Tourism plunges 22 per cent

[Richie1971]

I really don't think the tourism decrease can be attributed to the polical unrest and swine flu. Maybe to a small degree, but not to an all time low. I think this government needs to look at several items.

The exchange rate for the baht is horrible

The prices for lodging and services is becoming outrageous. $100 a night for hotels in Thailand. Please

Thai Air is probably one of the highest priced airlines going in th world right now.

ANd then there is the problem of gaining a visa, dual entry, just not conducive to the tourist.

As a farang married to a Thai lady, the fact that they are making it harder for us to buy property or transferring money just to support our wives and children has alot to do with why go to Thailand? They have made a very unappealing place to come to.

The Thai governement needs to wake up and smell the coffee, there are places such as Vietname to visit that are just as nice and far less expensive same with the Philippines. Thailand is pricing and governing themselves out of the tourism market.

I hope someone from the government is listening.

Vietnam? Have you ever been there? Beautiful scenery in some places but to compare it with Thailand in regard to expat living is just a joke.

I lived there for 8 months, in Hanoi admittedly, but it is just not Thailand - if you require further reinforcement try and live there - The locals of Hanoi make the Thais look like saints -

[mrdome]

It's going to get worse.

I agree. Double whammy coming together - worldwide recession and Thailand's internal actions and 'issues'.

[Keithangel]

The Thai governement needs to wake up and smell the coffee, there are places such as Vietname to visit that are just as nice and far less expensive same with the Philippines. Thailand is pricing and governing themselves out of the tourism market.

I hope someone from the government is listening.

Having spent six months in the Phils last year instead of Thailand I wouldnt say it was cheaper I was in and around Cebu and accomadation is much higher 1300per day for a half decent hotel compared to 5000 a month in Chiang Rai for example and its clear there are many areas in cebu you could not safely go ive never felt that in Thai

The food is both much better and cheaper in Thailand in fact if you moved all the beautiful women who speak English from the Phils it would be no contest LOL

[petercallen]

Tourism hit 49-year low

BANGKOK: -- The tourism industry has hit a 49-year low and is expected to plunge by 22 per cent this year, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand.

Besides the global economic crisis, the country's continuing political turmoil had contributed to the sharp decline in tourism, Tourism Council of Thailand chairman Kongkit Hiranyakij said on Thursday.

The expected number of tourist arrivals had been reduced from 14.1 million to 11, he said.

The A(H1N1) flu outbreak could make tourism contract by three to four per cent, causing the country to lose up to 200 billion baht of tourism revenue this year, he said.

Last year, Thailand gained 540 billion baht in tourism revenue.

"If the government can solve its political problems and is able to host the Asean meetings successfully, tourism should be revived by the end of this year or the beginning of 2010," Mr Kongkit predicted.

However, he said Thai tourists would help generate 430 billion baht in revenue this year.

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-23

[surfaxxis]

They are fixing this issue as we speak by becoming more lenient on long stay visas

No , the people in charge make it harder for "long term " tourists , and at the same time make free 60 day tourist visas,, Do they want us ?

[mrdome]

Vietnam? Have you ever been there? Beautiful scenery in some places but to compare it with Thailand in regard to expat living is just a joke.

I lived there for 8 months, in Hanoi admittedly, but it is just not Thailand - if you require further reinforcement try and live there - The locals of Hanoi make the Thais look like saints -

Agreed, the aggression level in VN seems quite a bit higher than in the other SE Asia mainland countries (there are always exceptions, of course). Been visiting VN since '99 but have been put off from my last visit.

I'd like to stress, I do not think it's a bad place at all in general. Maybe not for the uninitiated.

[Foggy Bottom]

Re: the number of arrivals

Hope this works - it's one of many I have on hard disk taken off the TAT website early in the Thaksin years - it shows monthly tourist arrivals for 1998 (total for year = 7,764,930)

see attached file

The original URL was http://www.tat.or.th/stat/index98.html but that page no longer exists

some demographics from that page

Sex

Male 4,749,236

Female 3,015,694

Frequency of Visit

First visit 3,789,077 + 9.09%

Revisit 3,975,853 + 6.08%

Travel Arrangement

Group Tour 3,119,551

Non Group Tour 4,645,379

Purpose of Visit

Holiday 6,832,801 + 9.07%

Business 706,163 - 2.11 %

Convention 65,760 +4.16%

Official 32,361 - 15.04%

Others 127,845 - 4.88%

The point of it all is that if 11 million is the lowest for 49 years - then who was lying to who between 1998 and 2003 (the only years for which I have the TAT web pages saved to disk)

Foggy

[looping]

Unbelievably I've read a couple of PRO-THAKSIN comments!!!?? I MEAN REALLY UN-F######-BELIEVABLE. He SO doesn't care about Thailand AT ALL. Grrrrrrrrrr, makes me so angry. Oh hang on...yeah; "yai yen yen, mai ben rlai"...that's better, now I'm thinking like a Thai!

[Samuian]

A Thai could roll upto the hotel in a brand new 5 million baht BMW and be given the room with the Thai rate... Then along come a couple of backpackers or english teachers who haven't had a proper shower for weeks and can only afford 30 baht meal's, and they get told double the price of the BMW driving local.... Perfectly fair.....

:cheesy"

it's getting better ever better - extra topping on the pizza!

Ever seen "some Thai pulling up with a 5 Million brand new BMW in Kao San or Phra Atit Rd."

at one of the cheap joints for a dorm room - where "a couple of backpackers or english teachers who haven't had a proper shower for weeks and can only afford 30 baht meal's, " pull up... I haven't!

[sukeroku]

Unbelievably I've read a couple of PRO-THAKSIN comments!!!?? I MEAN REALLY UN-F######-BELIEVABLE. He SO doesn't care about Thailand AT ALL. Grrrrrrrrrr, makes me so angry. Oh hang on...yeah; "yai yen yen, mai ben rlai"...that's better, now I'm thinking like a Thai!

Sounds like someone has been drinking Sondhi's right wing elitist drivel...

[avalonmick]

I really don't think there were more than 11 million tourists 48 years ago in Thailand. Or 47, or 37, or 27, or 17 or even 7 years ago. What a crock of sh#t piece of journalism.

They're probably referring to the drop percentage wise.

correct, according to TAT's figures, largest % drop

Edited July 23, 2009 by avalonmick

[HOOD Robin]

huskerpr, agree with your comments, I also think the Bank scam of 150 baht for using ATM machines is keeping tourists away. It's been well publicised and is an unnecessary expense for someone on a couple of weeks vacation.

Also, whatever the rights and wrongs of the British couple scammed at King Power fiasco, the fact is they both belonged to the section of clientele that the TAT is aiming at, and most people sadly DO believe what they read in the papers.

When times are hard, people are much more inclined to do some research before spending a large amount of their income on a holiday, and almost all of the recent news about Thailand is extremely negative.

On arrival, there are reports of tourists being scammed by taxis.

Wherever a tourist goes, he is expected to pay double the price when sightseeing.

The police have a worldwide reputation, of being at best unreliable, and at worst, similar to the mafia.

Hotels also practice double pricing, and I've seen several reports on here of them increasing their charges, due to a lack of customers.

Finally on leaving Thailand, a tourist has to negotiate their way through being possibly accused of theft at King Power, and being incarcerated while Tony negotiates their release.

Why would anyone, who's never been to Thailand, want to come?

= the TRUTH, nothing else than the TRUTH !!!!!!!

In fact ALL the farangs should leave LOS and stay away ; really want to see what they're gonna do then.... Also <deleted> up each other like they do with us, poor mobile ATM machines ?

Many farangs already left Thailand, and many more will follow ! And still they wonder why..... silly bunch of apes !

[dbrenn]

I really don't think there were more than 11 million tourists 48 years ago in Thailand. Or 47, or 37, or 27, or 17 or even 7 years ago. What a crock of sh#t piece of journalism.

Agreed - 49 year low. What a load of rubbish.

[Sturbuc]

Tourism may be at an all time low but there will always be a guaranteed number of people coming here every year and newbie’s as well. Sex pests will always visit Thailand and every year new perverts will discover the delights on offer. This sort of person doesn't care about red or yellow shirts, or swine flu...they would risk getting HIV if it meant a sordid encounter. It is families and those travellers interested in Asia per se and culture etc that have fallen in numbers - Nana/Patpong/Cowboy Pattaya/the islands etc will still be attracting a continuous flow of creepy slime balls.

And you do know everything very well, don't you? The further or the latter? Please don't worry, scam's for everybody....

[torrenova]

Can the tourist numbers ever become negative ?

[Busy]

So nothing really positive to say about Thailand.

Who else regrets staying here and trying to settle here?

I know I do, just biding my time.

I think like a lot of you, I am not putting my money into Thailand, but am now saving to spend else where.

[DavidHouston]

I really don't think there were more than 11 million tourists 48 years ago in Thailand. Or 47, or 37, or 27, or 17 or even 7 years ago. What a crock of sh#t piece of journalism.

I bet the TTT was considering all the American soldiers stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam war as "tourists".

[gmac]

I don't think that Thai tourists are staying in boutique hotels in Europe for 800 or 1,900 baht per night.

No, but they don't get charged double because of the colour of their skin in Europe . Foreman's experience is another reason why the Thai tourist industry is biting the hand that feeds. It really is quite nonsensical.

Thai tourists are generally charged at least 5 times more in Europe than farang in Thailand. Let's not even get started on the double standards in wages.

What are you going on about!!!

I know a lot more Thais in Thailand with money, than I know Farangs with money.

Dont kid yourself that all Thais are poor. The rich here are very, very rich

And double standard charging, as you put it, based on whether or not you are Thai, is simply wrong and offputting.

Yes, and generally speaking it is only those rich Thais that can afford to stay in hotels, so they are actually charging more to the farangs who in many cases are less able to afford it

[sukeroku]

Don't stand in line to receive welfare payments from Thai NGO's founded to help starving farangs.

[WeeGB]

Thanks for the kind words Robin HOOD.

I gave my honest opinion, as someone who wants to see Thailand progress in the world.

There was a poster who questioned my views on the 150 baht ATM scam. Sorry no namecheck, my connection speed is very slow, and it would take 10 minutes to find it again.

Speaking from personal experience, of six friends who have visited me, at different times since this scam began, none of them could believe that thai banks were allowed to charge for this. They all knew about this before they came to Thailand, and 4 of the 6 were first time visitors here. It may not have been headline news on international news networks, but word of mouth soon gets around. I did of course direct them to the Bank Of Ayuthaya ATMs, who are still not charging - maybe the only sensible Bank in Thailand?

I've now opened an account with the Bank Of Ayuthaya and let them know that I had changed to them, because of their ATM policy. I also told the Banks I'd left, Kasikorn & Bangkok, why I was changing Banks. Maybe if other long-term farang residents did the same, the penny might drop. (Or should that be Baht?)

[Nemothepemo]

So nothing really positive to say about Thailand.

Who else regrets staying here and trying to settle here?

I know I do, just biding my time.

I think like a lot of you, I am not putting my money into Thailand, but am now saving to spend else where.

Just get rid ot the Thai's, the Euro Trash, the Police, clean up the streets, clean the air and the water and keep the "O" non immigrant visa holders here and this would be a nice place to stay for a while.

[henryalleman]

I totally agreee.......................mate

QUOTE (trvlbum @ 2009-07-23 17:42:56) *

Maybe the foreigners are starting to feel that deep lack of respect for foreigners that the thais can no longer hide behind smiles. It starts at the airport and ends in the airport and runs all down the track from the taxi driver to the wives boyfriends.

'now it's even the "evil eye from Airport all the way to the travel destination.."

are these people out of their minds?

No body asks them to come here and stay in the first place!

No COUNTRY in the Entire world allows a foreigner to stay for a year

on a tourist visa!

Thailand, well in general it is generouslle overlooked at least twice..

Everything even Luxury dining is dirt cheap compare to London, New York, Berlin, Milan...

what is wrong with them people ?

Some Prozac maybe?

Correct, also I don't understand the endless negative whining, maybe they stay in a different Thailand than I, and I do stay in Bangkok Metropolis, and in 35 year I NEVER had to deal with disrespect.

Maybe the whiners and complainers should widen their horizon an live or visit some others places than pattaya, soi cowboy, Nana, Patpong, and other expat or tourist hot spots, because that gentlemen(?) is not the real Thailand.

There are still many places in Bangkok metropolis where you hardly see a foreigner or tourist.

During my younger day's I was a taxi driver for a while, well Gentlemen(?) by my experience Thai taxi drivers are greenhorns in cheating compared with some scams in Western countries(even with the meter running). And I must say that in 99% of the case, I only saw hardworking and honest taxi drivers in Bangkok, and again the prices are dirt cheap compared with any European town.

Someone wrote you can't find an decent hotel for 100$.Well in the 35 years I traveled around in the country I NEVER paid 100$ for an hotel and I always stayed in very comfortable hotels. Maybe he should visit this website before he make his next trip

http://www.sawadee.com/

before he makes such idiot remarks.

And indeed I also thin they are in desperate need of some Prozac or maybe some Viagra can help also.

[Oberkommando]

Thailand was finished as a leading tourism destination after the coup in 2006.

Popular tourism destinations in the 21st century don't have coups and military juntas.

More to come, to be sure.

Edited July 23, 2009 by Oberkommando

[sunsetlover]

Tourism hit 49-year low

BANGKOK: -- The tourism industry has hit a 49-year low and is expected to plunge by 22 per cent this year, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand.

Besides the global economic crisis, the country's continuing political turmoil had contributed to the sharp decline in tourism, Tourism Council of Thailand chairman Kongkit Hiranyakij said on Thursday.

The expected number of tourist arrivals had been reduced from 14.1 million to 11, he said.

The A(H1N1) flu outbreak could make tourism contract by three to four per cent, causing the country to lose up to 200 billion baht of tourism revenue this year, he said.

Last year, Thailand gained 540 billion baht in tourism revenue.

"If the government can solve its political problems and is able to host the Asean meetings successfully, tourism should be revived by the end of this year or the beginning of 2010," Mr Kongkit predicted.

However, he said Thai tourists would help generate 430 billion baht in revenue this year.

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-23

Anyone who knows anything about Thailand knows that the entire tourism industry here is geared for the "foreigner" tourist. How this Kongkit guy can claim that Thai tourists can generate 430 billion bht is beyond me. From hotels charging per night what the average Thai makes in a week or more, to "farang" prices vs. Thai prices, the tourism industry here is for, and from, the foreign traveler, not the local Thai tourist.

Such myopic thinking only exacerbates the bad situation....without foreign tourism, and the revenues it brings that support things like BTS and fancy shopping malls, frankly what's the difference between Burma and Thailand? There is not much of other industry to speak of here...last time I checked the only thing I found that said "made in Thailand" were some fancy leather wallets(!)....sorry to say....

[cyborg22]

Cut the value of the baht by at least 25%, so we are

back to normal again. Than we can start to talk about

tourism.... People look more for money than for any

dam_n red shirts.

Glegolo

You are talking a load of rubbish.

For one thing the Baht is not strong, It is just the other currencies that are weaker in relation to it.

Cut it's value by 25% and what happens? The cost of living goes up in thailand and most likely farang will be worse off than they are now.

It really is about time some of you woke up and faced the real world. If you are finding it difficult to support yourselves then i suggest you go home to mummy and stop whining.

Is it any wonder you are thought of in a bad way with mentality like that?

[sukeroku]

Here in Hua Hin, tourism is predominantly Thai. Same for Chaam and most of the rest of the country with only 4 or 5 exceptions.

[Oberkommando]

Maybe the whiners and complainers should widen their horizon an live or visit some others places than pattaya, soi cowboy, Nana, Patpong, and other expat or tourist hot spots, because that gentlemen(?) is not the real Thailand.

Not all of the "whiners" or "complainers" are sex-tourists or sexpats.

And prostitution, including the very prominent areas that service foreigners such as the areas you mention, are certainly part of the real Thailand, and many real Thais work there.

You can't just pretend the parts of Thailand you don't like are not really part of this country, because they very much are.

[cyborg22]

Anyone who knows anything about Thailand knows that the entire tourism industry here is geared for the "foreigner" tourist. How this Kongkit guy can claim that Thai tourists can generate 430 billion bht is beyond me. From hotels charging per night what the average Thai makes in a week or more, to "farang" prices vs. Thai prices, the tourism industry here is for, and from, the foreign traveler, not the local Thai tourist.

Such myopic thinking only exacerbates the bad situation....without foreign tourism, and the revenues it brings that support things like BTS and fancy shopping malls, frankly what's the difference between Burma and Thailand? There is not much of other industry to speak of here...last time I checked the only thing I found that said "made in Thailand" were some fancy leather wallets(!)....sorry to say....

Try walking through the clothing section of M&S in the Uk and you will see on most labels made in Thailand.

Even in the food hall many fruits product of thailand.

[henryalleman]

I can add a fresh perspective on the rampant anti-tourism movement that seems to be infecting Thailand and its people. Today my Thai wife attempted to book 3 hotel rooms at a modest, 'boutique' style hotel in Chiang Rai for two nights--six room-nights all told--so my golfing buddies can try out the area courses next month. We have used this same hotel three times in the past three years and we were always able to negotiate a fair rate, even if it was slightly higher than the standard Thai price. Today, my wife was blatantly told that since a Farang was included in each hotel room, the price would rise from 800 baht to 1,900 baht. Even after we explained that all 3 men are long-term residents and have Thai driver's licenses as well to prove their status. It was as if talking to a brick wall. They wouldn't budge and I listened carefully to my wife--she was patient and polite.

So it is not just the BiB and the government that are hurting Thai tourism. The PM ought to seriously consider pleading to all Thai tourism operators that the old double standard for pricing has gone far enough and is definitely affecting tourist attitudes. Nobody appreciates racism and unfair practices...causing foreign tourists to vote with their feet. I doubt that we treat Thai tourists the same in Europe, Austral-Asia and North America. Even if this hotel suddenly caved-in on its pricing policies, I would shun them like the plaque....enough is enough. I'll pay gladly more money to stay a better quality hotel that does not insist on separate pricing depending on one's citizenship. And indeed we found a few hotels in Chiang Rai that meet this category. PM me and I will reveal the name of the miserable hotel to you in private.

Next time you book all the rooms in your wifes name, or even better, if you have the right connections or social circle, and book it in their name, you will pay 1100 Baht per night for a room that cost normaly 6000 Baht (Thai price).

PS the receptionist never saw my face, so they not even know a foreigner stayed in that room.

Never forget TIT, so act accordingly.

Edited July 23, 2009 by henryalleman

[WeeGB]

sukerou wrote "Here in Hua Hin, tourism is predominantly Thai. Same for Chaam and most of the rest of the country with only 4 or 5 exceptions"

I have a niece (Thai), who is single and has a civil service job. She and three friends went to Cha Am, stayed together in one room, and holidayed there for 2 days and one night. The total spend for the 4 of them, she estimates is between 2 and 3 thousand Baht. This is the first holiday she's been on, and she doesn't expect to have another holiday until next year, and then it's a "maybe". It was noticeable from her photos that the beach was almost deserted, I have no idea if that's the normal state of affairs for Cha Am?

How on earth Mr Kongkit can expect Thai folks to spend 430 Billion baht, based on the above figures, frankly beggars belief. Apart from trips organised by the local temple, (where the folks on holiday stay in a temple, not a hotel), this is the first holiday any member of my wife's family has been on, apart from those I paid for.

Frankly I'd be amazed if Thai people holidaying in their own country spent 430 million Baht, not the ludicrous figure quoted.