Yingluck Urges T A T To Attract More ' High-End Tourists' Into Thailand

[webfact]

PM urges shift towards high-end tourists

BANGKOK, 22 March 2013 (NNT) - The prime minister has urged the Tourism Authority of Thailand to attract more "high-end tourists" into the country.

According to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, only 20 per cent of foreign tourists last year were from "high-end" markets. She urged the TAT to introduce measures to increase the proportion to 30 per cent.

She also asked the TAT to introduce measures to extend tourists' length of stay from five days to six days, and to keep the total number of tourists to an appropriate level in order to prevent deterioration of natural resources and overcrowding at Suvarnabhumi international airport.

Last year, Thailand saw a record number of 22.4 million tourists. The number makes it the 11th most popular destination in the world, and the 3rd in Asia behind China and Malaysia.

However, the average spending of a tourist is only 3,000 baht, or about 100 US dollars, per day.


-- NNT 2013-03-22

[kurnell]

How about an improvement of services before Thailand thinks of increasing high end tourists. I should think that wealthy tourists aren't interested in dealing with the neanderthals lurking in/outside Suvarnabhumi for a start.

[weescotsguy66]

So this means it will be open to exploit all tourist and try and drain as much out of their pockets as possible in order to get them to spend more money without getting higher quality service or goods.

After all if you can raise prices by at least 20% or even 30% without a dent in the attendance to Thailand this will be seen as a success and more reason to give tax incentives to the Issan people just before the next election

[ratcatcher]

Good, get the Hi So High End tourists all you like. Pick them up at Swampy, Phuket etc drop them at the local top end resort where they will be waited on hand and foot, fed expensive foods and wines, pampered in spas and other facilities and at the end of their stay they will return to their country having only come in contact with the hotel and airline staff but thinking how Amazing Thailand really is..

On the other hand, the middle class travelers, move around in smaller numbers by car, train bus etc and contact more of the local people and leave more cash in the hands of locals instead of international hotel and resort chains.

At the extreme, but very valuable other end of the spectrum we have the so called 'sex tourists' who flock to Pattaya, Patong, Bangkok etc and who spend large amounts of money on local hotels, food, alcohol and occasionally the odd Thai poo ying if they can find one. All types of tourists are equally important for Thailand's success as a travel destination.

Edited March 22, 2013 by ratcatcher

[Pimay1]

That is one of the most condescending statements about tourists i have ever hear a PM of any country say. If she is going to say this it should said in private to the TAT executives. Thinking like a hi-so and speaking like a hi-so.

[A_Traveller]

Oh good ... grief. Next she will suggest that that all get a plastic card which will give them privileges .....

Edited March 22, 2013 by A_Traveller

[belg]

they could always re-introduce that gold card scam ...

good luck wîth a strong baht and a trip to the international land of hookers becomes more and more costly with currencies dropping in value and a world recession

[TheGhostWithin]

I see that the PMs computer (of which, the password seems to be part of the handover of power process seems to also include giving over the password) has had its' annual "announce we want more "quality tourists" reminder come up.

What is a quality tourist? Is it someone who does not commit crime? Is it someone that brings their family? Is it someone who spends a lot of money?

Some do not commit crimes, but stay in cheap places and could be considered wonderful visitors to Thailand. Some bring their families, and expect more than they get and often go home from Thailand disappointed. Thailand is not as family friendly as it thinks it is, or as it hopes to be. The third group are sex tourists, who tend to stay in various types of hotels, and spend a lot more than the first and debatably more than the second group. They tend to stay for short periods, spend their money and go.

Thailand seems to want families with large amounts of money, keep it clean whilst they are here, spend all of their savings as fast as possible, and go home. They do not seem too focused on the experience they are providing to any of the three above mentioned groups. They do not seem to realise that each of the three above groups ensure that a wide variety of the Thai population have employment and experience profits if they are business owners. As mentioned above, the type of tourists the establishment want to encourage are not the type of tourists really interested in seeing anything beyond the leaning Buddha and Chatuchak market. They will not stay at your mom and pop backpackers, or small boutique hotel, they will generally only stay at very expensive, foreign controlled hotels which pay minimal amounts to their staff, and eat at very expensive western restaurants with "fusion" Thai food.

Do they want to share their culture, and promote good feeling about their country or do they just want to fleece you for as much as possible? In my country one of the most important things we provide in our tourist industry is the freedom to choose what type of traveler they want to be, and allow them the freedom to do so. How much they spend is their business, everyone is welcome from the busloads of Chinese who spend their days in Chinese owned hotels and restaurants, to the German and English backpackers who stay in cheaper places, and spend less, but go home feeling so happy they encourage their friends to come the next year. Know your tourist.

[ZhouZhou]

... to keep the total number of tourists to an appropriate level in order to prevent deterioration of natural resources and overcrowding at Suvarnabhumi international airport.

less is more.

[A_Traveller]

Not in Thailand, less is more [charges to each] or preferably more is more but still charge more.

Greed the TAT way.

[rfukata]

How about an improvement of services before Thailand thinks of increasing high end tourists. I should think that wealthy tourists aren't interested in dealing with the neanderthals lurking in/outside Suvarnabhumi for a start.

? Peking man is already established here.

[EyesWideOpen]

Not sure this program is going well. Thailand seems to be flooded

with Chinese and Russians on budget tour packages, and then throw in

the Indians on top of that. Definitely would not make me want to

open a five star restaurant here.. :-)

[AloisAmrein]

What about first improving services to tourists and wipe out cheating and scams to tourists, e.g. jet ski scams in Pattaya and Phuket? In Feb. I was in a hotel in Roi Et, they not even provided a towel on request in the room... really more then poor service.

Another concern are the visa regulations, which are a real nightmare in comparison to other countries, e.g. overstay fines already when overstaying 1 or 2 days. And of course the harassing of tourists by corrupt police, which is increasing. All this is not adapted to attract more wealthy tourists. To promote tourism TAT should learn from European countries. TAT is generally quite useless, poor leavlets, poor information.

A 3rd concern are the rising prices in Thailand, in neighbouring countries you get definitively more for your money, e.g. in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar.

[gtm2k]

Oh good ... grief. Next she will suggest that that all get a plastic card which will give them privileges .....

Its getting there bro !

[ZhouZhou]

Not in Thailand, less is more [charges to each] or preferably more is more but still charge more.

Greed the TAT way.

less tourists is more environmental friendly.

[zappalot]

...keep the total number of tourists to an appropriate level in order to prevent deterioration...

Someone who believe her? If then I want to see the fool doing so...

[teacherofwoe]

Yingluck Urges T A T To Attract More ' High-End Tourists' Into Thailand

Emphysema is available at the moment in smoggy Thailand. Why not get that into a slogan to attract high- end tourist.

[ZhouZhou]

Not sure this program is going well. Thailand seems to be flooded

with Chinese and Russians on budget tour packages, and then throw in

the Indians on top of that. Definitely would not make me want to

open a five star restaurant here.. :-)

Got any problems with Chinese, Russians and Indians?

[hgma]

Laos is waiting in vain, even willing to let go of the entry visa regulation.

they don't mind high end tourists, everybody feels welcome!

[A_Traveller]

Not in Thailand, less is more [charges to each] or preferably more is more but still charge more.

Greed the TAT way.

less tourists is more environmental friendly.

I understood the point, I'd just respectfully suggest that the vacation business community here sees little benefit in a "leave only footprints" or "leave the natural environment for our grandchildren" approach.

[Thai at Heart]

They are actually doing quite well to get20 percent. It's hardly Monaco out there is it.

[TheGhostWithin]

Not sure this program is going well. Thailand seems to be flooded

with Chinese and Russians on budget tour packages, and then throw in

the Indians on top of that. Definitely would not make me want to

open a five star restaurant here.. :-)

Got any problems with Chinese, Russians and Indians?

ZhouZhou, I think that his point was the fact that Chinese and Indians, as well as many (but not all) Russians tend to on average spend a lot less than Americans, Brits, Aussies, Swiss and Kiwis. He doesn't have a problem, he is communicating fact. Quality is not quality in Thailand, it is generally about getting people to spend more. quality actually means higher spending in Thailand. Quality Tourist means Higher Spending tourist.

[EyesWideOpen]

Not sure this program is going well. Thailand seems to be flooded

with Chinese and Russians on budget tour packages, and then throw in

the Indians on top of that. Definitely would not make me want to

open a five star restaurant here.. :-)

Got any problems with Chinese, Russians and Indians?

Nope I love them all. Simply pointing out the fact they are generally

on packaged tours, and would not even remotely fit into a definition of a "

high end tourist" as outlined by Yingluck.... Next question ??

[Xonax]

Most High-end tourists demand a high-end destination without any scams and with a proper justice system for foreigners! When will the clean-up take place?

As soon as you move outside your high-end resort or hotel, you get the real Thailand right in your face. Specifically in, but not limited to, Phuket, Pattaya, Samui and Bangkok.

Edited March 22, 2013 by Xonax

[laurentbkk]

how can you attract high end tourist if you dont have anything to attract them .... that's the question they should ask themselves .

[camo007]

Complete rubbish... Attract high end tourists by becoming a high end destination and remove all corruption and crime by Police etc. against tourists.

[jaiyen]

They are complaining that the average tourist only spends $100 a day ! That is more than enough for a

comfortable day. We have never spent more than that on average for 2 people and that includes 3 star hotel, food, drink and transport over a 2 or 3 week period. Oh Dear ! They only want us to stay for 6 days now.

I am sure some people have had enough after 5 days.

[A_Traveller]

Maybe reduce the somewhat bizarre 2,000 THB littering fine which is so enthusiastically enforced on travellers to the kingdom.

It is truly weird to observe the almost furtive machinations [hushed radio calls, coordination which would win praise at a secret squirrel convention], of a team of officers waiting to catch the desperate criminal fraternity known as the cigarette end depositor. A crime so heinous that their immediate and surprisingly public [see lower Sukhumvit for example] capture, castigation and fiscal redistribution is a wonder to behold.

And no I've not been a victim of such enforcement, in case someone wonders. Remember dodgy gems good, litter bad.

Welcome to TAT approved Thailand.

Edited March 22, 2013 by A_Traveller

[fareastguy]

The problem being the "HI-So tourist" is looking for the "real deal" not knock off fake products from China, also something more than a pit stop for a beer, crap street food & an all night shagging center (or short term room)

[ZhouZhou]

Not sure this program is going well. Thailand seems to be flooded

with Chinese and Russians on budget tour packages, and then throw in

the Indians on top of that. Definitely would not make me want to

open a five star restaurant here.. :-)

Got any problems with Chinese, Russians and Indians?

ZhouZhou, I think that his point was the fact that Chinese and Indians, as well as many (but not all) Russians tend to on average spend a lot less than Americans, Brits, Aussies, Swiss and Kiwis. He doesn't have a problem, he is communicating fact. Quality is not quality in Thailand, it is generally about getting people to spend more. quality actually means higher spending in Thailand. Quality Tourist means Higher Spending tourist.

Chinese tourist spend less money in beer bars or what? and that is a problem.

according to what some members said here on the board, members from the countries you mentioned above as the bigger spenders, they hesitate to spend money on anything Asian made and prefer imported products from their english speaking people countries because they believe its better.