As expressed in previous threads, I have a strong interest in languages. I'm only fluent in my mother tongue, but do have a reasonable knowledge of several others.

I find that some knowledge of different languages can be useful when dealing with tourists who do not speak English (or Thai)

What do TV members think would be the most useful languages to learn, based upon the trends in tourist arrivals from certain countries and the ability of those tourists to converse in English?

Thailand now has many visitors from the Indian sub-continent, but they can usually converse in English

Russian tourist numbers are definitely increasing, and for sure many Russians can only speak a little English!

From my own experience, I find that only younger Scandinaveans speak good English. It's the same with Germans. The older tourists from Sweden and Germany often speak little English

How about Japan, China and Korea??

It would be good to get some real stats about tourist numbers in Thailand based upon originating country.

Thanks for any suggestions

Simon

I'd suspect that learning Japanese could be very lucrative.

if you are a bargirl. explain to me why a jpanese(or any kind of person) person needs to pay for translation here.

tourists doing fine just the way things are.

He didn't mention money - he just said learning Japanes could be very lucrative

.. Maybe to negotiate a cheaper rate in the Japanese-only Patpong bars!

Simon

After Malaysians, Chinese, Japanese and Korean tourists are the largest number of visitors to Thailand. India is growing, but Japan and Korea are the top ones, China is increasing.

You can download the stats by country. Doesn't seem to work after 2007 though. Asian countries are by far the largest groups.

http://www2.tat.or.th/stat/web/static_download.php?Rpt=cre

DP25, thanks for that useful link. I'm guessing that Russian visitors are up since 2007. Otherwise, it looks like Chinese, Japanese and Korean are useful languages to be conversant in.

Simon

I noticed that this year unlike the past 2 years that the Italians and French were back in force on Phuket. Alot fewer English (you can differentiate them from the Australians because the Aussies are usually younger more stylishly dressed - reflection of youth.) On my scramble out of koh Samui the other day, I heard a lot of Hebrew which suggests to me the Israelis are back. Also new to Phuket this year was the visible presence of Russians. You can spot them because of their boorish behaviour. One woman just pushed her way in front of me and a Thai lady at Carrefour and despite my protests ignored us. Perhaps with time the Russians will get past this stage. Yea, yea, I know you didn't need to hear that bit about the Russian lady but I miss some of the nicer Scandanavians. The Danes never fail to look sexy on the beach. A lot more arabs here now. Usually young males that travel in groups of 3 & 4. The Indians come as family units and tend to be middle aged. Indians are quiet and don't make trouble but I saw an incident where 4 teenagers were getting taken to the cleaners by the jet ski boys over some alleged damage. I stood and watched and earned the angry glare of one of the morbidly obese jetski guys. I don't think he appreciated me watching them in action.

Stated aim of the Thai government is half of all tourists to be from mainland China by 2015.

Just go down to Hatyai to see part of the vast Chinese tourist crowd that is forgotten by the Westerners in their ghettoes of Khao San, Phuket and Patpong.

The Korean and Chinese tourist tend to come in organised tour groups with a Chinese/Korean speaking guide and only stay at Chinese/Korean hotels and go only to Chinese/Korean restaurants.

Your chances of any interaction with them is very small.