it would last so almpst everyone canceled their travel plans.

Now we have to deal with the economical crisis without any savings from this year. PAD should be put on the rack!

[southerndown]

With all the problems the Land of Smiles(LOS) has seen as of late it is STILL the best bargain in this South East Asia, no ifs and or buts" about it, just stop for a moment and think of the countries nearby, Viet-nam, Laos, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, yeah right. Who really want to spend a lot of time and money in these places, beside that fifteen day(??) or is it seven now, what ever a visa on arrival is a BIG OLD PLUS for the Land of Smile. Seven or fifteen days is plenty of time for the tourist to add a bit of cash to the Nation bank account.

You would be surprised how many ARE spending their hard earned cash in one or other of those countries , no ifs and or buts about it , it is obvious many HAVE given thought to a different destination and are being quite surprised at what they are finding .

Part of the decision could be allied to the end of your assumption , : Plenty of time to add a bit of CASH to the Nation bank account , Thai have become known as money grabbers , the internet makes the world a very small place . Why jump through hoops for a visa to enable one to ' Increase the prosperity ' of the visited country that gives far less than advertised or thought of as the only place to spend a vacation ? When a store/restaraunt gives poor service or trys to fool you with 'Special low prices ' until you realise it is actualy more like double , are you stupid enough to go back for more of the same ? Present company excluded of course .

good point and well thought out logic. why are there so many non-thinkers on thaivisa??

[Ricardo]

I came back from Vietnam the day our friends closed the airport.

Hanoi was bursting with tourists, so was Bangkok on the 24th of November no?

No, I came through Bangkok on the 20th and it was very quiet, much as you would expect for low-season. Clearing Immigration took only 5 minutes, at a time of the morning when I've previously waited for over an hour, in August.

But I agree that apparent high-prices, due partly but not solely to the Strong-Baht, is putting-off tourists.

[sriracha john]

I came back from Vietnam the day our friends closed the airport.

Hanoi was bursting with tourists, so was Bangkok on the 24th of November no?

No, I came through Bangkok on the 20th and it was very quiet

Also, as an example of several, there's the 4,300-viewed thread dated November 14, 2008 (before the airport closed)

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/High-season-...ml&hl=bleak

High-season Tourism Outlook Bleak

[animatic]

Drove all the way round the island twice the last two days and was in Lamai much of the evening.

Many more toursists than I expected, enough to make driving particularly dangerous.

Anecdotal, but observed.

[Priceless]

get real. i suppose you dont believe that thailand is the seventh most dangerous country in the world either! stick to facts gary and stop trying to talk the problem away

Have you got a (reliable) source for this?

/ Priceless

[mommysboy]

BANGKOK: -- The Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association has noticed foreign tourists trickling back to the posh shopping district after dropping more than 40 per cent during the airport closures.

"However the number of foreign visitors is still down by 10 to 20 per cent compared to the normal situation," RSTA president Chai Srivikorn said yesterday.

Foreign tourists account for 30-40 per cent of all shoppers in the Ratchaprasong shopping area.

"We have seen an increase in foreign guests at many hotels in the Ratchaprasong area with average occupancy climbing from only 20 per cent during the unrest to nearly 40 per cent today," Chai said.

Let us look at those numbers a minute

A 40% drop, but the tourists only make up 30-40% of the shoppers.

So the real drop is only 12-16%

And now that has halved to 6-8%.

Not really so bad, in my book.

"The Oriental Hotel Bangkok for example is showing a pick-up in the number of foreign individual tourists of 40-50 per cent so far," he said.

I would consider the Oriental rather a specialised hotel,

so any figures are hardly indicative of the whole tourist industry.

I think this is called 'the head in the sands' accounting method.

You missed your vocation: selling sub-prime mortgages.

[lordofdelusion]

Folks this is the HIGH season. 99% of which was booked months ago by those who happen to be here now.

I know of plenty of people who have decided to go elsewhere next year due to the troubles in the airports.

Since when has a high season been measured over only a 3 week period because that is the length of this years high season.

Expect a serious drop off mid to late January and a decline across the year.

The Gospel Truth. Someone who knows of what he speaks!

I have to 2nd. Around the southern end of Phuket I have been told by hotel and business people that the holiday bookings were made months earlier. Unfortunately they have few bookings beyond new years. Hotel staff have already been laid off. How could anyone expect anything else? The world economy sux and Thailand suffered some bad press with the airport thing.

Baht is too darn strong too.

[jackspratt]

get real. i suppose you dont believe that thailand is the seventh most dangerous country in the world either! stick to facts gary and stop trying to talk the problem away

Have you got a (reliable) source for this?

/ Priceless

I await the response with interest. In the meantime, think about where you would place these countries on a list of the most dangerous place in the world for tourists:

Somalia

Iraq

Afghanistan

Haiti

Pakistan

Sudan

DR Congo

Lebanon

Zimbabwe

Palestine

Jamaica

Columbia

Algeria

India

Israel

Papua New Guinea

East Timor

[dumball]

How many tourists go to the places on the list ? Not too many as a haphazard guess , and more than likely hard cases with more than a pleasant stroll down the esplanade on thier perverted minds .

[wedders]

get real. i suppose you dont believe that thailand is the seventh most dangerous country in the world either! stick to facts gary and stop trying to talk the problem away

Have you got a (reliable) source for this?

/ Priceless

I await the response with interest. In the meantime, think about where you would place these countries on a list of the most dangerous place in the world for tourists:

Somalia

Iraq

Afghanistan

Haiti

Pakistan

Sudan

DR Congo

Lebanon

Zimbabwe

Palestine

Jamaica

Columbia

Algeria

India

Israel

Papua New Guinea

East Timor

Well I personally would feel vastly safer strolling through the streets of Chiang Mai at any time of day or night that anywhere in the above. And whilst on my stroll, I would be adding plenty of other countries to those you mention. Including so-called 'civilised' nations such as the UK and the US.

Is it not a fact that the stats used to create the original danger list include the hundreds... thousands... that have died in a tiny part of southern Thailand because of the Islamist insurgency problems? That alone would completely distort the real picture.

[Priceless]

How many tourists go to the places on the list ? Not too many as a haphazard guess , and more than likely hard cases with more than a pleasant stroll down the esplanade on thier perverted minds .

A partial answer to your question (Source: United Nations World Tourism Organization, data from 2005):

India: ~3.9 million

Israel: ~1.9 million

Jamaica: ~1.5 million

Quite a few people, in other words

/ Priceless

[Mosha]

And if, maybe for your own peace of mind keep on believing that the drop of tourism is due the closings for 1 week of some airport is the reason for the downfall of tourism in Thailand keep on doing so.

But the world is in an economical crisis who just started, prepare yourself for his effects on tourism in Thailand. The figures will drop dramatically.

The reason that THIS tourist season was ruined was mostly because of the illegal antics of PAD that went on for months and topped off with highjacking the two most important airports in the country. No one knew how long it would last so almpst everyone canceled their travel plans.

Now we have to deal with the economical crisis without any savings from this year. PAD should be put on the rack!

It really is good to know it's not the world financial situation.

[Ulysses G.]

The financial situation would have only hurt slightly this year because so many people had already paid for their trips and would have gone anyway. The weeks before the airport highjacking were much like any other high season.

However, things would have gone bad in low season.

Edited December 29, 2008 by Ulysses G.

[sriracha john]

Seems PAD must be a world-wide force...

"Last December I remember being in a very buoyant mood, telling you all that the airline was in excellent shape and the overall picture was very healthy," Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Chief Executive Tony Tyler said in a recent company newsletter. "Now, as 2008 draws to a close, we are facing very uncertain times and the mood has turned decidedly somber."

While the drop in fuel prices has provided some reprieve, air traffic demand has fallen as companies and tourists cut back on travel. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned that the aviation industry faces its worst revenue environment in 50 years.

- Associated Press / 2008-12-29

[Ulysses G.]

Of course, the economic downturn is hurting tourism, however, months of civil dissent, topped off with PAD taking over the airport at the very beginning of high season had much more effect in the short term.

Edited December 29, 2008 by Ulysses G.

[henryalleman]

Seems PAD must be a world-wide force...

"Last December I remember being in a very buoyant mood, telling you all that the airline was in excellent shape and the overall picture was very healthy," Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Chief Executive Tony Tyler said in a recent company newsletter. "Now, as 2008 draws to a close, we are facing very uncertain times and the mood has turned decidedly somber."

While the drop in fuel prices has provided some reprieve, air traffic demand has fallen as companies and tourists cut back on travel. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned that the aviation industry faces its worst revenue environment in 50 years.

- Associated Press / 2008-12-29

There is no doubt that tourism will be down dramatic next year. Maybe not related to tourism but only to point out that the economical crisis is hitting the people very hard

The price of Canadian lobsters is reduced by 35% in Europe due to the fact that the export to American market is on an historical low level. So if people already save money by not buying lobsters, we can not expect that tourism will not be hit very hard next year.

[mrtoad]

Of course, the economic downturn is hurting tourism, however, months of civil dissent, topped off with PAD taking over the airport at the very beginning of high season had much more effect in the short term.

Well, Minor International have reiterated that in today's Nation - calling it a "Perfect Storm of instability". It looks like they are cutting back on developing a number of projects because of the poor tourism market in Thailand, but intend to develop in other countries.