Thailand's Tourism Plunges Drastically

[bartender100]

My needs are essential, I'll be out in May

[elshaheen]

I am sure, Thailand will find ways to keep them cumming into Thailand and spending their hard earned money.

[henryalleman]

Its not only the actioins of red shirts in BKK who make tourism drop. My embassy (Belgium) not only give a warning to travel to BKK, Chiang Mai, Udon en other Korats but also warn for scamming of tourists in Pukhet, Koh Samui and Pattaya. On the free traffic shopping on Sunday in Chiang mai there was hardly any tourist, the dozens of footmasages and fish tanks had hardly any costumer. The restaurants and bars were almost deserted. I always stay in the old center (Ratchamanka road) normaly you see tourist stroling around visiting the temples. Now also hardly any tourists.

Besides the riots, there is also the tourists scam who give LOS a very bad reputation and discourage tourists to go to Thailand

The future for tourism in Thailand looks very dark.

Edited April 28, 2010 by henryalleman

[landofthefree]

I am sure, Thailand will find ways to keep them cumming into Thailand and spending their hard earned money.

The only good thing I can think that can come out of this is that when you have a market price controlled by supply and demand maybe everything will become cheaper for those of us still here when the tourists stop coming and demand goes down or is this just wishful thinking on my part?

[roamer]

TAT to complain about FCO travel warning:

Foreign Office criticised over Thailand travel advice

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has criticised the Foreign Office for advising against travelling to the south-east Asian country.

By Oliver Smith

Published: 3:58PM BST 28 Apr 2010

Foreign Office criticised over Thailand travel advice

Anti-government protests continue in the Thai capital, Bangkok Photo: AP

Yesterday, the Foreign Office’s advice that Britons should avoid all but essential travel to Bangkok was extended to the whole of the country, where at least 26 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 have been hurt in anti-government clashes.

The decision leaves hundreds of holidaymakers with little choice but to cancel or postpone their trips, even if they are not travelling to Bangkok, where the vast majority of protests have occurred.

The TAT and the Royal Thai Embassy have requested a meeting with the Foreign Office tomorrow morning to discuss removing the blanket warning.

“We accept the advice against travelling to Bangkok,” said a spokeswoman for TAT. “Although the protests are not aimed at tourists, there is major disruption. But we do believe it is excessive to advise against travel to the rest of the country.”

She added that a number of independent travellers were continuing to arrive in the country, despite the Foreign Office’s warning. However, Abta, the travel association, today warned that travel insurance policies would not cover those who had gone to Thailand aware of the Foreign Office’s advice.

Andrew Marshall, a journalist based in Bangkok, described the Foreign Office’s decision as “absurd”.

“The number of protestors is diminishing, and they are always found in just one part of the city,” said Mr Marshall. “Incidents outside Bangkok have been going on for weeks, so I can’t understand why the Foreign Office have now changed their advice.

“It’s sad for the Thai people, who rely heavily on tourism, and would never wish to hurt holidaymakers,” he added. “I would happily send my mother out here and just tell her to keep an eye on the news reports.”

Package holidaymakers scheduled to travel to Thailand are advised to contact their tour operator. Kuoni, the luxury holiday specialist, has said it will not allow any of its customers to press ahead with their travel plans. It is permitting holidaymakers to rebook their trips on alternative dates or cancel their holiday without charge.

A spokeswoman for Thomas Cook said that all customers with package holiday bookings would have to rearrange their trips, or cancel them free of charge. Those passengers with flight-only bookings would be able to travel, she said, although they will be advised not to.

Here.

I wouldn't expect any change in the advice for a few days or so.

[dutchweller]

I thought I might upload some snaps of what the Red camp looks like to date..

Make your own decision as to why this is not inviting to Tourists coming to Thailand.

And Why Embassys and Foreign offices are advising NOT TO TRAVEL to the Former LOS now known as LAND of FROWNS...

Add to that if you intend on going inside this public Aria you will be subjected to Illegal searches and often "if your not a a Local" Asked for a fee as I have been asked in the last few days.."You give me Money to come in Farang"

This has now become increasingly common and I have heard of Confiscation of Credit cards recently by the criminal Red guards while they intimidate and carry out Illegal searches..

This is getting beyond a JOKE..

Thailand is on a Downwards Spiral towards the Bottom.

Edited April 28, 2010 by dutchweller

[moe666]

Just finished up a 3 month stay in Thailand and guess what didn't see a red shirt one until the girlfriend son was admitted to the hospital. We had to visit him at the hospital located at red shirt central, even then never felt in danger.

Yes there is a chance one could fall afoul of the red shirts but most visitors to Thailand will never see a red shirt and never hear those clappers of which I bought several to give the grand kids.

So all of you worry warts take a deep breath and get a grip.

[dutchweller]

Makes a difference if you have to go through these Crowds every day to go to work, your hotel, the Hospital or Embasseys located near by.

Dont get me wrong if your outside of the City yo most likely will not see the Reds but if your in the CBD I would advise STAY away as the Reds inside the camp are Armed to the teeth and are now under the firm belief they are ABOVE the law as they believe THEY ARE the LAW..

[dmax]

I am in Australia, and I am due to fly out tomorrow, 1 night in Bangkok and 9 nights in Pattaya, havent cancelled yet, but am considering it. Any thoughts??

Pattaya should be safe enough, shouldnt it?

pattaya is safe ! for the time being at least.

[roamer]

Tonight Uk Channel 4 TV News stated why they believe the UK foreign office has advised against all travel to Thailand. They say that the foreign office believes that there will be a major offensive against the Reds within the next 48 hours. They also believe that this could lead to unrest throughout Thailand. Judge this one for yourself, possible they've called this one right.

[stevietime123]

Hardly surprising seeing UK foreign office say 'emergency travel only'

Travel agents no longer allowed to sell holidays to Thailand, have to offer refunds on existing bookings.

Travel insurance for Thailand cancelled by the insurance companies if you do insist on coming.

Who in their right mind would come now?

I spoke to my insurance company and they told me that when the FCO advises against all travel to a country then the cover is invalid, at the moment, although I'm still waiting for confirmation from them, the FCO has advised against all but essential travel to Thailand,not sure if this will make a difference

Sorry but either you or whoever you spoke to has got it wrong, travel insurance becomes invalid under the present advisory.

"Britons told to avoid Thailand

Travel insurance will not cover Britons who ignore Foreign Office (FO) advice to avoid all but essential travel to Thailand, travel organisation Abta said."

The present travel advisory is at the second highest level. "...all but essential travel". The highest level is against all travel.

Its worth noting that many policies carry a caveat along the lines that you "heed and keep up to date on FCO advice" . That's a useful getout for the insurance co's and you need to keep a watch on that. Its only last week that volcanic ash became an act of god......

Radio 1 news in the UK are stating that travel insurance is not valid for trips to Thailand. Now that mainstream news have picked up on that... then UK tourists will start panicking and cancel. I will still be visiting in June, but I will definately try to get travel insurance from somewhere, if this hasnt passed by then. The danger is traffic accidents, falling on poor pavements, etc, not gunfire in Bangkok. Thats why everyone should be insured when they visit Thailand. You are in deep trouble if you are hospitalised and not insured.

[roamer]

Hardly surprising seeing UK foreign office say 'emergency travel only'

Travel agents no longer allowed to sell holidays to Thailand, have to offer refunds on existing bookings.

Travel insurance for Thailand cancelled by the insurance companies if you do insist on coming.

Who in their right mind would come now?

I spoke to my insurance company and they told me that when the FCO advises against all travel to a country then the cover is invalid, at the moment, although I'm still waiting for confirmation from them, the FCO has advised against all but essential travel to Thailand,not sure if this will make a difference

Sorry but either you or whoever you spoke to has got it wrong, travel insurance becomes invalid under the present advisory.

"Britons told to avoid Thailand

Travel insurance will not cover Britons who ignore Foreign Office (FO) advice to avoid all but essential travel to Thailand, travel organisation Abta said."

The present travel advisory is at the second highest level. "...all but essential travel". The highest level is against all travel.

Its worth noting that many policies carry a caveat along the lines that you "heed and keep up to date on FCO advice" . That's a useful getout for the insurance co's and you need to keep a watch on that. Its only last week that volcanic ash became an act of god......

Radio 1 news in the UK are stating that travel insurance is not valid for trips to Thailand. Now that mainstream news have picked up on that... then UK tourists will start panicking and cancel. I will still be visiting in June, but I will definately try to get travel insurance from somewhere, if this hasnt passed by then. The danger is traffic accidents, falling on poor pavements, etc, not gunfire in Bangkok. Thats why everyone should be insured when they visit Thailand. You are in deep trouble if you are hospitalised and not insured.

For what its worth the current Tesco single trip policy has the following caveat:

"Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The policy excludes travel to destinations where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

has advised against “all travel”. If you are unsure whether your destination(s) is/are

subject to a travel warning, please checkwith the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by

calling 020 7008 0232/0233 or visiting theirwebsite at www.fco.gov.uk/travel"

(Their quotes not mine)

The significance is that "all travel" is the highest stage of alert. "All but essential travel" is one step down. So as it stands a Tesco policy sold to you with that with that condition would cover you for a trip to Thailand under the present travel advisory. Have to say though, I think it is an error on their part, they might also have noticed it because I noticed that the policy document summary was unavailable on one of their websites.

Tesco

Or maybe not the link onwards from that page still works. Check it out.

Edited April 28, 2010 by roamer

[DarloKnight]

I've just tried searching for flights for last 2 weeks in May and it keeps coming up no flights available so it either all flights are sold out or they are not letting you book from the Uk to Bkk and the minute?

[shawndoc]

I'd heard they were actually calling everyone in the UK with tickets and trying to talk them out of the flights. Might need to call a travel agent to book travel.

[londonthai]

In Canada, the embassy is now just charging a service fee of the same value as the "free visa" so it makes no difference to the visitor.

honorary consulates always charge for the visas (even, when they are free), because they live off fees and are not government sponsored. But they do provide very fast and efficient service, often far better than consulates or embassies, for example same day visas

[londonthai]

I've just tried searching for flights for last 2 weeks in May and it keeps coming up no flights available so it either all flights are sold out or they are not letting you book from the Uk to Bkk and the minute?

not sure what websites or airline you have searched, but there are many flights, from £526 direct with thai

http://www.skyscanner.net/flights/lond/bkk...n-may-2010.html

[ppmacready]

I am in Australia, and I am due to fly out tomorrow, 1 night in Bangkok and 9 nights in Pattaya, havent cancelled yet, but am considering it. Any thoughts??

Pattaya should be safe enough, shouldnt it?

Go to Purto Galero Philippines.

Beautiful diving, 100% safe, Top Go Go girls 1,000 baht including bar fine with NO ATTITUDE!

All over you like a rash.

I've lived in Thailand 15 years, but I'm tempted to move there permanently

Not because of the trouble here.

Its just nice to be around beautiful girls, without the attitude!

A lot of Ex-pats from here now live around Angeles.

Ideal to fly into Clark's air force base.

Yes Thailand is nice, but if you want to feel like a rock star .

You can't beat Fillys!

[checazzo]

I think a drop in tourist arrival numbers is to be expected, given the international awareness of the ongoing politiclal unrest here in Taiiland. However, I wouldn't count the Thais out yet; they have an uncanny nack for bouncing back.

Over the long term though I forsee a decline in the Thai tourist industry.

My best guess -and no one knows for sure how this will play out- is that Thailand will slowly give up signigicant tourist market share to competitors.

Remember General Motors? GM was the world's largest auto manufacturer and dominated the US auto market. Slowly ever so slowly, first the germans and then the japanese began to nibble away and even die hard GM customers began to buy "foreign" cars. Look at GM now, its a shadow of its former self.

Thailand does a lot of things right: 30 day visa waver on incomming flights, creating the "Amazing Thailand" brand name and successfully promoting the "Land of Smiles" image. But the ongoing and seemingly never ending political unrest (not to mention death toll), difficulty in arriving or departing Bangkok by air (yeah, the Thais are not responsible for Iceland's volcano erruption but they did close the airport) and the increasing awareness of the petty scams that the Thai authorities seem unable or indifferent to resolve will eventually take its toll.

For the record, I hope I'm wrong because the drop in tourist arrivals hurts the poor Thais the most. Yes, tourisim is only 7% of Thai GDP, but it employes 10% of Thai workers and is the biggest earner of foreign currency.

Time will tell

Clearly the difference here is that, unlike GM, the Thai product is every bit as good as, or better than, it's competitors.

According to the World Tourism Organization(WTO) Thailand was 20th in international arrivals, France, Spain, China, Italy and the US were the top 5 not necessarily in that order. You all have become too Thai-centric.

Why is everyone complaining about the drop in tourism. In 2001 Pattaya especially Jomtien had only the beachfront stores rented out, everything else had been abandon since the 1997 Asian crisis. Back then the Baht/USD was 45, people were friendly ( or maybe I didn't understand Thai at the time ) but Thailand was a great deal.

Since then prices have risen and the exchange isn't as good except for the Euro. There are many safer, cheaper and better tourist destinations at the moment. Hopefully things will return to post Asian crisis prices and exchange rates. Once attitudes, prices and the Baht shrink Thailand will be a great place once again. It's still number one war-zone to vacation in at least that is something.

[prinzregent]

I am in Australia, and I am due to fly out tomorrow, 1 night in Bangkok and 9 nights in Pattaya, havent cancelled yet, but am considering it. Any thoughts??

Pattaya should be safe enough, shouldnt it?

Yes.

Life goes on as normal in Pattaya

Why u not fly ANGELES ? Pattaya is BULLSHIT, girls EXPENSIVE, STREETS FULL . And Pattaya is dangerous, I send you some real names from the death toll :

Osborne Paul Royal, USA, 79, , Pattaya 23.4.2010

Al Jahdhami, 48, Oman,, Pattaya 15.4.2010

Andrew Oake, 28 Prasat/ Surin, 15.4.2010

Boldermo Viktor, , Pattaya 7.4.2010

Cassmer Erich, 49, Pattaya, 27.3.2010

Anne Marie pederson, Jomtien, 11.3.2010

Nathan Edwards, , Phuket, 25.2.2010

Lars Ruter Johansson, 57, , Pattaya, 24.2.2010

Jomtien, 9.2.2010

Ernst Joachim Otto Pape, Jomtien, 8.2.2010

Alexander Aristov, Russe, Ambassador Hotel Jomtien, 6.2.2010

Richard Johnson, USA, 67, Selbstmord, Tourist Police, Phuket , 6.2.2010

Kenneth Bjorn, Pattaya, 28.1.2010

Wolf Kesselheim, Phuket, 28.1.2010

Garbutt John, British, Pattaya, 27.1.2010

ALL DEAD !

[Richard W]

Sorry but either you or whoever you spoke to has got it wrong, travel insurance becomes invalid under the present advisory.

"Britons told to avoid Thailand

Travel insurance will not cover Britons who ignore Foreign Office (FO) advice to avoid all but essential travel to Thailand, travel organisation Abta said."

Here.

All I could see in what ABTA actually said was, "They should realise that should they decide to go, get caught up in an incident and get injured and have travelled knowing the Foreign Office advice, they will not be covered by insurance."

That sounds like the usual exclusion for war and riot.

The relatively high risk is that you miss your flight home due to disorder, rather than get wounded.

What happens to insurance bought under monthly premiums, like the travel insurance that comes with NatWest Advantage Gold?

[bartender100]

Eva have dropped some flights in May to under £500, OP your looking in the wrong places

[Ulysses G.]

Why u not fly ANGELES ? Pattaya is BULLSHIT, girls EXPENSIVE, STREETS FULL . And Pattaya is dangerous,

The Philipines is WAY more dangerous than Thailand. Are you serious?

[pmgthailand]

I am in Australia, and I am due to fly out tomorrow, 1 night in Bangkok and 9 nights in Pattaya, havent cancelled yet, but am considering it. Any thoughts??

Pattaya should be safe enough, shouldnt it?

Pattaya should be safe enough if you don't ride a motorbike, don't go with ladyboy's, don't fall in love with a bargirl and always, always wear a condom!!!

[kratiam]

I thought I might upload some snaps of what the Red camp looks like to date..

Make your own decision as to why this is not inviting to Tourists coming to Thailand.

And Why Embassys and Foreign offices are advising NOT TO TRAVEL to the Former LOS now known as LAND of FROWNS...

Add to that if you intend on going inside this public Aria you will be subjected to Illegal searches and often "if your not a a Local" Asked for a fee as I have been asked in the last few days.."You give me Money to come in Farang"

This has now become increasingly common and I have heard of Confiscation of Credit cards recently by the criminal Red guards while they intimidate and carry out Illegal searches..

Your governemnt and mine recommend we stay away from the trouble spots so you are an absolute fool to go inside the red areas. Just imagine if you were to be hurt (intentionally or not) how it would escalate the bad news for Thailand. Grow up and act you age (assuming you are over 15!

[kratiam]

For what its worth the current Tesco single trip policy has the following caveat:

"Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The policy excludes travel to destinations where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

has advised against “all travel”. If you are unsure whether your destination(s) is/are

subject to a travel warning, please checkwith the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by

calling 020 7008 0232/0233 or visiting theirwebsite at www.fco.gov.uk/travel"

(Their quotes not mine)

The significance is that "all travel" is the highest stage of alert. "All but essential travel" is one step down. So as it stands a Tesco policy sold to you with that with that condition would cover you for a trip to Thailand under the present travel advisory. Have to say though, I think it is an error on their part, they might also have noticed it because I noticed that the policy document summary was unavailable on one of their websites.

Tesco

Or maybe not the link onwards from that page still works. Check it out.

Very clear...thank you!

[hugo983]

Am a bit concerned with travelling to Phuket (direct flight from HK -> Phuket). Is it safe now to travel there? Very concerned with airport barricade by the protesters.

Anyone in Phuket right now that can advise on the situation there - any red shirts protesters on streets, etc?

[shawndoc]

Am a bit concerned with travelling to Phuket (direct flight from HK -> Phuket). Is it safe now to travel there? Very concerned with airport barricade by the protesters.

Anyone in Phuket right now that can advise on the situation there - any red shirts protesters on streets, etc?

The current trouble is isolated to Bangkok, and on most days to a very small area in Bangkok. Phuket hasn't had any problems and is unlikely to.

[ableguy]

I am in Australia, and I am due to fly out tomorrow, 1 night in Bangkok and 9 nights in Pattaya, havent cancelled yet, but am considering it. Any thoughts??

Pattaya should be safe enough, shouldnt it?

Yes.

Life goes on as normal in Pattaya

#

#

Same in Hua Hin

[ableguy]

I am in Australia, and I am due to fly out tomorrow, 1 night in Bangkok and 9 nights in Pattaya, havent cancelled yet, but am considering it. Any thoughts??

Pattaya should be safe enough, shouldnt it?

Yes.

Life goes on as normal in Pattaya

Why u not fly ANGELES ? Pattaya is BULLSHIT, girls EXPENSIVE, STREETS FULL . And Pattaya is dangerous, I send you some real names from the death toll :

Osborne Paul Royal, USA, 79, , Pattaya 23.4.2010

Al Jahdhami, 48, Oman,, Pattaya 15.4.2010

Andrew Oake, 28 Prasat/ Surin, 15.4.2010

Boldermo Viktor, , Pattaya 7.4.2010

Cassmer Erich, 49, Pattaya, 27.3.2010

Anne Marie pederson, Jomtien, 11.3.2010

Nathan Edwards, , Phuket, 25.2.2010

Lars Ruter Johansson, 57, , Pattaya, 24.2.2010

Jomtien, 9.2.2010

Ernst Joachim Otto Pape, Jomtien, 8.2.2010

Alexander Aristov, Russe, Ambassador Hotel Jomtien, 6.2.2010

Richard Johnson, USA, 67, Selbstmord, Tourist Police, Phuket , 6.2.2010

Kenneth Bjorn, Pattaya, 28.1.2010

Wolf Kesselheim, Phuket, 28.1.2010

<a href="http://<URL Automatically Removed>/thailand-and-asia-news/64298-pattaya-suspicious-death-british-national-pattaya.html" target="_blank">Garbutt</a> John, British, Pattaya, 27.1.2010

i suspect most will be classified as suicide, usually tossed out of a seventh or eighth floor window, happens a lot.

ALL DEAD !

[SICA]

I think a drop in tourist arrival numbers is to be expected, given the international awareness of the ongoing politiclal unrest here in Taiiland. However, I wouldn't count the Thais out yet; they have an uncanny nack for bouncing back.

Over the long term though I forsee a decline in the Thai tourist industry.

My best guess -and no one knows for sure how this will play out- is that Thailand will slowly give up signigicant tourist market share to competitors.

Remember General Motors? GM was the world's largest auto manufacturer and dominated the US auto market. Slowly ever so slowly, first the germans and then the japanese began to nibble away and even die hard GM customers began to buy "foreign" cars. Look at GM now, its a shadow of its former self.

Thailand does a lot of things right: 30 day visa waver on incomming flights, creating the "Amazing Thailand" brand name and successfully promoting the "Land of Smiles" image. But the ongoing and seemingly never ending political unrest (not to mention death toll), difficulty in arriving or departing Bangkok by air (yeah, the Thais are not responsible for Iceland's volcano erruption but they did close the airport) and the increasing awareness of the petty scams that the Thai authorities seem unable or indifferent to resolve will eventually take its toll.

For the record, I hope I'm wrong because the drop in tourist arrivals hurts the poor Thais the most. Yes, tourisim is only 7% of Thai GDP, but it employes 10% of Thai workers and is the biggest earner of foreign currency.

Time will tell

Clearly the difference here is that, unlike GM, the Thai product is every bit as good as, or better than, it's competitors.

According to the World Tourism Organization(WTO) Thailand was 20th in international arrivals, France, Spain, China, Italy and the US were the top 5 not necessarily in that order. You all have become too Thai-centric.

Why is everyone complaining about the drop in tourism. In 2001 Pattaya especially Jomtien had only the beachfront stores rented out, everything else had been abandon since the 1997 Asian crisis. Back then the Baht/USD was 45, people were friendly ( or maybe I didn't understand Thai at the time ) but Thailand was a great deal.

Since then prices have risen and the exchange isn't as good except for the Euro. There are many safer, cheaper and better tourist destinations at the moment. Hopefully things will return to post Asian crisis prices and exchange rates. Once attitudes, prices and the Baht shrink Thailand will be a great place once again. It's still number one war-zone to vacation in at least that is something.

I for one am complaining about the drop in tourism as it directly affects me, my business, my family and therefore my livelihood. i am sure many others on here feel the same. It also directly affects prices in Thailand and therefore day to day living.

I am sure that in the opinion of most posters on here (and apologies to those who don't agree), the FCO have overdone it with the travel advisory for the "whole of Thailand" and if you were you here, i am sure you would agree.

This directly affects and impacts the lives of many. it is not a war-zone as you put it, it is still a beautiful place to come and holiday. The vast majority of Thai's will welcome any visitors with open arms and a big Thai smile. Try getting that in Europe and the USA!

I seriously hope that the planned meeting today between the FCO, TAT and the Thai Embassy will have an affect and reduce the travel advisory to where it should be, that of "avoid all but essential travel to certain areas of BANGKOK".

to those of you who are still coming to Thailand, despite the warnings (and good on you all) you can buy travel insurance once you are in Thailand. I am sure you can Google companies in Thailand who can offer this. And i believe that all paid for toursit visa's come with free travel insurance. I would imagine the only thing not covered with either of these are your flights and all related flight cover (such as luggage etc).

In my opinion, travellers should keep coming to Thailand. Stay away from those areas where the protestors are located. These protests and protestors are nothing to do with tourists so use some common sense, keep street-wise, and in my opinion you will be safe.