Wsj Reports "the 'chollywood Effect'" Today

[OldChinaHam]

Today in the Wall Street Journal, we can read here http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2013/05/29/chollywood-drives-chinese-tourists-to-thailand/ an article in WSJ's Life & Style section which discusses the impact of the Chinese film industry on the GDP of Thailand.

Here is just a short excerpt from the article:

"Move over, Hollywood. China’s movie industry, or “Chollywood,” is getting so influential it can now save another country from recession.

Net travel revenue doubled to 9% of Thailand’s GDP today from five years ago—and like in so much else, the new demand comes from China. Visitors from the mainland jumped 93% year-over-year between January and April.

Bangkok this week emerged as the world’s top tourism destination, and for the recent visitors, Thailand can especially thank the 2012 box-office-hit “Lost in Thailand.” Consider that comedy China’s version of “The Hangover II,” except the movie makes Thailand seem charming, not seedy. The Thai prime minister was so grateful she even invited the movie’s director for a recent meeting."

If anything will happen, we can be sure that in Chiang Mai we will continue to enjoy an increasing influx of Chinese flocking across the border to spend much money in Chiang Mai.

Forward thinking individuals now need to prepare to cash in on the flow of wealth descending upon us.

I for one am definitely thinking of this.

And I have been thinking of this for the past couple of months.

So does anyone here have good ideas how to profit from our Chinese windfall?

You know, it really should not matter if the economy turns sour in China

Because even if it does, there are just so many people up north of us that if only a small fraction are willing to travel and spend, then we still will not have the strength to carry all the earnings that could potentially be ours.

Another thing to keep in mind is that even if the Chinese economy turns sour, it might be a boon to Thailand, because those Chinese tourists who would have originally gone to more expensive destinations will rethink their plans and maybe visit Chiang Mai instead.

So again, does anyone here have any good ideas?

[ThaiSold]

I know how to profit from the chinese

[onthedarkside]

Moving to General

[eyecatcher]

We (I mean our business) cottoned onto this influx last October and we wasted no time employing a Thai from a local magazine here to write us a Chinese translation of our menus. That was a 1000bt expense that was literally repaid in an hour.

By December, we realised we needed another professional oil bed and massage mattress because the Chinese dont visit in ones and twos, they are travelling in groups of 3,4,5,6 and when they descend on your place managing them is very difficult, inparticular the language.

So another 10k baht outlay.....and it was no concern, it was repaid in a weekend.

I have to rotate with 3 banks on a daily basis to deposit money and to get change becasue I dont like to use the same bank every day.

its low season now, but we are taking more than we did last oct, nov and december; but I can confidently say if the Chinese were not coming I would have to consider renewing my lease next April. As it is only yesterday we met with our landlord to negotiate another 3yrs from April.

so we are confident and happy.

my g/f also just registered herself on a free 30hrs beginners Chinese course so she can meet and greet with something more than "nee how"

What we are discussing now, is how to get our website with the optional Chinese version....how ever much that is, its sure to be better than paying 1-2k a month to have brochures distributed in the city only to be ignored by backpackers becasue its way out of their price range.

so, heres to more of the same.

[KRS1]

Believe me, the Chinese are thinking the same thing - How will they profit from the Thais...

[heybruce]

The rich Chinese go to countries where they know the brand name goods are genuine, which isn't Thailand. The brand name goods sold in Thailand are usually made in China knock-offs.

Chiang Mai gets the budget Chinese tourists, and they make backpackers look like big spenders. Good luck trying to get rich off them.

[elektrified]

The rich Chinese go to countries where they know the brand name goods are genuine, which isn't Thailand. The brand name goods sold in Thailand are usually made in China knock-offs.

Chiang Mai gets the budget Chinese tourists, and they make backpackers look like big spenders. Good luck trying to get rich off them.

Actually a lot of the quality knock offs are being made in Thailand now. Just this last week, a couple of sellers have showed me Chinese knock offs and knock offs made in Thailand of the same products. The Thai made knock offs use higher quality zippers, stitching and so forth.

[OldChinaHam]

The rich Chinese go to countries where they know the brand name goods are genuine, which isn't Thailand. The brand name goods sold in Thailand are usually made in China knock-offs.

Chiang Mai gets the budget Chinese tourists, and they make backpackers look like big spenders. Good luck trying to get rich off them.

Actually a lot of the quality knock offs are being made in Thailand now. Just this last week, a couple of sellers have showed me Chinese knock offs and knock offs made in Thailand of the same products. The Thai made knock offs use higher quality zippers, stitching and so forth.

I agree. I would far prefer to have running shoes made in Thailand, Taiwan, or Vietnam, than anything coming out of China. Taiwan running shoes used to be great until production was moved to China. Adidas had a big factory in Taiwan 20 - 25 years ago. So maybe we can make money by selling Thai Knockoffs, as luxury goods, to the visiting Chinese when they come to Thailand?

But there must be better ideas than this, how to get rich from the Chinese visitors to Thailand, and Chiang Mai.