Thailand Focuses On High Spending Tourists, Not Numbers

[JetsetBkk]

thai economy revolves around 3 things - Sex, - Rice and tourism. You take out one of these and thailand would crumble in a matter of minutes.

Rough figures:

Tourism - 6% of GDP

Prostitution - 3%

Rice - don't know, but it isn't the remaining 91%

[Felt 35]

using all benefits provided by the kingdom

[Jingthing]

How about some more "honest" Thailand tourism slogans?

Thailand, too spicy for your shirt

You can't drink the water, but there's no snow

Thailand, Land of A Million Kathoeys (inspired by Minnesota, Land of 1000 Lakes)

Land of Smiles (when you pay)

Thailand, Airport Open (for now)

Thailand, Land of Colored Shirts

For Pattaya ...

Pattaya, Truly Not Asia

And for TAT itself,

Amazing TAT, Unseen Value

Amazing TAT, Amazingly Clueless

Any others?

Edited January 18, 2010 by Jingthing

[luangtom]

TAT should just bring that former-PM back to run the "new" Elite-Card program. The last one worked so well.......

[dumball]

'CHINWA''chiang mai' I spend over 1.2 million baht a year in Thailand, who spends more, a tourist or me, TAT should focus on taking care of me and people like me, people who live here!

Me too and for spending that money I still have to deposit 400,000 Baht to prove that I can survive with my family here. A little off topic but very true!

They should give out visas a=la Cambodia for long stay visitors/residents/retirees , 3/6/12 months with no proof of large sums in the bank , just go to your local friendly tourist agent or immigration office and allow you to keep on spending/producing large ammounts of money that goes into the general all around economy . I think more would be able to come and stay thus adding to the welfare of Thai in general .

[stolidfeline]

Can I believe my own eyes??

"green tourism" campaigns are planned to appeal to tourists from Europe, where environmental awareness is high."

Come to Thailand, choke in the fumes on the cities, wade amongst the plastic bags and broken glass on the beaches, smell the raw sewage from the Klongs, sketch the different species of rats eating from the sidewalk food stalls, dodge the dog turds, explore the dark depths of the holes in the road, take photos through the smoke in Chiang Mai, enjoy the view of your taxi driver spitting out of the window and the passers by picking their noses... I don't think they will be impressed.

In Bangkok, seems like most tourists don't come out of their hotels. Can't say I blame them either.

Edited January 18, 2010 by stolidfeline

[mrtoad]

Actually thought TAT where on to something until I read the paragraph below....and I realised these people dont have clue.....Have they ever met any of the teams average followers ???....Scousers.....high speading tourists...LOL...the average scouser will give all the thai scammers and thieves a lesson in how to do things properly...

And before any of esteemed scouser members get upset with me for sterotyping, I was born a scouser...LOL

"The agency will also produce more testimonial series to help promote tourism after noticing that English Premier League football team Liverpool's recent visit to the Emerald Temple in Bangkok lured many of the team's followers to the country.

Not exactly the demographic they were aiming for I imagine. jk

Not unless the definition of a high spending tourist is someone on the DHSS...

Yeah well I guess then the taxi drivers had better watch out for their wheels and hubcaps then.

[Loz]

"What we have found is that the characteristics of Thai people and services attract repeat visitors. Thailand is like no other place in the world," said Juthaporn.

Oh, I think you can get serviced elsewhere... but I agree. It does bring people back.

[nobber9999]

This is all very interesting but has anyone told Juthaporn that there is still a World recession and the average tourist does not have the spare cash to blow as they once did. Perhaps no one has told him that Thailand is already 25% more expensive for travelers due to the ERM? Maybe, devalue the Thai Baht by 25% and then sit back and watch tourists spend money like the old days! The alternative is of course to have free trade with China and flood the market with "authentic" cheap Chinese's imports to sell to tourists? What do you mean he has already put this idea into action? "Younger travelers in developed countries are the target" ? Now, if memory serves me correctly, when I was younger, one was classed as a tourist bum or back packer. Have these young travelers suddenly become wealthy overnight or is Juthaporn classing under 60's as "young"? If so, I feel quite overcome by his statement, although it's all in the mind as the body is no longer what I call young!!!

All of us from Western Europe would bend over backwards to travel for 12 hours to see this 8th wonder of the World - A green Thailand ! Has Juthaporn ever walked down a street and just looked at the discarded plastic bags and rubbish everywhere? I can only assume that he lives at the top of Thailand's highest mountain where fresh air is in abundance and the nearest plastic bag lay strewn around the foothills out of sight. Maybe, get supermarkets to charge for plastic bags - oop's, thought of that one as well. Let's just put everything on the back burner until the next time it's needed!

[khaowong1]

I don't know why they don't tell the truth--they want to attract money. Unfortunately it comes attached to foreigners.

this is a point they always seem to miss... amazing isn't it... they want money, but don't won't foreigners...

(Younger travellers in developed countries) what do they consider to be developed countries? and what do they think these younger travellers want? we who have been here for awhile know what they want. cheap clean hotels, cheap good food, cheaper bar fines, and cheap, sexy bar girls.. Now how hard is that to figure out?

[thai3]

I have just returned home after staying one week in the Holiday Inn Pattaya The hotel was occupied by at least 70% Indians. (not your yankee ones) Whole families and groups of single males would spend the whole evening sitting in the hotel gardens eating take aways and drinking beers from the local 7/11 certainly not much money going into the local ecconomy still I suppose there is not much difference than a couple of old expats sitting in a bar with 2 beers all evening moaning about everything thailand has to offer.

stayed at the Bel Aire on soi 5 once and the bellboy told me they hated indian guests as they actually brought stoves with them and cooked in the hotel rooms stinking the place out.

[khaowong1]

Can I believe my own eyes??

"green tourism" campaigns are planned to appeal to tourists from Europe, where environmental awareness is high."

Come to Thailand, choke in the fumes on the cities, wade amongst the plastic bags and broken glass on the beaches, smell the raw sewage from the Klongs, sketch the different species of rats eating from the sidewalk food stalls, dodge the dog turds, explore the dark depths of the holes in the road, take photos through the smoke in Chiang Mai, enjoy the view of your taxi driver spitting out of the window and the passers by picking their noses... I don't think they will be impressed.

In Bangkok, seems like most tourists don't come out of their hotels. Can't say I blame them either.

[balo]

Instead of rich tourists they should focus on people with below average IQ , and first time visitors to LOS.

They are guaranteed to have an empty wallet when they return back home.....

[moskito]

thai economy revolves around 3 things - Sex, - Rice and tourism. You take out one of these and thailand would crumble in a matter of minutes.

Rough figures:

Tourism - 6% of GDP

Prostitution - 3%

Rice - don't know, but it isn't the remaining 91%

dont belive your figures are correct. Prostitution just 3% ? LOL, whats with all the money after the ladies which NEVER worked on a bar comes in to Thailand.

Farangs of this NEVER A BARLADY buy houses, cars, motobikes, land, finance some familys and a lot of children etc.etc.etc.....

I bet I spend more money here in a year as the average tourist in a month. Nearly every Expat does. most of us have land, a house, a car and pay taxes, in Return most of us have to leave the country every 3 month, even if they are married since 10 years.

And what happend with all the NEVER a barlady which send money from overseas? same regulations for them as for Expats in Thaland and there will be a lot less income for the country!

[khaowong1]

Really the demographic with money is the baby boomers in America. Kids gone, still working, and $3 trillion to spend. What about golf, eco-tourism, unique scenery, and safe passage while in-country.

oh no, can't kow tow to the Americans.. as far as golf, eco-tourism, unique scenery and safe passage, come on, where's the fun in proposing something logical... they want to promote the young travellers in developed countries, like: Pakistan, Nigeria, Haiti...

[Johpa]

Juthaporn was reappointed to head the international marketing department following an internal management reshuffle supervised by the TAT's new governor, Suraphon Svetserni.

"This year, the authority will not aim at luring higher numbers of visitors, but will try to encourage visitors to spend more money while staying in the country," she said.

I just skimmed over 6 pages of comments and I apologize to any more recent poster who perhaps already made the point I wish to make here, and apologies for interrupting the circle jerk, but the news release makes no comment about seeking "high spending tourists" but notes only that the TAT will seek to increase the amount spent by all tourists during their time visiting the Kingdom. Maybe a language/logic problem here, I am just not sure on which side.

[Hugh Jarse]

Do they promote anti-scam and more safety policies? That would be a big enhancement to promote tourism on the long run.

Attracting rich tourists to Thailand was a cornerstone of the Thaksin regimes tourism policy.This present campaign is aimed at young travellers and tourists. As such it is a silly directive. Are they serious? Most young travellers here are travelling on budgets that allow them to stay in 100-500 baht a night places . You have to target a broad range of visitors to ensure that it is not just the corporates that benefit but the small to medium sized operators. Tourists staying in resorts do not really benefit the little people so litle trickle-down occurs. Many parts of the country are inundated with upmarket places to stay, and few customers.

There are so many other parts of south-east Asia offering much more affordable venues and places to visit.At some of these upmarket venues in Thailand staff have been so poorly trained that they can barely converse in English; to say nothing of other European and Nordic languages.

Thailand has a very negative image right now and must of course do something drastically and swiftly to ensure that tourists feel safe here. Phuket and Pattaya(both have reputations of being danger zones) are obvious places to start as there is so little control over the real power wielders there and only piecemeal changes will occur. If the Red shirts continue with their highly organised demo's and the upheavels reach the levels they did in 2008 then Thailand will really struggle and perhaps should focus more on agricultural exports.

I wonder how long this woman in charge will last in her new post? Good luck anyway!

[anon8]

I say, introduce the NEW Elite Card!

Declare the previous Elite Card campaign a tremendous success, but due to unprecedented demand TAT ran out of cards, so sorry.

Make the new card properly expensive if you wish to attract real hi end tourists. Why should they be lounging about in Cannes and St Tropez, lure them here with some card program that promises shorter cues at immigration desk.

/quote alyx: "using all benefits provided by the kingdom" //

[Retired2]

I have just returned home after staying one week in the Holiday Inn Pattaya The hotel was occupied by at least 70% Indians. (not your yankee ones) Whole families and groups of single males would spend the whole evening sitting in the hotel gardens eating take aways and drinking beers from the local 7/11 certainly not much money going into the local ecconomy still I suppose there is not much difference than a couple of old expats sitting in a bar with 2 beers all evening moaning about everything thailand has to offer.

Now, THAT was funny....

[LindsayBKK]

If a person stays at a high priced hotel, the money doesn't go to people who need it the most

to have a fair share . I'll give you an eg. Paris "Hilton"

Seems that the TAT want more poor & more rich.

That's called a Thaksin world. I think we have been there already.

How many CEO's of TAT been sacked? It's time again.

TAT work like the Immigration. Thinking up new rules just to keep the bosses happy. Hoping for a promotion.

Keep kissing boys.

[wlcart]

"green tourism" campaigns are planned to appeal to tourists from Europe, where environmental awareness is high............

"green tourism" in Thailand? After living in Thailand for 9 years I am still shocked at the level of disregard for the environment. Sorry, but the only way to accomplish a facade of greeness is hide from the tourist the real attitudes in Thailand towards taking care of mother earth. Good luck with that! Hopefully someone in the government might finally care about the seriously unhealthy and damaging pollution I see everyday around Bangkok.

Or maybe they will just move the airport far far away from Bangkok for the green tourist.

[johnswift1956]

Juthaporn said the government was prepared to extend waivers on visa fees for travellers, as well as parking and landing fees for airlines, which are due to finish at the end of March.

This statements wrong. Just rung up for 2 month visitors visa at Hull in the UK and they say it is still £25 and cannot travel from UK to Thailand unless I have it as aeroplane ticket is for 6 weeks.

TAT should look into this as the statement here is WRONG.

What it should say is the month visa entry is free and will not be charged by the Airlines who collect it.

Will cost me £25 in petrol to get there and back so in all it is costing me £50 for 2 extra weeks just for the visa.

I wish I had only booked 28 days now.

[brianw]

If you apply for 60day visa in london it is free until easter Hull must be privatly run

[ThailandTommy]

It seems to me that many Thais, but particularly government officials, do not learn from their past mistakes, or the mistakes of others. Nor are they likely to do so as that could cause a loss of face. Seems to me the drop off in tourist numbers began in earnest about 2 or 3 years ago when the first campaign to attract 'quality tourists' by the TAT was implemented. Couple that with some political unrest, health scares, safety and violence against farang issues, and you've got yourself exactly the perfect storm--to DIScourage tourism. Also, while Amazing Thailand was once a very good value for a vacation destination, those days are long gone. Too many cheats, lies, and scams. PLUS the unexplainable growth in the strength of the Baht.

I totally agree with your post, the politicians and senior management of TAT really should accept that Thailand is still third world, as such cannot complete with other countries for 'quality tourists'.

In June/July KL is heaving with Arab tourists escaping the desert heat as is Singapore.

In my humble opinion the government would be better off reallocating any budget earmarked for TAT to be used to educate hotel/restaurant/shop staff in the art of customer service, which is virtually non-existent.

If they really want to attract 'quality tourists' they have got to start at the bottom and educate people on the front line.

[johnswift1956]

If you apply for 60day visa in london it is free until easter Hull must be privatly run

I wish you were right. London is £28.00 and require it to be processed by post. Dont know why £3 difference. I talked to them about the fee and they say the 60 day visitor visa are not free.

[infernalman7]

Even without the TAT, I think Thailand can still attract all kinds of visitors (not rich or budget) due to large availability of choices. Dirt cheap stuff to stuff that normal people won't be able to afford. The country has gotten it all!

[johnswift1956]

If you apply for 60day visa in london it is free until easter Hull must be privatly run

I wish you were right. London is £28.00 and require it to be processed by post. Dont know why £3 difference. I talked to them about the fee and they say the 60 day visitor visa are not free.

Got this quote from another source so TAT right but shot themselves in the foot again.

"It has to do with being a honorary consulate. A honorary consul, as opposed to people working at an embassy or regular consulate, ar not civil servant and don't receive a salary for their work. Instead they rely on the income from the issuence of a visas. Which is also the reason that honorary consulates are normaly much more liberal in issuing a visa. With tourist visas being free at the moment they miss a large part of their income. To compensate this loss, some have decided to apply an administrative fee. "

Why they can't just give free 60 days visas at bangkok airport baffles me when I am flying in from the UK. Normal Thai Expression - If you get something free in Thailand you end up paying double. Where have I heard that!

[brianw]

friend went to london on friday 60 day visa FREE

[stkyricesf]

Maybe this won't be such bad idea, it mght be refreshing to have young people, rather than

these old fat cheap charlies that only whine all the time about how bad things are in Thailand

the Land of Smiles...

How much money do you spend in Thailand each year? How many houses have you built here? How many businesses have you started in Thailand? How many children have you paid the ecucation for? How many cars, tractors and motorbikes have you bought?

What is "refreshing" with back-packers? I would rather not see them. Drugs and booze-buddies, are not refreshing. They always ask "do you know a cheap hotell"? "Do you know a cheap restaurant"? They are pathetic! They are the cheap Charlies.

I hope  that you answer my questions, but people like you normally go quited. You are "cheap Charlies" with the answers.

OOOO.... did I hit a nerve? Me thinks you protest too much. Love the way you generalize that all 'youngsters' are 'back-packers' Or even assume I'm one.

I'm glad you have spent soooo much and given to the thai economy, but sweetie you live there and that's part of life. I may not overall pay as much as you, but then

I've only visited twice a year for the past 12 years and still I haven't gotten so jaded about the thai people or Thailand as much as some on this board.

And yes 'people' like me do respond to people like you.

[stkyricesf]

I spend over 1.2 million baht a year in Thailand, who spends more, a tourist or me, TAT should focus on taking care of me and people like me, people who live here!

It might not add up to your maths but I am sure the tourist does spend more: let's say that (poor) tourist will spend an average of Baht 1,000 per say giving, at the end of year, Baht 365,000 and so on...you might be surprised how much a tourist spend. When I go on holidays (in Europe), for a month or so , I can spend up to a year of my budget back home (but then again I go for quality rather than quantity when it comes to how many holidays I take)

Why should you be taken care of ? You already are here, using all benefits provided by the kingdom including 'cheap' (compared to Europe)access to a tremendous amount of 'excellent' services that one would only dream of in their countries of origin

"Well said". I don't see what TAT has to do with anyone except Tourists on Tourist Visas. People who stay on in Thailand for longer periods cannot be counted as Tourists even the ones on constant visa runs.

Excellent, I agree with this quote too. At last some sensible common sense. Thanks