Where Are All The Swedish, Danish And Northern European Friends This Year?

[honoluabay]

Rumor has it that they are all waiting til April to start coming here... is it me or the New Tourist that are taking over Phuket . Is this the beginning of this problem or are we just going to get worse. Some Hi end home owners are thinking of banning this New Tourist from Renting at all.

When sitting at the pool I saw little boy w/ family (Renting) standing on the edge taking a pee into the pool. The family did nothing. Nada zip nothing.

What to do w/ the New Tourists ?

[hansgruber]

New tourists = Russians?

[pagallim]

Decline in European numbers has been happening over the last 4 years or so, driven primarily by poor home economies, and that now coupled with a less than favourable exchange rate with the baht. Russians are merely filling the void from previous nationalities as their economy is still strong, and their own home package tour and airline industry is becoming more mature.

I think that the current expanding commercialism of the west coast tourist areas will put a lot of westerners off, to the benefit of other areas such as Khao Lak, Krabi, Hua Hin, Samui, Koh Chang etc etc.

Russians, Indians, Chinese and Koreans (the RICK partnership ) is the future for Patong, Kata and Karon methinks.

[falkan]

Swedish, Danish And Northern European dont like russians, so they go somewhere else..

Edited February 15, 2013 by falkan

[Paangjang]

Swedish, Danish And Northern European dont like russians, so they go somewhere else..

Where? Khao Lak? Krabi? Chiang mai? Its a good question.

[madmitch]

There are still plenty of Scandinavians in the Kata/Karon area but certainly not in the numbers they used to be.

As for April onwards; no chance. They go to Southern Europe at that time.

Agree with Pagallim: the demographic has changed and will continue to do so.

[glegolo]

Swedish, Danish And Northern European dont like russians, so they go somewhere else..

Spot on,

Glegolo

(swedish)

[Jimi007]

I just was talking to several Thai business people today and tonight. They don't like the Russians. Two said that they don't spend any money. Of course that all depends on the individual from anywhere, I suppose. The same people say I'm cheap! But they still like me after all these years, unlike the new comers...

[rekkie]

Swedes on eastern seaboard Laem Mae Pim...

Scots in bars everywhere!

[pagallim]

[

I just was talking to several Thai business people today and tonight. They don't like the Russians. Two said that they don't spend any money. Of course that all depends on the individual from anywhere, I suppose. The same people say I'm cheap! But they still like me after all these years, unlike the new comers...

I do have sympathy with any business in the west/south west coast at the moment, as this seems to be a recurring theme for Russian clientele. That said, I'll also admit to a smile in that for several years there's been an effort made through the media to create awareness of the effect of overcharging and aggression demonstrated by various vendors, and the potential impact it would make on future business.

That was ignored, and the result is the current change of market forces. Without wishing to sound biblical in any way, but what's the expression? Something like 'what thou shall sow thou shall reap'?

Russians are also very well versed in making their own parties (not a tremendous amount of pubs/bars etc) so buying drink and having a party in the room/villa is normal.

[Muggi1968]

Swedish, Danish And Northern European dont like russians, so they go somewhere else..

Nonsense... We have absolutely nothing against the Russians. The cold war ended 20 Years ago.

We just like to see more authentic Thailand. So when a place get overcrowded by tourist we prefer

to find new places to spend our money.

P.s

I am not a tourist :-)

Edited February 15, 2013 by Muggi1968

[Jimi007]

[

I just was talking to several Thai business people today and tonight. They don't like the Russians. Two said that they don't spend any money. Of course that all depends on the individual from anywhere, I suppose. The same people say I'm cheap! But they still like me after all these years, unlike the new comers...

I do have sympathy with any business in the west/south west coast at the moment, as this seems to be a recurring theme for Russian clientele. That said, I'll also admit to a smile in that for several years there's been an effort made through the media to create awareness of the effect of overcharging and aggression demonstrated by various vendors, and the potential impact it would make on future business.

That was ignored, and the result is the current change of market forces. Without wishing to sound biblical in any way, but what's the expression? Something like 'what thou shall sow thou shall reap'?

Russians are also very well versed in making their own parties (not a tremendous amount of pubs/bars etc) so buying drink and having a party in the room/villa is normal.

I'm not talking taxis or tuk tuks. There is a Thai pizza vendor on a saleen that I was talking with tonight who said the same thing I've been hearing from restaurant and bar owners as well as hotel staff. But, then again, it doesn't really affect me. I don't make a thing from tourists, they only annoy me!

[bobobo]

Concerning Scandinavians : A lot of bad reports from the press and television, expensive baht, been there,done that.

It's now cheaper to go to Mexico and the West Indies etc than before and it's a 4 hour shorter flight. Turkey is very cheap and getting more and more popular..

[pagallim]

I'm not talking taxis or tuk tuks. There is a Thai pizza vendor on a saleen that I was talking with tonight who said the same thing I've been hearing from restaurant and bar owners as well as hotel staff. But, then again, it doesn't really affect me. I don't make a thing from tourists, they only annoy me!

I agree Jimi. However, I think that Russians do spend money, the problem is that they need to know what they're spending it on. Communication is a major, major issue, and hence their preference to buy a bunch of booze/food and head back to their accommodation for a party rather than use local outlets. Transport is similar. To beat the taxi/tuk tuk cartels, I also hear what they're doing is making their own co-operative single car hire, maybe 10 or 12 people sharing a car for essentials/grocery runs.

Have to smile. These people are descendants of those who defended Stalingrad. Do you seriously think that a taxi blockade is going to stop them from doing what they want to do? Never going to happen.

[fasteddie]

Decline in European numbers has been happening over the last 4 years or so, driven primarily by poor home economies, and that now coupled with a less than favourable exchange rate with the baht. Russians are merely filling the void from previous nationalities as their economy is still strong, and their own home package tour and airline industry is becoming more mature.

I think that the current expanding commercialism of the west coast tourist areas will put a lot of westerners off, to the benefit of other areas such as Khao Lak, Krabi, Hua Hin, Samui, Koh Chang etc etc.

Russians, Indians, Chinese and Koreans (the RICK partnership ) is the future for Patong, Kata and Karon methinks.

You can rule out krabi,the savages are here already. Worst thing that ever happened was the fall of the iron curtain.

Edited February 15, 2013 by fasteddie

[starkey_rich]

Decline in European numbers has been happening over the last 4 years or so, driven primarily by poor home economies, and that now coupled with a less than favourable exchange rate with the baht. Russians are merely filling the void from previous nationalities as their economy is still strong, and their own home package tour and airline industry is becoming more mature.

I think that the current expanding commercialism of the west coast tourist areas will put a lot of westerners off, to the benefit of other areas such as Khao Lak, Krabi, Hua Hin, Samui, Koh Chang etc etc.

Russians, Indians, Chinese and Koreans (the RICK partnership ) is the future for Patong, Kata and Karon methinks.

You can rule out krabi,the savages are here already. Worst thing that ever happened was the fall of the iron curtain.

And Samui, the place is full of them.Hua hin and down the east coast not so bad.

The place I am in has never seen one and there are lot of Scandaholigans here.Obviously the Scandanavians prefer a more laid back place rather than what Phuket has become.

[grumpyoldman]

Quite a good source of information on this can be found on Bill Barnett's C9 network website. He has demographic graphs.

Exchange rates play a large part , combine that with an economic slow down in the Eurozone and as another poster mentioned, most of the Scando/Euros will wait till high season rates pass and then they'll show up.

Regarding the Russians, without them and the Chinese, we would have had no tourists last and very few this year. I realize many of you do not take part in the Phuket economics other than buying food at Villa and might say "good", but some of us are making a go at earning bahts here.

And really you guys, the Russian bashing going on in many threads here is getting super old................how about Arabs? Lets bash on them for a bit " a stoning, a stoning"! (great Monty Python bit).

[honoluabay]

First thing I never said ( Russian ) but New Tourists that can mean anyone. The TV people have made it very clear that theses tourists are and will ruin Phuket for sure. Leaving a waste land of empty shop houses and the rental market in shambles in its path. Its been done before, I am from Hawai'I and back in the 80's it was the Japanese and then in the '2000 the Chinese. We were lucky and some what made it thru but still trying to come back. And yes Russians are coming there as well, not at the volume as it is here but they will come. Having New money does not mean I'm a savvy tourist, just the opposite.

Aloha

[N47HAN]

Off topic but a litte tired of all the bashing going on so..

I personally don't have the occasion to meet Russian Tourists , however we have as a company dealt with quite a few Russian expats , from my experience all of them were nice and easy going people. Maybe ive just met the good ones , but i have nothing against them.

[pagallim]

First thing I never said ( Russian ) but New Tourists that can mean anyone. The TV people have made it very clear that theses tourists are and will ruin Phuket for sure. Leaving a waste land of empty shop houses and the rental market in shambles in its path.

Aloha

Quite disingenuous of you to use the term 'New Tourists' whilst is was clear to everyone that you meant Russians. I don't see how you are making a relation between Russians and empty shop houses (which are the result of lack of building planning control and driven by Thai greed). I think the rental market would be in severe decline were it not for the number of Russians that are currently renting, as there isn't anyone else clamouring to reside here long term.

On the subject of rental market, I believe that some Scandinavian countries (Denmark in particular) are revising the social benefits paid to their nationals, in particular their nationals who reside outside the European Union. These countries have quite generous benefits, particularly for disability etc, which has allowed quite a few to in effect retire here. I know of one in particular who's having to head back to Denmark in April because he'll no longer have the funds to remain here.

[taninthai]

Loads of swedes and Danish over ao nang it's the busiest February I have seen in 5 Years has been a shortage of rooms around ao nang for the last couple of weeks,few russians around and all the ones I seem to meet are nice as pie

[jocko]

I'm not talking taxis or tuk tuks. There is a Thai pizza vendor on a saleen that I was talking with tonight who said the same thing I've been hearing from restaurant and bar owners as well as hotel staff. But, then again, it doesn't really affect me. I don't make a thing from tourists, they only annoy me!

I agree Jimi. However, I think that Russians do spend money, the problem is that they need to know what they're spending it on. Communication is a major, major issue, and hence their preference to buy a bunch of booze/food and head back to their accommodation for a party rather than use local outlets. Transport is similar. To beat the taxi/tuk tuk cartels, I also hear what they're doing is making their own co-operative single car hire, maybe 10 or 12 people sharing a car for essentials/grocery runs.

Have to smile. These people are descendants of those who defended Stalingrad. Do you seriously think that a taxi blockade is going to stop them from doing what they want to do? Never going to happen.

I agree the Russian is no slouch at standing up for himself we only have to think about the hard times they have had in the past.

Is it, not normal when you can't speak a language and have no idea what is been said around you stick with you own kind I have seen this in many parts of the world I remember in Spain in the 60s not many locals could speak English and we lazy Brits couldn't speak Spanish ..

I often wonder what help and advice the Russians get from there tour guide for example telling them on the Kings birthday you can't buy Vodka or Whiskey etc not much methinks

The local Thai bars and food sellers will see a big difference between Russians and the tourist's of old who were more free spending and generous but they will have to get used to it as Mr&Mrs Russia are here to stay and they spend money .

Same Same but different

[pagallim]

The local Thai bars and food sellers will see a big difference between Russians and the tourist's of old who were more free spending and generous but they will have to get used to it as Mr&Mrs Russia are here to stay and they spend money .

Same Same but different

There's a significant lack of ethnic restaurants in most of Russia, so the hot and spicy content of Thai food will be quite alien to them. Doesn't mean that they won't get used to it, only that apart from not understanding a Thai or English menu, difficult for (some of) them to communicate with waiting staff. Think that's why they stock up with piles of snack food from the 24 hour grocery outlets.

[jocko]

The local Thai bars and food sellers will see a big difference between Russians and the tourist's of old who were more free spending and generous but they will have to get used to it as Mr&Mrs Russia are here to stay and they spend money .

Same Same but different

There's a significant lack of ethnic restaurants in most of Russia, so the hot and spicy content of Thai food will be quite alien to them. Doesn't mean that they won't get used to it, only that apart from not understanding a Thai or English menu, difficult for (some of) them to communicate with waiting staff. Think that's why they stock up with piles of snack food from the 24 hour grocery outlets.

The other night I was in in Restaurant and there was 4 Russian trying to order a meal now the place in question had a menu in Russian and the Russian could speak reasonable English there was a Salmon dish in the menu and of course photo of the meal the Thai waiter was trying to explain Salmon after about ten minutes the Russian conceded by saying OK there is no Salmon in Russian and surely that can't be true so a compromise was made and he got his Salmon and I notice this happened with smiles all round even from me

[pagallim]

Salmon is readily available anywhere in Russia, in fact one of my favourite Russian dishes is a fillet of salmon, coated with a mix of chopped boiled eggs and mushrooms, and wrapped in a pastry case (like a beef wellington) and baked.

[grumpyoldman]

Salmon is readily available anywhere in Russia, in fact one of my favourite Russian dishes is a fillet of salmon, coated with a mix of chopped boiled eggs and mushrooms, and wrapped in a pastry case (like a beef wellington) and baked.

Whoa, that sounds excellent !

[jocko]

Salmon is readily available anywhere in Russia, in fact one of my favourite Russian dishes is a fillet of salmon, coated with a mix of chopped boiled eggs and mushrooms, and wrapped in a pastry case (like a beef wellington) and baked.

Mokba here I come.

[hansgruber]

Some sexy Russian gals on the beach.

Much better looking than old fat Klaus and Anneke from Stuttgart.

I think we should pick on the shortcomings of Chinese tourists. Russians have nothing on them in regards to frugal spending.

[pagallim]

Salmon is readily available anywhere in Russia, in fact one of my favourite Russian dishes is a fillet of salmon, coated with a mix of chopped boiled eggs and mushrooms, and wrapped in a pastry case (like a beef wellington) and baked.

Whoa, that sounds excellent !

I worked and lived in Russia for a couple of years, and where possible used Russian recipes and locally available produce. This salmon dish is actually called Kulebiaka. Recipe I used here:

http://www.ruscuisin...seafood/n--504/

[hansgruber]

Looks ok. I was under the impression they only ate potatoes and turnips.