Thailand Focuses On High Spending Tourists, Not Numbers

[annabel]

See the headline.

"CEO of McDonalds beaten up by pilot"

- Jim Skinner, CEO of McDonalds, is in hospital with multiple fractures after being assaulted by the pilot of his Thai rented corporate jet over a disagreement regarding the fare.

From his hospital bed Mr Skinner said " We'd already agreed on a fee of $25000 USD per hour to fly me to Thailand but upon arrival the pilot demanded an extra $100000 dollars. When I refused to pay for what was only an 8000 mile journey the pilot left and returned with the co-pilot. They both began to assault me with a bottle of Moet Chandon and a sliver tray of Beluga caviar which they had taken from the plane's galley."

Police soon arrested the pilot, Mr Sombat Nomoralswhatsoever, who was found hiding on the roof of his brother in law's house in Saraburi after having fled the scene of the incident.

The co-pilot, Mr Wirat Iamacheatingbastard, is still on the run.

. . . priceless . . . lol . . . they need you to write the marketing materials I think . . .

Love It ...! And what happened when Bush flew in, in his Thai rented Jetsssss.... The one with the sniffer dogs and the one with his security guards and the one with his etc...... The taliban got involved and he didn't have to pay on dam_n satang more than originally agreed to

[Navalator]

Quote:Thailand is like no other place in the world

where else get tourists beaten up by tuk-tuk drivers.But on the other hand high rollers are probably using helicopters.

11 million foreigners in the country and one of them gets beaten up by a tuk tuk driver, not so bad! I wonder how many foreigners in the US are shot dead every day

This thread is not about the U.S. stupid. Your comment is silly.

[adairjt]

The TAT (Tourist Administration of Thailand) must be insane as to concentrate on high spending tourists.

Say there are 100 high spending tourists out of every 3,000 regular tourists. Then 100 hotels and restaurants see money. But if the TAT concentrated in getting as many tourist as possible to Thailand, then many, many hotels, restaurants and shop will see money and seeing money they will be able to stay in business.

The fool(s) that came up with the idea of concentrating on high spending tourist should be removed from "any" position in the Thai Government that concerns tourism, permanently!

In a country like Thailand, that depends on tourism, this is an insane decision, and someone needs to tell the head of TAT this.

James T. Adair

[Johpa]

.....PLUS the unexplainable growth in the strength of the Baht.

Not that unexplainable. There are influential people, I can't imagine who, continuing to move funds offshore in an orderly and measured fashion. At some point their need for an over valued baat will end and the baat will weaken.

[WeeGB]

Ive got a great idea why not start some sort of "elite card" type thing?? dohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Never heard of their mega superstar bloke either????

I've heard of him from my Thai gf but I'm not sure he will be known outside SE Asia or maybe even Thailand.

Great idea, get a Thai superstar, who is almost completely unknown outside of Thailand, and who lives in Switzerland (with his boyfriend), to promote tourism, in a country he chooses not to live in.

[ManilaLover]

Unfortunately 'High Spending Tourists' are much better off in places like Bali where they feel more respected and better treated, and Thailand is more qualified for the inferior 'Lonely Planets' and sextourists HAHAHIHIHURRRRRP

[SabaiBKK]

Ive got a great idea why not start some sort of "elite card" type thing?? dohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Never heard of their mega superstar bloke either????

I've heard of him from my Thai gf but I'm not sure he will be known outside SE Asia or maybe even Thailand.

Great idea, get a Thai superstar, who is almost completely unknown outside of Thailand, and who lives in Switzerland (with his boyfriend), to promote tourism, in a country he chooses not to live in.

ok i know the TAT people are total idiots , but you are an even bigger idiot if you cannot read properly.... they paid BIRD THONGCHAI MC INTIRE to promote tourism to THAI tourists

ohhh and your atempt at gay bashing is sooo pathetic and out of place

[jsflynn603]

No visa fee

But a statement from your bank showing $20000 in your account 3 months before arrival

I hope that they accept statements that show adequate balance in a brokerage account. At 0.1 to 1% interest garnished from American banks, I keep as little as possible in them. If they stick to that policy, they will bypass a huge proportion of those with wealth.

[ding]

TAT must hate hoteliers and taxi meter drivers.

90% of the hotels are subpar for their proposed target.

But it will not happen. They don't know their own market. TAT needs to get Thai Air subsidized and reduce airfares from target countries.

Helicopter ROFLMAO.

[moetownblues]

Ive got a great idea why not start some sort of "elite card" type thing?? dohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Never heard of their mega superstar bloke either????

I've heard of him from my Thai gf but I'm not sure he will be known outside SE Asia or maybe even Thailand.

Ooops do you really mean it? Wake up

I have no idea who you are talking about either.

[CaptainBluebeard]

Maybe they should develop an "Elite Card" programme

Ive got a great idea why not start some sort of "elite card" type thing?? dohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Never heard of their mega superstar bloke either????

It's much simpler than that folks - all that is needed is a new cocktail ;o)

[Jaydillon]

Quote:Thailand is like no other place in the world

where else get tourists beaten up by tuk-tuk drivers.But on the other hand high rollers are probably using helicopters.

11 million foreigners in the country and one of them gets beaten up by a tuk tuk driver, not so bad! I wonder how many foreigners in the US are shot dead every day

^^

Very good point,I also wonder how many foreigners get beaten up by the BNP in the UK

[jboras]

I was of the impression this campaign had commenced already! To get tourists to spend more!

Like:

1. Baht1.5 per 1 meter for a tuk tuk ride

2. Increase the number of Thais that punch you when you refuse to pay for something you didn't want

3. Have the "mare noi" and her family kill you when you stop spending

4. Arrest you at the airport and accuse you of stealing if you don't spend enough

5. Have you punched up by a Taxi bike driver and have you pay for the priveledge of being bashed or you dont get back your passport

6. Increase the Katoy work force,so that 3 stand outside the door (to collect for services non renedred) when you try to run when you find out the katoy in the room with you has a bigger appendage than yours!

7. Abolish the Visa fee but take evrything from your wallet when falsely arrested by police for something as trivial as drinking your ice tea before you paid for it! Even though you are lined up at the cash register with your money in hand to pay for it while being arrested.

I think they need to change their policy to attract tourists of lower IQ that will put up with all the shit in Thailand and still be willing to come back for more!

A M A Z I N G Thailand! Sure is!

[apetley]

Maybe they should develop an "Elite Card" programme

Ive got a great idea why not start some sort of "elite card" type thing?? dohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Never heard of their mega superstar bloke either????

It's much simpler than that folks - all that is needed is a new cocktail ;o)

Presumably called a 'High Roller'

[Tejas]

Very good point,I also wonder how many foreigners get beaten up by the BNP in the UK

It is not that great a point because this is about "impressions" and not necessarily "numbers."

The days of Thailand getting away with being tagged a "peaceful destination" are long since over.

Back to topic. The solution is simple:

1) Roll back all of the visa changes that have taken place over the last ten years.

2) Promote tourism for all income levels--low, medium, and high (no need to focus on one income level),

Unfortunately, to come to that conclusion takes common sense.

Fortunately, most countries, other than Thailand, embrace and benefit from this simple tourism policy.

[PaulHamon]

Age 20 - Tour Thailand as a broke backpacker, fall in love with the place, accept it's quirks and flaws, while spending $30 a day.

Age 30 - Return for your honeymoon. Spend most of the time in your bungalow, but still manage to spend $150 per day.

Age 35 - Return with the kids. You enjoy the beaches, they get to ride an elephant. Now spending $300 a day.

Age 40 - Second honeymoon, kids at granny's house. After 10 years you spend a lot more time shopping than anything, and spend $400 a day at a prime resort.

Age 50 - You're experience in the country prompts your boss to send you to Bangkok to build business contacts. You spend $500 a day and your boss spends much more importing Thai goods now.

Age 60 - You retire to your favourite holiday spot, contributing several thousand a month to the local economy and investing $60000 in a little condo.

Or......

You show up at 40, less open minded, having never experienced Thailand before, balk at the shoddy sidewalks, dangling electric wires, and luxury hotels that cost the same as they do in countries that are just as warm with much better infrastructure. You spend $400 a day, go home complaining and never come back.

AGREE

[Davidusaf99]

Knew this tread would bring out the vultures. 10 pages in less than 24 hours. rofl

[Thai at Heart]

I turn my back for a few hours and TAT comes up with another stupid idea.

Thailand, apart from some golf courses, has nothing to offer to High Spending Tourists, Thai nightlife aside.

Maybe Mrs Juthaporn Rerngronasa of TAT has never been to the countries along the Mediterranea? Maybe she should visit Monaco, Nice, Cannes and Marbella first before she shouts she wants to attract rich foreigners.

Thailand is NOT a sophisticated country, fit to receive such tourists.

Focus on High Spending Tourists...yeah right

But, she is reappointed so she had to say something, no ?

A few weeks ago it was said that Thailand -within 5 years- would attract 10 million Medical tourists per year....

Medical tourism should draw 10 mn visitors in 5 years

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thailand-Med...-M-t325267.html

Ah, well...TIT

LaoPo

medical tourism? Your joking Right? I can see it all now the so called self educated doctors lining up along side the tuk tuk drivers and other scammers at the airport fighting for your business. 500 baht give you surgery look like Tom cruise in 1 hr then my mate take you to Pattaya for good time. Then we will see a clampdown on self educated medical practitioners. A thai person can't even put in a light bulb but still calls himself an electrician I can see it someone damages a jetski or parks in a tuk tuk area and the owners cousin just finnished his 5 day surgery course and needs a heart for a farang customer.

10mn in 5 years? The states is about to get universal care, so strike another 30mn potential customers. I don't see that 10mn more people are going to want to pay for something they can get either through insurance or government care at home. Let us not forget the distinct lack of legal recourse for screw ups also. Some will come for boob jobs and the such, but I don't see Bangkok becoming the Harley St or Swiss Retreat of the East.

[hhiser]

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

That would require forethought, and we all know that is a dirty word in Thai!

[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!

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

I'm sure there are tourists who spend more than £22,250 ($36,200) on their annual holidays but on average holiday makers spend much less than that. The thing is I, and others like me, spend at least that amount here every year. Many of us in this category are here because this is our home, we're not here for a few weeks or months, we live here - we're not here to see how many women (or men) we can bed in the shortest time, we have families here, wives, children and homes. Perhaps if expats like us could report more positively about Thailand, the issue of targeting tourists would be a moot point because there would be no need, tourists would flock here without being prompted, as things stand we each see the full catalogue of scams every day and they become oh so tiresome - added to this is the extent to which our host government's Immigration Dept makes us dance to their tune every 90 days which is ludicrous.

[Thai at Heart]

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

I'm sure there are tourists who spend more than £22,250 ($36,200) on their annual holidays but on average holiday makers spend much less than that. The thing is I, and others like me, spend at least that amount here every year. Many of us in this category are here because this is our home, we're not here for a few weeks or months, we live here - we're not here to see how many women (or men) we can bed in the shortest time, we have families here, wives, children and homes. Perhaps if expats like us could report more positively about Thailand, the issue of targeting tourists would be a moot point because there would be no need, tourists would flock here without being prompted, as things stand we each see the full catalogue of scams every day and they become oh so tiresome - added to this is the extent to which our host government's Immigration Dept makes us dance to their tune every 90 days which is ludicrous.

I met a retired American over Xmas who retired in Malaysia. He stated that the principle reason, and this goes for many others who lived there also, that he didn't retire in Thailand was the visas. Add in the apparently tax free car (I hadn't heard about that one in Malaysia) and the ease with which he went about buying his condo, he couldn't understand why anyone who didn't have a spouse who was Thai would ever consider moving to Thailand.

Maybe that is the way to get more tourists; create more Mia Farangs.

[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!

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

I'm sure there are tourists who spend more than £22,250 ($36,200) on their annual holidays but on average holiday makers spend much less than that. The thing is I, and others like me, spend at least that amount here every year. Many of us in this category are here because this is our home, we're not here for a few weeks or months, we live here - we're not here to see how many women (or men) we can bed in the shortest time, we have families here, wives, children and homes. Perhaps if expats like us could report more positively about Thailand, the issue of targeting tourists would be a moot point because there would be no need, tourists would flock here without being prompted, as things stand we each see the full catalogue of scams every day and they become oh so tiresome - added to this is the extent to which our host government's Immigration Dept makes us dance to their tune every 90 days which is ludicrous.

I met a retired American over Xmas who retired in Malaysia. He stated that the principle reason, and this goes for many others who lived there also, that he didn't retire in Thailand was the visas. Add in the apparently tax free car (I hadn't heard about that one in Malaysia) and the ease with which he went about buying his condo, he couldn't understand why anyone who didn't have a spouse who was Thai would ever consider moving to Thailand.

Maybe that is the way to get more tourists; create more Mia Farangs.

In all fairness, buying a car and a condo here in Thailand is pretty straight forward although some people do manage to make a drama out of the process. Having said that, the Malaysian program is much better in many other ways, not the least of which is that a ten year visa is given without any need for 90 day reporting - it's also possible for retires to own land which increases their options considerably.

[crocodilexp]

You've all missed the point...

Tourist arrivals have been decreasing steadily and Thailand can't (or won't) do anything constructive about it.

So instead announce a plan that you will concentrate not on numbers but on quality visitors and presto the problem of declining numbers ceases to be a problem but instead becomes reflective of your new strategy and if anyone cites the decreasing numbers you've already devised a face-saving way of getting out of it. And if someone challenges TAT as to whether they've succeeded with their new plan to attract quality visitors they will probably find it far easier to manipulate (or outright invent) statistics on tourist spending habits than the arrival figures.

Overall, it is a classic Thai approach to a problem they can't (or won't) fix. Everybody will save face and look good and nothing will improve except their image which is all that matters, anyway.

Exactly. This pretty much explains everything and ends the discussion. Tourist numbers are easy to check. "High-spending" tourist statistics are not.

My first thought about this topic was "the two are not mutually exclusive and makes no sense at all". They could focus on both tourist numbers and high spending tourists. In fact, if they focused on just the numbers, they'd get more high spending tourists as well, if overall numbers go down... probably not unless some magic is involved.

[Thai at Heart]

In all fairness, buying a car and a condo here in Thailand is pretty straight forward although some people do manage to make a drama out of the process. Having said that, the Malaysian program is much better in many other ways, not the least of which is that a ten year visa is given without any need for 90 day reporting - it's also possible for retires to own land which increases their options considerably.

This guy does consultancy work in Asia, and the 10 yr visa is an absolute god send for him.

No reporting for him allows him to be in an out of the country travelling and enjoying his life using Malaysia as his base.

I don't doubt that buying the condos etc is easy here, I was shocked that he bought his car with an element of the tax (duty or excise) removed which in itself saved him a lot of money.

[Tejas]

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

I'm sure there are tourists who spend more than £22,250 ($36,200) on their annual holidays but on average holiday makers spend much less than that. The thing is I, and others like me, spend at least that amount here every year. Many of us in this category are here because this is our home, we're not here for a few weeks or months, we live here - we're not here to see how many women (or men) we can bed in the shortest time, we have families here, wives, children and homes. Perhaps if expats like us could report more positively about Thailand, the issue of targeting tourists would be a moot point because there would be no need, tourists would flock here without being prompted, as things stand we each see the full catalogue of scams every day and they become oh so tiresome - added to this is the extent to which our host government's Immigration Dept makes us dance to their tune every 90 days which is ludicrous.

I met a retired American over Xmas who retired in Malaysia. He stated that the principle reason, and this goes for many others who lived there also, that he didn't retire in Thailand was the visas. Add in the apparently tax free car (I hadn't heard about that one in Malaysia) and the ease with which he went about buying his condo, he couldn't understand why anyone who didn't have a spouse who was Thai would ever consider moving to Thailand.

Maybe that is the way to get more tourists; create more Mia Farangs.

That is interesting and a positive response to insane changes in visa/retirement rules that have taken place over the past ten years.

I can tell you, with certainty, that having a spouse that is Thai is no longer something that brings with it any visa security in Thailand.

The Immigration Dept., is currently giving expat-Thai married couples problems. The new strategy to promote "national security" appears to be to attack married couples.

Crazy? Totally.

Why? I suppose so that the Thai wife and family the expat supports can live in extreme poverty after he runs off (with his money) to Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, or Cambodia.

Yet another reason to avoid Thailand as a place to visit, retire in, or invest in.

[rfukata]

For the past 4 years or so, I've heard many antics concerning the revival of foreign travelers to Thailand.

Even the great marketing effort of ex-Premeir Thaksin's elite card membership program for the rich and

affluent fell short of expectation. So why is the same subject surfacing again?

Thai tourist and sports ministry should focus on hiring an 'outside veteran-non Thai ' a real professional travel manager to

develop a strategy into promoting Thailand. Local managers seem to lack the vision and caught up with their own

bureaucratic problems. Also adding to the disadvantage is the language capability of the Thai travel industry.

High spending tourists will most likely not visit Thailand, they have money so they can go anywhere they wish and not

necessary visit Thailand.

Sensitivity is part of affluent travelers; like the Japanese travelers - they tend to sway away when political situation

is unstable. Definitely green for Europeans, but the concrete jungle of Bangkok isn't going to attract much there.

Cleanliness, safety, traffic, corruption, lawlessness, Mai Pen Rai's, general education - how are these important facts being

addressed to support the Thai Travel ministry?

[dom samui]

For example, in September the number of foreign tourists was about 200,000 higher than the same month last year, Abhisit said.

He said the Tourism and Sports Ministry expected a total of 14 million foreign tourists would visit Thailand this year.

"I affirm that the number of foreign tourists has increased a lot," the prime minister told reporters after the monthly meeting of permanent secretaries.

-- The Nation 2009/10/30

AOT's operating results this year would be the worst since Suvarnabhumi opened in September 2006, due to the global economic crisis and domestic political problems, he said.

Passenger arrivals are expected to drop by 10 per cent from the targeted 41 million to 38 million.

Total airlines are also forecast to fall by 4.5 per cent from last year.

And the company suffered from a cutback in providing airport services to other airlines buffeted by the crisis over the past year, he added.

-- The Nation 2009-11-30

May be the reason why .....

[dom samui]

So interesting

World tourism to rebound from crisis in 2010: UN

DENHOLM BARNETSON

January 19, 2010 - 3:24AM

The global tourist industry should recover strongly in 2010 after the economic crisis and the swine flu pandemic produced "one of the most difficult years" for the sector, the UN World Tourism Organisation has said.

International tourist arrivals fell by an estimated 4.0 percent in 2009 but should rebound to grow by 3.0 to 4.0 percent in 2010, it said in its annual World Tourism Barometer.

It said growth in the sector returned in the last quarter of 2009 contributing to better than expected full-year results, led by the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.

"Still, 2009 is considered to be one of the most difficult years that tourism has seen" for a long time, UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai told a news conference.

He said last year was "probably one of the toughest in the last two decades, even more difficult that in many years where September 11 and likes and other economic downturns have occurred."

He cited the global economic crisis "aggravated by the uncertainty around the A(H1N1) pandemic."

But he said "the trend is bottoming out."

"The results of recent months suggest that recovery is underway, and even somewhat earlier and at a stronger pace than initially expected," although 2010 will still be a demanding year, said Rifai.

"Many countries were quick in reacting to the crisis and actively implemented measures to mitigate its impact and stimulate recovery.

"Although we expect growth to return in 2010, a premature withdrawal of these stimulus measures and the temptation to impose extra taxes may jeopardise the pace of rebound in tourism," he said.

The reports said tourism receipts were down 6.0 percent in 2009, but noted that this compares with a 12 percent slum in overall exports as a result of the global crisis.

Rifai noted "significant growth" in domestic tourism, particularly in some large countries such as China, Brazil and Spain, as a result of the crisis.

He said the tourist industry was "not quite over" the effects of the swine flu pandemic.

"The international community was able to deal with the crisis in a rather successful manner. but the possibility of a re-occurrence is always there."

On a regional basis, he said, "Europe and North America are lagging, Asia and the Middle East are pushing ahead."

The Asia-Pacific region, where tourism was down 2.0 percent, "showed an extraordinary rebound" that is expected to continue in 2010, the UNWTO report said.

While arrivals in that region declined by 7.0 percent between January and June, the second half of 2009 saw 3.0 percent growth "reflecting regional economic results and prospects."

Arrivals were down 6.0 percent in the Middle East. But the region, "though still far from the growth levels of previous years, had a positive second half."

It said Africa had "bucked the trend" with growth of 5.0 percent.

Europe ended 2009 down 6.0 percent "after a very complicated first half, with destinations in central, eastern and northern Europe particularly badly hit," the report said.

In the Americas, where arrivals were down 5.0 percent, the Caribbean returned to growth in the last four months of 2009.

"The performance was more sluggish in the other sub-regions (of the Americas), with the A(H1N1) influenza outbreak exacerbating the impact of the economic crisis," the report found.

© 2010 AFP

[bushwacker]

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 AGREE .... If they want to attract tourists they need to let the Baht float to its natural position. They should be focused on the middle class from Developed Countries ... and they are looking for value, safety and fun.

[Thai at Heart]

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 AGREE .... If they want to attract tourists they need to let the Baht float to its natural position. They should be focused on the middle class from Developed Countries ... and they are looking for value, safety and fun.

Be very scared if they let if float to its natural position. With the state of the US and Europe, 29 to the USD may not be that far away.