Thai at Heart Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 (edited) When will they get the simple point that if they stop concentrating so much on extracting as much money as possible from people then people might actually spend more. When I am relaxed and having fun and not feeling harassed / extorted I don't pay too much attention to how much I am spending. When I feeling pressured to open my wallet, I get irritated and stop spending money. Thailand - try to make people feel contented and happy and the money will follow. Keep going the way you are, and people will not return. Simple. I genuinely believe, that coupled with a localized concept of intelligence (whereby the smartest man/woman is the one who outfoxes the other out of money), that they have a seriously deluded understanding of the concept of quality in Thailand. You make a great point. They talk about attracting money without offering the slightest clue as to how they plan to draw the high-flying individuals that have earned that money (and, in all likelihood, have a fairly good, if recently acquired, understanding of value in the marketplace). In everything from condos to education to the airport, shortcuts are taken and quality control measures ignored. Until Thais understand the concept of value, they won't be able to do this. The only people in the Kingdom that you see driving Ferraris or Lamborghinis are Thais. No foreigner would invest more than a million USD for a vehicle that would only cost a fraction of that price in their home country. That's an extreme example, but anyone who cares about buying quality clothing, household utensils, or basically anything of reasonable craftsmanship has been lamenting the outrageous prices on foreign, "luxury" (in quotes because this basically just means foreign) products that result of extortionate tariffs. It wouldn't be a problem if the Thai side were able to offer products of even remotely comparable quality. I have friends who are reluctant to come back just because if the wine prices. It is a point of comment that they have told just about everyone over and over again. Edited July 15, 2012 by Thai at Heart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yunla Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 I have friends who are reluctant to come back just because if the wine prices. It is a point of comment that they have told just about everyone over and over again. They should stop whining about it. I'm sorry. I'll show myself out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhizBang Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 A friend of none honeymooned inpattaya in the siambayshore in 1973. he siad it wad idylic And in 1973, Thailand was idylic. But that was then, this is now, and the bloom has gone off the rose. TAT should also understand that all the current problems with corruption, especially the police shakedowns, the various Thai mafia gangs, the jet ski and other scams, the safety of Thai 'public' transport, the dodgy goings on at resorts that result in 'unexplained' deaths, and the complete and total disregard for the environment are the kind of things that are likely to keep the high spending tourists the TAT are targeting at bay. Inflation and the ever rising prices are also likely to erode the low end of the tourist market too. So who does that leave? Oh right, the sex tourists. Ok TAT, there is your target market. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidermike007 Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 There was no tourism industry in Thailand before the 70s. I agree with the frustration you feel about the resorts, but, i fast there is no going back, it isn't going to change. I despair that as the resorts grew, there wasn't any consideration at all for waste management. The environment around most if the coastal resorts is a complete mess and to repair it now costs in the billions. TAT is trying to market a damaged collection of attractions and it is only going to get harder as the competition increases. They could h have created paradise in the islands and something more than passable on the mainland, mafia controls huge interests in the resorts. With all due respect, thus isn't a singularly ptp issue, thIs is a Thailand issue. Billions has been taken out by owners of tourism businesses, but so little reinvested to protect the long term future if their tourism products. There appears to be little long term strategic thought to anything that goes on. If you have the money, build whatever you like, wherever you like, toss the rubbish over the wall, and wonder why the crystal blue sea turns green 5 years later. Chaos rarely produces a good outcome. I noticed the story somewhere yesterday of the naive new resort bring built blatantly inside protected land. How can this still go on, as though no one knew our bothered to notice. It us the way it is and once again money ordinarily wins. Good post and I agree with most of it. There was backpacker hippy-trail tourism in Thailand in the 1970s, but not the actual money-spending organised tourism. My Mother, who was a single-mum back then, took me on hippy-trail in Thailand around 1971, I was very young and carried in a sling. She was backpacking, visiting monuments and learning about Buddhism. It was only for eight months and I don't remember it at all because I was very young. She said it was the happiest year of her life and that is what made me visit here when I became teenager and later. I'm not really making it a PTP issue, but in truth Abhisit did invest in his 3-year infrastructure plan which would have benefitted all aspects of Thailand including tourism. Thailand has yet to have a leader or ruling party that has tackled the issues of infrastructure and corruption, both of which are crucial determinants in tourist destination decisions. My problem with PTP is that they have not even touched those subjects at all, and they are in power today, hence why I mention them a lot relating to news stories. They have failed in their first year, to even commence the reform work which is essential to tourist confidence and to tourist health & safety on holiday. The planning design and implementation, licensing, control and management of the resorts lies at the local level. It is corruption there that hobbles the development, not bangkok. Yes, that is part of the issue. The reason why this persists, if that the federal government is unwilling to make arrests, charge corrupt people, and then try them, convict them, fine them, and lock them up. There is virtually no deterrent built into the system. So, what will stop someone greedy, like the mayor of Samui, Jaikwong Ramnate, from collecting all the money he can, while deferring the building of roads, the collection of garbage on the beaches, the construction of a sewage system that would allow the water to be reasonably clean, etc., etc. The road construction has already been paid for by the central government, yes he puts it off, in order to enrich himself. If the central govt. more or less condones this kind of irrational, and self enriching behavior, who will anything EVER CHANGE? So, sooner or later Bangkok does have to take responsibility for the lack of change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhizBang Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 It is a point of comment that they have told just about everyone over and over again. And therein lies the crux of the matter. Every tourist who has a bad experience here will be telling everyone once he gets back home, and also possibly posting it all over the internet too. Thailand (and TAT) needs to realize that there is a world outside Thailand and that news, both good and bad, travels and spreads. Tourists who have a good experience will relate positive stories, while those that have a bad experience will relate their bad experiences. So the Thai government should be doing everything in it's power to ensure that tourists leave Thailand with a good warm happy feeling about their experiences here. Your (happy) customers are your best ad campain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUSHGOAT Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 you are all wrong what is affecting tourism in Thailand is the exchange rate and of course because number of tourists have fallen everywhere are increasing prices to make up for the shortfall and making things even worse. The other problems are of course corruption at all levels, Mafia and pollution. So wake up Thai Ministers devalue the Baht eradicate corruption and the Mafia and improve your infrastructure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waza Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 I think this is code for we need casinos 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belg Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 purchasing power, woehahahaha what costs the most in one's life (except a divorce?) well... a house maybe... be farang cannot own land or house game over somebody must be dreaming of all those millions and billions but it is the one in dubai 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellodolly Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 I play golf I'm getting married - to a Thai! We will travel to Ubon and Udon Thani (heading to Lao) before years end 2013 before May we will make a trip a month to the Andaman Recd nothing but grief when applying for my visas in the US this year but hey - Getting married in Thailand - Sisakhet (B65k) Honeymoon - Singapore <snip> Thailand OH! ... HIGH SPENDING You might want to check on the TV Visa board for information. I had heard you are better off trying for a visitors visa or some other kind. The states are very paranoid and do not make it easy. A friend of mine was on a fight with a lady from Lao who all ready had her visa and they turned her back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellodolly Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 When will they get the simple point that if they stop concentrating so much on extracting as much money as possible from people then people might actually spend more. When I am relaxed and having fun and not feeling harassed / extorted I don't pay too much attention to how much I am spending. When I feeling pressured to open my wallet, I get irritated and stop spending money. Thailand - try to make people feel contented and happy and the money will follow. Keep going the way you are, and people will not return. Simple. I am responding to you only because a click on I like this is far to mild. Yes stop trying to make the suck holing of their money your only priority. I live in Chiang Mai in a very touristy area and there is lots of tourists here now considering it is low season. The other day I was sitting at a out door cafe in the old part of the city just watching people. I noticed there were quite a few women travelers with another women and several families all just strolling along. Now this area of Chiang Mai is not known for it's high end destinations but it is bringing money into the country. Stop trying to get as much money as you can out of the high rollers and put some effort into the back packers and the tourists who are not back packers but willing to spend some money. Try to encourage the guest houses to make there rooms attractive paint them keep the area clean. Control the noise after 11"00 at night. There will always be the ones who come for the sex and roll in late making all kinds of noise evict them. Make all of Thailand attractive to people of all income ranges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcutman Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 i read this header line and pissedmyself laughing, government are putting up prices. Cost of living is rising. Tourist cost of living is also rising with something live 12 % unemployed in the U.S greece and spain are in finacial crisis U.K and other places are pretty much reuined. SO how can they attract people to come here when most people are skint. Chinese are doing fine at the moment and are the biggest tourist group to Thailand Yeh, but they are trying to attract big spending tourist. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydeco Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 High spending Russians, Chinese and Indians? Good luck with finding that in any significant numbers. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcutman Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 The only way Thailand is going to attract big spenders, clean up all the trash everywhere, paint everything in tastefull colors, and allow big casino's to operate here. You dont have to leagalize gambling everywhere, only in certain and specific areas, just as many other countries do. At least for the foreseeable, with the economy as it is, asians are the ones with the money, and its not the ones coming here now on budget tours. Before everybody freeks out and say all the locals will spen everydime they have. Singapore seems to have a pretty good system to prevent that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Payboy Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 i read this header line and pissedmyself laughing, government are putting up prices. Cost of living is rising. Tourist cost of living is also rising with something live 12 % unemployed in the U.S greece and spain are in finacial crisis U.K and other places are pretty much reuined. SO how can they attract people to come here when most people are skint. Chinese are doing fine at the moment and are the biggest tourist group to Thailand Yeh, but they are trying to attract big spending tourist. I bet 7-11 thinks they're big spenders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai at Heart Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 The only way Thailand is going to attract big spenders, clean up all the trash everywhere, paint everything in tastefull colors, and allow big casino's to operate here. You dont have to leagalize gambling everywhere, only in certain and specific areas, just as many other countries do. At least for the foreseeable, with the economy as it is, asians are the ones with the money, and its not the ones coming here now on budget tours. Before everybody freeks out and say all the locals will spen everydime they have. Singapore seems to have a pretty good system to prevent that. By definition, the big spenders don't want to sit with the riff raff, and want clean organized efficient luxury wherever they go. Where do tuk tuks, stinky drains and "hey u, fut masaj" fit into this unless they are never to venture out if their resorts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubik101 Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Thailand tourist areas is crap,crap,crap.... So is your English grammar. But I suspect your Thai is better than mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JurgenG Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 i read this header line and pissedmyself laughing, government are putting up prices. Cost of living is rising. Tourist cost of living is also rising with something live 12 % unemployed in the U.S greece and spain are in finacial crisis U.K and other places are pretty much reuined. SO how can they attract people to come here when most people are skint. Chinese are doing fine at the moment and are the biggest tourist group to Thailand That's what I noticed. They mentionned Russia, China, South Korea and Australia. but nothing about Europe or America. So for those who say here if they don't treat us right we will leave, the message is clear, go ahead, you won't missed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeOboe57 Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 I wonder why they didn't mention the "Elite Card". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JurgenG Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 The only way Thailand is going to attract big spenders, clean up all the trash everywhere, paint everything in tastefull colors, and allow big casino's to operate here. You dont have to leagalize gambling everywhere, only in certain and specific areas, just as many other countries do. At least for the foreseeable, with the economy as it is, asians are the ones with the money, and its not the ones coming here now on budget tours. Before everybody freeks out and say all the locals will spen everydime they have. Singapore seems to have a pretty good system to prevent that. By definition, the big spenders don't want to sit with the riff raff, and want clean organized efficient luxury wherever they go. Where do tuk tuks, stinky drains and "hey u, fut masaj" fit into this unless they are never to venture out if their resorts? Big spenders have a car waiting from them at the airport to drive them to their resort where everything is organized for them. They can stay one week without feeling the need to get out. And if they want to get out, they go the concierge who book them a van who is going to drive them wherever they want and is going to make sure they won't be botherer by any beggar or any other form of low life. Some resorts have even better than a private beach, they have a boat who take you to their private island where you can spend the day relaxing without being bother by anybody but nice waiter and waitress ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliebru Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 High spending tourists can go anywhere in the world and just come and go for short periods. Meanwhile; this could be a great retiree destination if Thailand would have retirement programs like other countries such as Malaysia, Ecuador, Uruguay, etc. Retirees are here for the duration and spend all year round. But maybe that makes too much sense. Right now all a retirement visa in Thailand means is permission to stay for one year and spend as much as you want to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcutman Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 (edited) The only way Thailand is going to attract big spenders, clean up all the trash everywhere, paint everything in tastefull colors, and allow big casino's to operate here. You dont have to leagalize gambling everywhere, only in certain and specific areas, just as many other countries do. At least for the foreseeable, with the economy as it is, asians are the ones with the money, and its not the ones coming here now on budget tours. Before everybody freeks out and say all the locals will spen everydime they have. Singapore seems to have a pretty good system to prevent that. By definition, the big spenders don't want to sit with the riff raff, and want clean organized efficient luxury wherever they go. Where do tuk tuks, stinky drains and "hey u, fut masaj" fit into this unless they are never to venture out if their resorts? Not sure if you read the first part of my post. "Clean up the trash everywhere" is kind of a broad statement, but I dont like to type either.Of course high rollers do often spend an entire trip at one or two resorts. 2 trillion baht is a lot of money in any country. going from 700 mill thb to 2 trillion in a few years is a pretty tall order and real wishfull thinking and truely unrealistic. That being said, Thailands only chance at hitting this lofty goal is getting the Big casinos here. Sands, MGM, or one of Steve Wynns Encores Or they could just offer free 30 day tourist visa's again. They may have gave up on that to early. Edited July 15, 2012 by dcutman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai at Heart Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 The only way Thailand is going to attract big spenders, clean up all the trash everywhere, paint everything in tastefull colors, and allow big casino's to operate here. You dont have to leagalize gambling everywhere, only in certain and specific areas, just as many other countries do. At least for the foreseeable, with the economy as it is, asians are the ones with the money, and its not the ones coming here now on budget tours. Before everybody freeks out and say all the locals will spen everydime they have. Singapore seems to have a pretty good system to prevent that. By definition, the big spenders don't want to sit with the riff raff, and want clean organized efficient luxury wherever they go. Where do tuk tuks, stinky drains and "hey u, fut masaj" fit into this unless they are never to venture out if their resorts? Big spenders have a car waiting from them at the airport to drive them to their resort where everything is organized for them. They can stay one week without feeling the need to get out. And if they want to get out, they go the concierge who book them a van who is going to drive them wherever they want and is going to make sure they won't be botherer by any beggar or any other form of low life. Some resorts have even better than a private beach, they have a boat who take you to their private island where you can spend the day relaxing without being bother by anybody but nice waiter and waitress ... That's my point, outside their private resorts, the rest is a very underwhelming experience. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaka Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 When will they get the simple point that if they stop concentrating so much on extracting as much money as possible from people then people might actually spend more. When I am relaxed and having fun and not feeling harassed / extorted I don't pay too much attention to how much I am spending. When I feeling pressured to open my wallet, I get irritated and stop spending money. Thailand - try to make people feel contented and happy and the money will follow. Keep going the way you are, and people will not return. Simple. I genuinely believe, that coupled with a localized concept of intelligence (whereby the smartest man/woman is the one who outfoxes the other out of money), that they have a seriously deluded understanding of the concept of quality in Thailand. You make a great point. They talk about attracting money without offering the slightest clue as to how they plan to draw the high-flying individuals that have earned that money (and, in all likelihood, have a fairly good, if recently acquired, understanding of value in the marketplace). In everything from condos to education to the airport, shortcuts are taken and quality control measures ignored. Until Thais understand the concept of value, they won't be able to do this. The only people in the Kingdom that you see driving Ferraris or Lamborghinis are Thais. No foreigner would invest more than a million USD for a vehicle that would only cost a fraction of that price in their home country. That's an extreme example, but anyone who cares about buying quality clothing, household utensils, or basically anything of reasonable craftsmanship has been lamenting the outrageous prices on foreign, "luxury" (in quotes because this basically just means foreign) products that result of extortionate tariffs. It wouldn't be a problem if the Thai side were able to offer products of even remotely comparable quality. Re. exotic cars, Ferraris and the like, a lot of those have not cost the present owners much as most of them are government officials who have simply confiscated cars others have tried to import into this country. Just look at the Ferrari owners club here, how many of the members are police officers. And then think how long would an honest policeman have to work here to be able to buy a Ferrari? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surin steve Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 The people in charge of T A T live in a different world to the ordinary tourists who come to Thailand they keep banging on about improving this and cleaning up the image of this place and that place when will they take there heads out the sand and realise that the majority of tourists who come to Thailand are male and what are they coming for sex cheap booze and a good time if they really want to turn things around and get back to the good old days when you couldn't find an empty seat in the bars of walking street and all the hotel rooms where full every night they need to start putting the fun back they have been shooting them selfs in the foot over and over again these last 10 years with there stupid no alcohol days hassles with visa's and there rules and regulations it's about time they realised what there assets are Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notstupid30 Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 With these sort of ads i don't think so same old same old been shown on the tv these days with the same old values... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnqIQC6vXhQ&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL3470E58E1A7C97C8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29KyaYDb7JE&feature=related Top Destinations via http://www.tourismthailand.org/campaign/en/ Bangkok, Hua Hin, Phuket , Chiang Mai, Samui, nothing what so ever about Pattaya what a suprise .. but in top search number 3 ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai at Heart Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 (edited) The people in charge of T A T live in a different world to the ordinary tourists who come to Thailand they keep banging on about improving this and cleaning up the image of this place and that place when will they take there heads out the sand and realise that the majority of tourists who come to Thailand are male and what are they coming for sex cheap booze and a good time if they really want to turn things around and get back to the good old days when you couldn't find an empty seat in the bars of walking street and all the hotel rooms where full every night they need to start putting the fun back they have been shooting them selfs in the foot over and over again these last 10 years with there stupid no alcohol days hassles with visa's and there rules and regulations it's about time they realised what there assets are Maybe they can declare walking street a protectorate with a single entry stamp got 180 days at a time, but only one entry into Thailand per year for your own good Edited July 15, 2012 by Thai at Heart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notstupid30 Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 What an absolutely appalling video stuck in a hotel room seat on the bed hahaha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozfromoz Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 " high-spending tourists" all heading to singapore ^__^ It would be a good exercise to compare. Money doesn't go nearly as far because of the higher costs, however it is a popular destination. Is it because of its proximity to other destinations, or because there are (mostly) no scams? the place is safe for families, and stuff that people like to buy such as electronics are priced pretty good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozfromoz Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 The only way Thailand is going to attract big spenders, clean up all the trash everywhere, paint everything in tastefull colors, and allow big casino's to operate here. You dont have to leagalize gambling everywhere, only in certain and specific areas, just as many other countries do. At least for the foreseeable, with the economy as it is, asians are the ones with the money, and its not the ones coming here now on budget tours. Before everybody freeks out and say all the locals will spen everydime they have. Singapore seems to have a pretty good system to prevent that. Yep - the C word..........Casino. Works for Singapore. They sting the locals $100 to enter.By definition, the big spenders don't want to sit with the riff raff, and want clean organized efficient luxury wherever they go. Where do tuk tuks, stinky drains and "hey u, fut masaj" fit into this unless they are never to venture out if their resorts? Not sure if you read the first part of my post. "Clean up the trash everywhere" is kind of a broad statement, but I dont like to type either.Of course high rollers do often spend an entire trip at one or two resorts. 2 trillion baht is a lot of money in any country. going from 700 mill thb to 2 trillion in a few years is a pretty tall order and real wishfull thinking and truely unrealistic. That being said, Thailands only chance at hitting this lofty goal is getting the Big casinos here. Sands, MGM, or one of Steve Wynns Encores Or they could just offer free 30 day tourist visa's again. They may have gave up on that to early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai at Heart Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 What an absolutely appalling video stuck in a hotel room seat on the bed hahaha If that's what they gave got they obviously need a bigger budget.lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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