Is It Booming Or Slow In Thailand?

[Sunbelt Asia]

My viewpoint

The planes are all full coming from the USA. You'll have a hard time getting a ticket now until February. On the other hand, could the airlines have fewer flights?

At our restaurant, last week in fact was a record week with average of 50,000 Baht per day.

http://www.tat.or.th/stat/web/static_download.php?Rpt=cre tells you where the tourists are from.

This url http://www.tat.or.th/stat/web/static_index.php

tells you tourism is down in 2003 but still more than 2000. Tourists are spending 3,750 Baht per day versus 3,861 in 2000 however.

Notice they are forecasting a 23% increase in tourism in 2004. We'll see but I feel they are on target. Thailand will always have Nanaplaza tourists even if the closing hours go to 10:00 p.m. Granted less Nanaplaza tourists but no country can compete with the infrastructure, prices and the girls. The tourists they lose on that side, TAT and the PM are betting would help their tourism with more families.

By the way, you want to see changes? Check back in 3 years, lower Sukhumvit will be upscale with three more five star hotels and top of the line shopping mall.

From Stickman Weekly

Despite what I (and many others) say that business is off in NANA, I am advised by a very reliable source that one of the liquor suppliers for Nana Plaza bars confirms that sales of liquor to these bars in each of September, October and November were higher than last year and actually set all time records! And if everything continues the way it is going, December is going to top it again. This comes from a very reliable source and I have no reason to disbelieve it, although I find it very surprising.

It seems that the condom message is getting through to those who frequent Nana. Condom sales at he Nana Minimart now exceed 75,000 baht each month.

From Stickman Weekly Nov 30th

Business is absolutely booming in Pattaya, so much so that last night Living Doll and Peppermint, two of the most popular gogo bars, were so full, that they had to turn away customers at the door! The welcome girls outside even had signs made up saying that it was full and to try again in 10 minutes! Unbelievable!

[stopper]

The numbers look great. However, it only takes another SARS incident, terriorist act, or military action and the numbers will dive. The world is changing....

[Georgie-Porgie]

I wrote a post in the beginning of December complaining about my sales in November only rising slightly from last year, and about other successful businesses up North having a very hard time, however, we seem (Cross my fingers. Knock on wood.) to have recovered; Up approx. 35% from last year.

From looking around, I would say that the other businesses are doing better, but not up to last year.

[gangstar]

From Stickman Weekly  Nov 30th

Business is absolutely booming in Pattaya, so much so that last night Living Doll and Peppermint, two of the most popular gogo bars, were so full, that they had to turn away customers at the door!  The welcome girls outside even had signs made up saying that it was full and to try again in 10 minutes!  Unbelievable!

This is truly unbelieveable cus its complete crap, i know for a fact this is an untrue statement,

Pattaya may look busy but overall profits for bars is down on last year and the year before, fact

[TizMe]

The welcome girls outside even had signs made up saying that it was full and to try again in 10 minutes! Unbelievable!

Absolutely Correct.

At least the Unbelievable bit was.

[Sunbelt Asia]

This is truly unbelieveable cus its complete crap, i know for a fact this is an untrue statement,

Pattaya may look busy but overall profits for bars is down on last year and the year before, fact

One day does not a year make, neither does a month. But at this time in November, they were pumping. That does not even mean profits as they could be selling the beer too cheap. Also the post said nothing about profits in Pattaya. It talked about the Hello Girls holding signs saying " Full.. .Try again in 10 minutes"

The question is are the tourists night life types or families? The hotels are booked full I understand in Pattaya.

[johnnyk]

Also the post said nothing about profits in Pattaya. It talked about the Hello Girls holding signs saying " Full.. .Try again in 10 minutes"

Well, the discos in the 70s and 80s used to keep punters waiting outside even when they were half empty inside. Whets the suckers' appetite.

[djinn]

Pattaya is full of buses and it is very difficult to rent a "quality" car (with full insurance).Hotels seems fully booked.Lot of asian tourists and BKK people

Many families.

Last night,Soi 8 area was full like end NOVEMBER last year.Full of girls alone.But sure not the punters .

At 11.30 PM,second road empty,not a lot of customers in soi2 soi3 area.And many Naklua bars were empty

[Sunbelt Asia]

Business brisk at top hotels over holidays

Well-heeled partiers staying in Bangkok

BANGKOK: With economic sentiment upbeat, more people seem to be going out to celebrate the New Year at restaurants in five-star hotels where business appears to be brisk this year.

Plush restaurants in Bangkok are busier partly due to foreign holiday makers who flocked to the city for the festive season while many local customers have also chosen to party in the capital rather than go out of town.

A spokeswoman at The Oriental Bangkok Hotel said Le Normandie Grill and Lord Jim's restaurants had already been fully booked for dinners on New Year's Eve while the gala dinner at The Terrace only had few seats available.

A set dinner at Le Normandie costs 15,000 baht this year while the gala dinner is 13,000 baht per head. The prices are 500-1,000 baht higher than last year.

She said business had been upbeat, as there were many repeat customers reserving for the New Year celebration. ``For example, two Japanese models came here last year, and decided to return to The Oriental again this year.''

At the Shangri-La Hotel, more advance bookings are being seen this year compared to last year.

``The reservations came in earlier than last year and there are also more in-house guests this year which helps push the restaurant business,'' said Rashana Pimolsindh, director of communications.

So far, about 20% more customers have booked tables at The Poolside restaurant, which charges 9,500 baht per head.

Other eateries at the Shangri-La including Angelini and Next 2, as well as its two cruises, are expected to be full on the New Year's eve as well. Benjawan Sudhikam, director of public relations and communications for the Conrad Hotel, said: ``We're doing extremely well. Bookings are coming in every minute, and we expect to be fully occupied on New Year's Eve.''

She attributed the brisk business to a higher number of foreigners coming to Thailand at year-end.

``At the same time, not all of Thais go upcountry so there are a number of local clients who choose to celebrate in Bangkok.''

Sawitree Daorueng, secretary of food and beverages at the Four Seasons Hotel (formerly The Regent), said bookings had been high at all of its restaurants although the prices had increased by 10-20% from last year.

Although the restaurants at the Four Season have not been fully occupied yet, Ms Sawitree believes that all the seats will have been taken on the New Year's Eve.

At the Dusit Thani Hotel, a staff member of the food and beverage department said banquet services had been busy, with wedding parties every night during the year-end period.

However, a public relations officer at the Central Plaza Hotel said business had been slow compared with last year, though there had been several company parties during the past few days and big weddings were planned on New Year's Eve as well as early next week.

--The Post 2003-12-31

[jooplo]

since Hard Rock cafe endowed quite a great deal of money in Pattaya ... There is an increasing number of foreigners who come here not only just for sex tour.. but the opening brought families and businessmen there as well.... I know someone who works

as the business developer in Sout -east Asia and he said that after the venue of this business opened in pattaya , there have been other various kind of business investors came to relocate their companies...all over Pattaya ...

Well, that should imply as the inclination of new places to visit and as far as i have heard ..The Hard Rock Cafe has a plan to build an activity place at the end of the beach which includes the water sports activities that gather family memebers together.....

[Georgie-Porgie]

Oh, goody, I always enjoy the water-sports in Pattaya, much more than in other places!

[samran]

So is it booming in Thailand????

All we have talked about so far are tourism related industries...which may mean that it is booming overseas and foreign tourist dollars are being spent here. But the tourism sector, although large, does not maketh an economy.

As for Thailand itself, methinks that there is alot of questionalble fiscal pump priming of the economy going on by the government. All looks good now, but perhaps it is fools gold. I am still not convinced that the economic fundamentals are right. Wait for the term "NPL" to rear its ugly head again in about 2 to 3 years! Just a personal opinion of course....