Tourism Faces Bt50 Bn Loss If Floods Linger For One Month: Thailand

[webfact]

Tourism faces Bt50 bn loss if floods linger for one month

Suchat Sritama

The Nation

Thailand could see Bt50 billion in tourism revenue evaporate if Bangkok and the Central provinces are inundated for one month, according to an estimate from the Tourism Council of Thailand.

Kongkrit Hiranyakit, the council's vice president, said yesterday that the number of international visitors was now expected to drop by 15-20 per cent, or 75,000, to 1 million this quarter compared with the same time last year.

Tourism revenue would also dive by between Bt30 billion and Bt40 billion based on average spending of Bt28,000-Bt40,000 per foreign tourist per trip.

Sisdivaschr Chevarattana-porn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said travellers from key markets such as Japan, mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea had postponed trips to Thailand.

However, some markets such as Russia and India remain strong despite the flooding.

"I think it's too early to talk about damages and losses, but we'll see a clearer picture early next month," he said.

Peak season

The council earlier estimated that the country would receive 5 million tourists from October to December, as it is the annual peak season.

During the first nine months, Thailand welcomed 14.3 million international visitors and hopes to tally up 19.3 million of them by the end of this year.

"Many countries have issued travel advisories to their citizens to avoid the floods in Thailand, while many operators and tourists have delayed their travel plans," he said.

Further losses depend on how fast the flood subsides, but restoring tourism should take a shorter time than after political crises, when it usually takes months.

Last year, the tourism industry was devastated by the political unrest and counted more than Bt50 billion in damage.

Kongkrit said the domestic tourism business was also interrupted by the inundation.

"The domestic tourism business will suffer damage worth Bt10 billion if Bangkok and the provinces in the Central region are under water for one month," he said.

Thais and local residents are making an average of 250,000 trips per day.

Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa has indicated that the prolonged flooding has been keeping away 7,000 tourists per day, from an average of 40,000 incoming per day.

Nok Air

Patee Sarasin, chief executive officer of Nok Air, said the airline had cancelled all flights operating out of Don Mueang Airport after it was closed by Airports of Thailand because of the flooding in the Bangkok area. Flights that had already left other airports were diverted to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The budget airline will continue suspending its operations at Don Mueang until noon next Monday.

All passengers scheduled during that period will receive text message on their mobile phones about flight cancellations, and ticket dates will be opened automatically for one month.

Members of the Thai Hotels Association are offering special room rates of Bt600, Bt900 and Bt1,200 to help affected people.

Many hotels and serviced apartments in Bangkok and some provinces such as Chon Buri are enjoying a windfall, as many local flood victims move in for short or medium stays.

Kongkrit urged the government to prepare post-flood tourism-recovery plans and workforce-relief measures.

The Tourism Convention and Exhibition Bureau will today reveal plans to help rebuild the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) business.

-- The Nation 2011-10-26

[londonthai]

" the number of international visitors was now expected to drop by 15-20 per cent, or 750,000, to 1 million this quarter compared with the same time last year"

according to the above, doesn't matter, if bangkok will be heavy flooded, foreigners are already cancelling their trips in an anticipation of a bad situation.

"Tourism revenue would also dive by between Bt30 billion and Bt40 billion based on average spending of Bt28,000-Bt40,000 per foreign tourist per trip."

from where 50bln in the title came from?

[whybother]

Only 2 weeks ago.

Thai Tourism Minister Chumpol: Floods not hurting tourism

...

The minister said he stood by the ministry's projection that 19 million foreign tourists will visit Thailand this year.

http://www.thaivisa....urting-tourism/ Edited October 26, 2011 by whybother

[MaxYakov]

" the number of international visitors was now expected to drop by 15-20 per cent, or 750,000, to 1 million this quarter compared with the same time last year"

according to the above, doesn't matter, if bangkok will be heavy flooded, foreigners are already cancelling their trips in an anticipation of a bad situation.

"Tourism revenue would also dive by between Bt30 billion and Bt40 billion based on average spending of Bt28,000-Bt40,000 per foreign tourist per trip."

from where 50bln in the title came from?

Errr ... 'gained in translation' as opposed to 'lost in translation'?

[Seri]

" the number of international visitors was now expected to drop by 15-20 per cent, or 750,000, to 1 million this quarter compared with the same time last year"

according to the above, doesn't matter, if bangkok will be heavy flooded, foreigners are already cancelling their trips in an anticipation of a bad situation.

"Tourism revenue would also dive by between Bt30 billion and Bt40 billion based on average spending of Bt28,000-Bt40,000 per foreign tourist per trip."

from where 50bln in the title came from?

maybe if they add the domestic tourism.

[nicky1982]

These people have no idea they just make it up as they go along tourism industry is died and it’s been like this for years now just another excise the government don’t give a dam they will only give handouts to major companies but the small companies suffer like always ..

[Shurup]

50 bln LOSS??? If they haven't made the money, it doesn't man they lost it.

Why don't they call the things by their name?

[jonclark]

TAT reminds me of the Chinese communist party and fish. A good few years ago the UN fishery division started getting catch data from the Chinese, after studying the year on year increases in the Chinese data they discovered that if this data (in terms of weight) from the Chinese was correct the Chinese alone were catching more weight of fish than existed in all the worlds oceans.

Perplexed the UN returned to the Chinese with questions; the answer was the data was totally <deleted>, the Chinese communist party (fishery branch) made it up to show central government they were being good communists and were continuously improving fishing productivity, with the aim of securing promotions to the higher echelons of the party.

My point is this just like Chinese fish catch data, the tourist number and revenue figures which come out of TAT are more than likely pulled out of their <deleted> during a late night drinking session and aren't worth the paper they are printed on.

[BigRick]

Welcome India!!!!! I love it! they seem to dislike western tourist so much let them enjoy the ones from India. They are big spending, hygiene conscious super tourists. The BG's love them =) Looks like that TAT plan of only drawing ultra rich short term tourism was about as successful as the flood preparedness branch.

[LTGTR]

They multiplied by 5.

" the number of international visitors was now expected to drop by 15-20 per cent, or 750,000, to 1 million this quarter compared with the same time last year"

according to the above, doesn't matter, if bangkok will be heavy flooded, foreigners are already cancelling their trips in an anticipation of a bad situation.

"Tourism revenue would also dive by between Bt30 billion and Bt40 billion based on average spending of Bt28,000-Bt40,000 per foreign tourist per trip."

from where 50bln in the title came from?

[animatic]

Between floods, partly caused by lack of any ENFORCED rules about land development , rip-offs and scams heard about world wide, and Pro-Con Shinawatra Clan power games/rioting, and mismanagement in office, 3-4 years of toursim High Season business has been killed deader than the unknown soldier.

It's truly saddening to see this, because it's always the little people, the hotel staffs and general workers who get hit the worst. You know the ones who are actually really nice to you every day.

Edited October 26, 2011 by animatic

[tigerbeer]

Welcome India!!!!! I love it! they seem to dislike western tourist so much let them enjoy the ones from India. They are big spending, hygiene conscious super tourists. The BG's love them =) Looks like that TAT plan of only drawing ultra rich short term tourism was about as successful as the flood preparedness branch.

what a racist statement. these Indians have got more money than most people can count. go ask any of the big 5 star hotel chains and see who occupies their hotels with weddings and events. And they do spend a lot when they tour. Who cares about the BG's.

[peterdk]

Dont they just love throwing numbers around in TAT ?

Its not the first or last time where they will throw in numbers, that doesn't add up.

[nicky1982]

Between floods, partly caused by lack of any ENFORCED rules about land development , rip-offs and scams heard about world wide, and Pro-Con Shinawatra Clan power games/rioting, and mismanagement in office, 3-4 years of toursim High Season business has been killed deader than the unknown soldier.

It's truly saddening to see this, because it's always the little people, the hotel staffs and general workers who get hit the worst. You know the ones who are actually really nice to you every day.

I have a few friends who have travel shops in Bangkok & Pattaya .. They are finding it real difficult due to all the problems over the years here... They have no help what so ever from the government plus the government said when pad shut the major airports down they would help but that really did not happen banks also said they would help but due to outstanding loans they had it would not happen an then along the lines the government said we will sort that out mai pen rai even said the something when we had the riots over here but that really only happen for the major companies it also doesn’t help these days with online bookings as you don’t need to go to a travel shop ? So as you can imagine things are really hard these days for these people... :jap:

[BarryM]

Between floods, partly caused by lack of any ENFORCED rules about land development , rip-offs and scams heard about world wide, and Pro-Con Shinawatra Clan power games/rioting, and mismanagement in office, 3-4 years of toursim High Season business has been killed deader than the unknown soldier.

It's truly saddening to see this, because it's always the little people, the hotel staffs and general workers who get hit the worst. You know the ones who are actually really nice to you every day.

I have a few friends who have travel shops in Bangkok & Pattaya .. They are finding it real difficult due to all the problems over the years here... They have no help what so ever from the government plus the government said when pad shut the major airports down they would help but that really did not happen banks also said they would help but due to outstanding loans they had it would not happen an then along the lines the government said we will sort that out mai pen rai even said the something when we had the riots over here but that really only happen for the major companies it also doesn't help these days with online bookings as you don't need to go to a travel shop ? So as you can imagine things are really hard these days for these people... :jap:

The "travel shops" are hit by the drop in western tourists who travel independently and buy onwards tickets and tours whilst in resort. On top of this, the expat population will have found that airfares are now generally more expensive when they originate in Thailand. I am not alone in now buying my tickets in Cambodia or KL, to the detriment of a really helpful travel agent opposite Friendship market in Pattaya. But her fare to London on Thai (F) is 190,000 baht. I can buy the same ticket when I visit Cambodia for 150,000 b, which also gives me a a PP/BKK return.

[FarangBuddha]

Between floods, partly caused by lack of any ENFORCED rules about land development , rip-offs and scams heard about world wide, and Pro-Con Shinawatra Clan power games/rioting, and mismanagement in office, 3-4 years of toursim High Season business has been killed deader than the unknown soldier.

It's truly saddening to see this, because it's always the little people, the hotel staffs and general workers who get hit the worst. You know the ones who are actually really nice to you every day.

I have a few friends who have travel shops in Bangkok & Pattaya .. They are finding it real difficult due to all the problems over the years here... They have no help what so ever from the government plus the government said when pad shut the major airports down they would help but that really did not happen banks also said they would help but due to outstanding loans they had it would not happen an then along the lines the government said we will sort that out mai pen rai even said the something when we had the riots over here but that really only happen for the major companies it also doesn't help these days with online bookings as you don't need to go to a travel shop ? So as you can imagine things are really hard these days for these people... :jap:

The "travel shops" are hit by the drop in western tourists who travel independently and buy onwards tickets and tours whilst in resort. On top of this, the expat population will have found that airfares are now generally more expensive when they originate in Thailand. I am not alone in now buying my tickets in Cambodia or KL, to the detriment of a really helpful travel agent opposite Friendship market in Pattaya. But her fare to London on Thai (F) is 190,000 baht. I can buy the same ticket when I visit Cambodia for 150,000 b, which also gives me a a PP/BKK return.

"Which also gives me a PP/BKK return."

So when you purchase a ticket while in PP, are you buying a BKK-LON return ticket or a PNP-LON return ticket that transfers in Bangkok? And you discard the final BKK-PNP leg in the return?

Edited October 26, 2011 by FarangBuddha

[nowork114]

Farangs again misunderstood. To make Thailand more convenient for tourists floating markets from Amphawa, Talingchan and Damoen Saduak are being moved to downtown Bangkok. This is a new strategy of TAT to make Thailand the HUB of floating markets...

[BigRick]

Welcome India!!!!! I love it! they seem to dislike western tourist so much let them enjoy the ones from India. They are big spending, hygiene conscious super tourists. The BG's love them =) Looks like that TAT plan of only drawing ultra rich short term tourism was about as successful as the flood preparedness branch.

what a racist statement. these Indians have got more money than most people can count. go ask any of the big 5 star hotel chains and see who occupies their hotels with weddings and events. And they do spend a lot when they tour. Who cares about the BG's.

I like Indians a lot more than I like some Europeans great culture but by and large the average Indian tourist is spending a less than the average European or American tourist (GDPvsGDP). Some have horrible personal hygiene just like some Europeans you would think they never heard the word deodorant or a toothbrush(We live in the 21st century brush your teeth!!!) in their life. I have had a few conversations with a girl or two in this country they can tell you were certain nationalities rate some not so high. As far as Indians having more money than most people can count you might want to start hanging out with people who can count. Good thing you had time to do a quick survey of the big 5 hotels while you were writing the reply or I would have to call BS on your statistics. My guess and only a guess is that Malaysia,Japan and maybe the UK,Norway make up the higher % of tourism dollars than mythical "more money than you can count" Indian tourists that you speak of. Its pretty hard to be racist living in Asia we are the 1% we are the guests here we have to like them not them having to like us.

[blackthorn2005]

Between floods, partly caused by lack of any ENFORCED rules about land development , rip-offs and scams heard about world wide, and Pro-Con Shinawatra Clan power games/rioting, and mismanagement in office, 3-4 years of toursim High Season business has been killed deader than the unknown soldier.

It's truly saddening to see this, because it's always the little people, the hotel staffs and general workers who get hit the worst. You know the ones who are actually really nice to you every day.

I have a few friends who have travel shops in Bangkok & Pattaya .. They are finding it real difficult due to all the problems over the years here... They have no help what so ever from the government plus the government said when pad shut the major airports down they would help but that really did not happen banks also said they would help but due to outstanding loans they had it would not happen an then along the lines the government said we will sort that out mai pen rai even said the something when we had the riots over here but that really only happen for the major companies it also doesn't help these days with online bookings as you don't need to go to a travel shop ? So as you can imagine things are really hard these days for these people... :jap:

You should tell your friends to target the influx of Indian and Russian tourists, they could go on looting tours of flooded Thailand!

[BarryM]

Between floods, partly caused by lack of any ENFORCED rules about land development , rip-offs and scams heard about world wide, and Pro-Con Shinawatra Clan power games/rioting, and mismanagement in office, 3-4 years of toursim High Season business has been killed deader than the unknown soldier.

It's truly saddening to see this, because it's always the little people, the hotel staffs and general workers who get hit the worst. You know the ones who are actually really nice to you every day.

I have a few friends who have travel shops in Bangkok & Pattaya .. They are finding it real difficult due to all the problems over the years here... They have no help what so ever from the government plus the government said when pad shut the major airports down they would help but that really did not happen banks also said they would help but due to outstanding loans they had it would not happen an then along the lines the government said we will sort that out mai pen rai even said the something when we had the riots over here but that really only happen for the major companies it also doesn't help these days with online bookings as you don't need to go to a travel shop ? So as you can imagine things are really hard these days for these people... :jap:

The "travel shops" are hit by the drop in western tourists who travel independently and buy onwards tickets and tours whilst in resort. On top of this, the expat population will have found that airfares are now generally more expensive when they originate in Thailand. I am not alone in now buying my tickets in Cambodia or KL, to the detriment of a really helpful travel agent opposite Friendship market in Pattaya. But her fare to London on Thai (F) is 190,000 baht. I can buy the same ticket when I visit Cambodia for 150,000 b, which also gives me a a PP/BKK return.

"Which also gives me a PP/BKK return."

So when you purchase a ticket while in PP, are you buying a BKK-LON return ticket or a PNP-LON return ticket that transfers in Bangkok? And you discard the final BKK-PNP leg in the return?

The PP ticket from the Thai office is a 1 year ticket for $4980 usd that allows unlimited both ways stopover in BKK. At the moment I still have a BKK - PP "coupon" in hand (it solves the problem of needing an onward ticket ex BKK when checking in at London FWIW. I only travel for leisure these days, so as long as i schedule PP trip before I go to London again I simply buy a new ticket when back in PP. I'll have a few days in Siem Reap next month, so will buy a London ticket whilst in Cambodia and travel to BKK via PP. Yes, no harm in not using the BKK-PP leg, although you have a year to do so. The TG platinum card gives access to the TG F lounge even when travelling economy or business, so it's a nice way to travel for a few days away - check in 2-3 hours before departure and have a decent meal with good wines watching a DVD in the private TV room. You also get the extra ROP miles for the BKK-PP legs.

Travelling 3-4 times a year and F fare ex PP works out an average of 115,000 baht return using accumulated redemption on the half price Gold/Platinum promotion and a free annual upgrade (meaning I just buy the J fare). Not a bad deal. Firts class travel is rarely worth the massive premium IMO, but 25-30k baht extra per leg makes it more affordable.

[puntmeister]

Welcome India!!!!! I love it! they seem to dislike western tourist so much let them enjoy the ones from India. They are big spending, hygiene conscious super tourists. The BG's love them =) Looks like that TAT plan of only drawing ultra rich short term tourism was about as successful as the flood preparedness branch.

what a racist statement. these Indians have got more money than most people can count. go ask any of the big 5 star hotel chains and see who occupies their hotels with weddings and events. And they do spend a lot when they tour. Who cares about the BG's.

I like Indians a lot more than I like some Europeans great culture but by and large the average Indian tourist is spending a less than the average European or American tourist (GDPvsGDP). Some have horrible personal hygiene just like some Europeans you would think they never heard the word deodorant or a toothbrush(We live in the 21st century brush your teeth!!!) in their life. I have had a few conversations with a girl or two in this country they can tell you were certain nationalities rate some not so high. As far as Indians having more money than most people can count you might want to start hanging out with people who can count. Good thing you had time to do a quick survey of the big 5 hotels while you were writing the reply or I would have to call BS on your statistics. My guess and only a guess is that Malaysia,Japan and maybe the UK,Norway make up the higher % of tourism dollars than mythical "more money than you can count" Indian tourists that you speak of. Its pretty hard to be racist living in Asia we are the 1% we are the guests here we have to like them not them having to like us.

Yeah, my wife (and I, by default) ran a section of the Pattaya beach for awhile - the two cheapest tourists, by far, are the Indians and Russians.

The main difference between the Indians and Russians:

The Indians try to negotiate already riduculously cheap prices even lower "you want 25 baht for a coconut, I give you 5 baht!". When their proposals are rejected, they politely walk away.

The Russians, on the other hand, don't negotiate. They just order whatever they want, then refuse to pay (well.....until they are surrounded by a mob of thais, ready to beat the bjesus out of them).

The best prospects for Thai tourism don't stem from Europe or the Americas, however. Chinese, South Koreans, Japanese - they are the biggest spenders, and the biggest growth market.

[Misterwhisper]

News in this country change as quickly as the flood water levels. Just a couple, three weeks ago it was blared out that under no cicumstances would tourism to this enchanting country suffer in any way.

But what do we expect from officials whose predictions have so far proved utterly erroneous and who have led the public by the nose for weeks on end?

Edited October 26, 2011 by metisdead
Font size reset to default size.

[FarangBuddha]

The "travel shops" are hit by the drop in western tourists who travel independently and buy onwards tickets and tours whilst in resort. On top of this, the expat population will have found that airfares are now generally more expensive when they originate in Thailand. I am not alone in now buying my tickets in Cambodia or KL, to the detriment of a really helpful travel agent opposite Friendship market in Pattaya. But her fare to London on Thai (F) is 190,000 baht. I can buy the same ticket when I visit Cambodia for 150,000 b, which also gives me a a PP/BKK return.

"Which also gives me a PP/BKK return."

So when you purchase a ticket while in PP, are you buying a BKK-LON return ticket or a PNP-LON return ticket that transfers in Bangkok? And you discard the final BKK-PNP leg in the return?

The PP ticket from the Thai office is a 1 year ticket for $4980 usd that allows unlimited both ways stopover in BKK. At the moment I still have a BKK - PP "coupon" in hand (it solves the problem of needing an onward ticket ex BKK when checking in at London FWIW. I only travel for leisure these days, so as long as i schedule PP trip before I go to London again I simply buy a new ticket when back in PP. I'll have a few days in Siem Reap next month, so will buy a London ticket whilst in Cambodia and travel to BKK via PP. Yes, no harm in not using the BKK-PP leg, although you have a year to do so. The TG platinum card gives access to the TG F lounge even when travelling economy or business, so it's a nice way to travel for a few days away - check in 2-3 hours before departure and have a decent meal with good wines watching a DVD in the private TV room. You also get the extra ROP miles for the BKK-PP legs.

Travelling 3-4 times a year and F fare ex PP works out an average of 115,000 baht return using accumulated redemption on the half price Gold/Platinum promotion and a free annual upgrade (meaning I just buy the J fare). Not a bad deal. Firts class travel is rarely worth the massive premium IMO, but 25-30k baht extra per leg makes it more affordable.

Allot of information there...so if I understand correctly, you buy a [business class?] one-year ticket for unlimited travel between PNP-LON for US$ 5k, which of course passes through BKK (and allows for stop-overs). What would this ticket cost if purchased in Bangkok for the BKK-LON routing? You kinda lost me on the half-price and annual upgrade stuff but more interested about the savings of buying tix in PNP vs. BKK.

[pisico]

Thai logic and attitude:

Drop in tourism? Never mind. Raise prices to make up for what we lost.

[madmitch]

The comment is from the Tourism Council of Thailand. Is thia a separate body from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) or can we expect a totally conflicting comment from them in the coming days?

[BarryM]

The "travel shops" are hit by the drop in western tourists who travel independently and buy onwards tickets and tours whilst in resort. On top of this, the expat population will have found that airfares are now generally more expensive when they originate in Thailand. I am not alone in now buying my tickets in Cambodia or KL, to the detriment of a really helpful travel agent opposite Friendship market in Pattaya. But her fare to London on Thai (F) is 190,000 baht. I can buy the same ticket when I visit Cambodia for 150,000 b, which also gives me a a PP/BKK return.

"Which also gives me a PP/BKK return."

So when you purchase a ticket while in PP, are you buying a BKK-LON return ticket or a PNP-LON return ticket that transfers in Bangkok? And you discard the final BKK-PNP leg in the return?

The PP ticket from the Thai office is a 1 year ticket for $4980 usd that allows unlimited both ways stopover in BKK. At the moment I still have a BKK - PP "coupon" in hand (it solves the problem of needing an onward ticket ex BKK when checking in at London FWIW. I only travel for leisure these days, so as long as i schedule PP trip before I go to London again I simply buy a new ticket when back in PP. I'll have a few days in Siem Reap next month, so will buy a London ticket whilst in Cambodia and travel to BKK via PP. Yes, no harm in not using the BKK-PP leg, although you have a year to do so. The TG platinum card gives access to the TG F lounge even when travelling economy or business, so it's a nice way to travel for a few days away - check in 2-3 hours before departure and have a decent meal with good wines watching a DVD in the private TV room. You also get the extra ROP miles for the BKK-PP legs.

Travelling 3-4 times a year and F fare ex PP works out an average of 115,000 baht return using accumulated redemption on the half price Gold/Platinum promotion and a free annual upgrade (meaning I just buy the J fare). Not a bad deal. Firts class travel is rarely worth the massive premium IMO, but 25-30k baht extra per leg makes it more affordable.

Allot of information there...so if I understand correctly, you buy a [business class?] one-year ticket for unlimited travel between PNP-LON for US$ 5k, which of course passes through BKK (and allows for stop-overs). What would this ticket cost if purchased in Bangkok for the BKK-LON routing? You kinda lost me on the half-price and annual upgrade stuff but more interested about the savings of buying tix in PNP vs. BKK.

$5k us buys you a Thai first class RT from PP via BKK to LHR with unlimited time stop in BKK both ways (1 year ticket). A TG first from BKK - LHR costs 190,000 b if you buy it in Thailand/ originate in Thailand - ie $6300 us. So you save $1300 us, plus get a free trip to PP if you buy them back to back.

Thai frequent flier program gives gold/platinum a free upgrade each year if you do the miles. So once a year I buy business (about 110 k baht in PP) and travel first. Also the mileage works out that around 1 in 5 trips gives enough points for a free return in first.

Averages out (assuming four trips a year) to something like 115k baht PP-BKK-LHR-BKK-PP

[tigerbeer]

Welcome India!!!!! I love it! they seem to dislike western tourist so much let them enjoy the ones from India. They are big spending, hygiene conscious super tourists. The BG's love them =) Looks like that TAT plan of only drawing ultra rich short term tourism was about as successful as the flood preparedness branch.

what a racist statement. these Indians have got more money than most people can count. go ask any of the big 5 star hotel chains and see who occupies their hotels with weddings and events. And they do spend a lot when they tour. Who cares about the BG's.

I like Indians a lot more than I like some Europeans great culture but by and large the average Indian tourist is spending a less than the average European or American tourist (GDPvsGDP). Some have horrible personal hygiene just like some Europeans you would think they never heard the word deodorant or a toothbrush(We live in the 21st century brush your teeth!!!) in their life. I have had a few conversations with a girl or two in this country they can tell you were certain nationalities rate some not so high. As far as Indians having more money than most people can count you might want to start hanging out with people who can count. Good thing you had time to do a quick survey of the big 5 hotels while you were writing the reply or I would have to call BS on your statistics. My guess and only a guess is that Malaysia,Japan and maybe the UK,Norway make up the higher % of tourism dollars than mythical "more money than you can count" Indian tourists that you speak of. Its pretty hard to be racist living in Asia we are the 1% we are the guests here we have to like them not them having to like us.

You seem more obsessed about what the bar girls that you congregate with think is "proper tourist" more than anything else. Sit down for a moment and think on their origins and where they are at the moment to start off with. who gives a <deleted> about what they think? I didn't need to research anything as I have first hand experience to what I stated. You reply was a racist one and the second one that followed it seems to only be the same or worse. There is more to life than to go around looking for people who brush their teeth and those who do not! Geez!

[ginjag]

Only 2 weeks ago.

Thai Tourism Minister Chumpol: Floods not hurting tourism

...

The minister said he stood by the ministry's projection that 19 million foreign tourists will visit Thailand this year.

http://www.thaivisa....urting-tourism/

Get ready for 150 billion loss----but January you will be saying tourist on the increase from ??????? any more b#llshizen

I thought the name was Chump- not Chumpol

Edited October 27, 2011 by ginjag