TAT workshop to find way for rise in quality tourists to 40%

[blazes]

quality tourists will just not choose thailand which is only known for its sex industry and counterfeits, not what quality tourists seek in their holidays.

all thailand has to offer are low taste attractions and entertainments and if you understand thai and know what they said behind the backs of all tourists, you see what is behind their superficiel smile

You and I must live in a different Thailand then! Maybe Thailand is nothing more than a sex industry for yourself. For other tourists/expats it might be more than that. Why don't you go out and explore this country and find out that it is more than Patpong, Phuket or Pattaya.

Hate to say it but it's a little idealistic to think that this "other" Thailand that isn't dressed in a mini-skirt and approaches unsolicited on nearly every street corner in nocturnal Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin (and every other accessible tourist area) captures the attention of the outside world. The nice side of Thailand is tucked away in the more remote corners of the country, requiring hours of travel and an esoteric awareness of the Kingdom's more pre-modern charms. Only those dedicated to such experiences ever find them. It's also getting easier to see these things without so much travel if you just go to Burma: all the gentle, Buddhist charm with none of the trappings of a society that is torn between mindless exploitation and greed and the one that HM the King so clearly remembers when he talks about his country.

Yes, well said. But Burma will soon be the second Thailand. All of corporate America/Europe are scrambling to "develop" the place. Enjoy it while you can.

[Just1Voice]

One of the problems with TAT is that they seem to be completely unaware of something called "The Internet", and the effect it has, is having, and will continue to have, on tourism in Thailand. I love Thailand. I live in CM, and I can't think of anywhere else I would rather live. But let's face it, the good things about Thailand rarely make the news on the internet, or international papers. But the bad ones sure do, and on a daily basis.

They really should log on and do a Google search of "Jet Ski Scams" and see how many hundreds of pages come up with stories and videos to back them up. Google "Thailand tut-tuk & taxi mafia" and read about all the rip offs, threats, beatings and whatnot that these have caused to foreigners. They should do a little checking on the "two-tiered pricing", and see how many people that has ticked off. Do some research on the "favorite hot spots" and read about nasty, polluted, disgustingly dirty beaches that people have encountered. They should check out the stories and videos that clearly show and indicate the totally corrupt police force that is in collusion with the mafia in these wonderful (not) vacation spots.

18 EU ambassadors have bluntly told them what the problems are, but you can be sure of one thing. The Thai will listen, smile, swear they are going to correct the problems, and within a week, all is forgotten. Why? Because no foreigner can really know what is good for Thailand. They simply don't understand "Thainess" Actually, I think most of us have a very good understanding of "Thainess". It's greed and blatant, in your face corruption and rip offs of any/every foreigner they can. It's gouging as much as they can from everyone they encounter, getting all the can today, and tomorrow will take care of itself. It's living with the attitude and belief that they are a "superior race", that they are never wrong, and if something does go wrong, it's always the fault of someone else, especially foreigners.

As I said, there are a lot of good, wonderful things about this country, but people don't see them. What they do see are the things that make them take Thailand off their list of potential vacation destinations and look for something else. And until TAT, once and for all, firmly addresses these things, they can forget about their tourist numbers going up, but will see them continue to fall. It's already happening in many places, but no one in TAT or the government will even acknowledge it.

And what will happen if/when these 18 EU reps finally get fed up with the b.s. from TAT and the government about cleaning up the problem while, in reality, doing nothing, and these EU countries start posting "warnings" or "advisories" on their websites to their citizens in regards to all these things? We all know the answer to that. Thai officials will rant, rave and scream that those "warnings" and "advisories" are a lie, and they "hurt the image of Thailand".

[amrishtony]

One point here, how will the "QUALITY TOURISTS" be chosen? or how will the immigration officers find out if a person entering Thailand is a quality tourist or not?

May be the next time you walk through immigration at Thai airports, a person needs to be well dressed or formally dressed?

[charmonman]

Anyone have anything nice to say about Thailand? Anyone?

Yes, it USED to be a really nice place.

[madmitch]

One point here, how will the "QUALITY TOURISTS" be chosen? or how will the immigration officers find out if a person entering Thailand is a quality tourist or not?

May be the next time you walk through immigration at Thai airports, a person needs to be well dressed or formally dressed?

On the back of the arrival card is the questionnaire regarding occupation, income etc. Perhaps they look at this and everyone above a certain income level is a quality tourist. So I would suggest everyone puts down they are in the highest income category when they enter Thailand so the quality traveller quota will be raised in their eyes. Job done.

As a previous poster said, a higher quality tourist is one that spends more money. And there you have it; the only thing anyone is really interested in is the amount of money that tourists are going to spend in Thailand.

[Thai at Heart]

Do tourists come to Thailand to buy real Rolexs or designer brands, no they buy them in their own countries from trustworthy retailers.

Will people visit night markets and buy the fake brand along with DVDs etc - of course they will, it's part of the holiday experience.

Does the prospect of being beaten up by drunken/drugged thug taxi/tuk-tuk/door-staff/Jet-ski Thais put people off Thailand's holiday resorts YES.

Does the seasonal reports of uninvestigated tourist deaths in resort locations give Thailand it's bad reputation - YES.

Seems that the debate needs to be on the basics rather than high thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and Belgian truffles on the pillow when the beds are turned down in the evening.

Hub of pipe-dreams.

they have a product that attracts only low end tourists, not by having 5 stars luxury hotels makes thailand a destination for quality tourists, this will never happen, thailand will always be taken as a paradise for backpackers and sex tourist. And they are proud of it

The really top end hotels are fabulous, it's the complete lack of a five star experience once outside the hotels that let's it all down.

[chooka]

One point here, how will the "QUALITY TOURISTS" be chosen? or how will the immigration officers find out if a person entering Thailand is a quality tourist or not?

May be the next time you walk through immigration at Thai airports, a person needs to be well dressed or formally dressed?

you will be required to place your wallet on the scales at the immigration counter.

[clockman]

Its a very good place for criminals to hide out!

[DiNiro]

Remember the police chief at the airport, locking up a well to do couple for suspected shoplifting, holding them in a crummy a short time hotel, introducing them to a fake lawyer, draining their bank account, then setting them free again without charges?

The Nigeria of Asia is what the place is being called.

[bangon04]

Anyone have anything nice to say about Thailand? Anyone?

Isn't that the function of the TAT???

[belg]

yes more middle and south american countries, meddelin, colombia cartels can come spend their maffia money here, same as russian are doing

quality customers

slight problems with drug imports, but that is negligent, as long as they come to spend their narco dollars here

[culicine]

Thinking back many a long year to holidays with a wife and young daughter were we quality tourists ? The day's activities revolved around my daughter so no boring bus trips, visits to ruins and so on. the evening ended with her bedtime and hopes of a decent movie on TV or in-house movie channel, no nights on the town or even body swerving the wife for a couple of hours.

We were quiet, respectable tourists, maybe even quality but a couple of young lads with money to spend and all the intention of doing so contributed more to an economy than we ever did.

TAT talks crap and their figures are even worse.

Yes, what TAT fails to see is that these so called high spending quality tourists (probably less than a few hundred thousand per year) will not simply replace the millions of spending 'low-quality' tourists. High rollers holiday elsewhere - where there are high quality resorts, clean beaches and food, excellent service and no scams, and casinos

TAT, and Thais in the tourism trade should instead focus on improving the holiday experience of ALL tourists - clamp down on scams and ripoffs for a start, tidy up the beaches (love the boracay pic btw), and improve the efficiency of services, including english language skills, and the quality of the transport systems and general environment.

[GreenSnapper]

Don't underestimate the quality tourists here!

For example the Western quality couple, where the oversized wife does some quality shopping at Paragon and her husband has some quality time at Nana in the meanwhile.

Thailand, the hub of quality!

[jpeg]

Beer bars sit on prime real estate in BKK and Pattaya. How long before theyre torn down. Its already started in Bangers. Pattaya next?

One can dream.

[Suffinator]

It is not implausible for the Thais to attract high-quality tourists with mega bucks. First thing that needs doing is to cut our corruption and scams... Oh ok it is implausible - let's move on.

Whoever came up with the saying that you can't teach and old dog new tricks would have had Thailand in mind. All the signs are there; media provides raw coverage and yet despite the obvious the Thais simply ignore the facts and continue with what they know... scams and corruption. - Typical example -

Thai Officials Scared of Arresting Powerful Figures Involved in Land Corruption on Phuket

[chrisinth]

Every time I hear there is another drive by TAT for 'quality' high-end tourists, thinking this will increase their imaginary financial goals, it literally makes me cringe.

Generally, the only places that profit from this level of tourist are the hotels or resorts that they are staying in. These are not the tourists that put money back into the communities. These are visitors who eat all their meals in the hotels, go where they are driven by their limousines and normally molly-cuddled for their entire holiday.

The tourists who put the money back into the communities are the workers and middle class, who find it normal to eat out and basically enjoy themselves in a normal manor.

If this is overlooked by TAT, then their targets will always remain out of reach.

IMHO, off course..........

[DiNiro]

Every time I hear there is another drive by TAT for 'quality' high-end tourists, thinking this will increase their imaginary financial goals, it literally makes me cringe.

Generally, the only places that profit from this level of tourist are the hotels or resorts that they are staying in. These are not the tourists that put money back into the communities. These are visitors who eat all their meals in the hotels, go where they are driven by their limousines and normally molly-cuddled for their entire holiday.

The tourists who put the money back into the communities are the workers and middle class, who find it normal to eat out and basically enjoy themselves in a normal manor.

If this is overlooked by TAT, then their targets will always remain out of reach.

IMHO, off course..........

Well, a large hotel may have over 800 local staff, purhases mass quantities of local supplies so they do contribute to the economy.

[DocN]

I begin to wonder: does the chairman of the TAT have compromising videos of the chief= editor of The Nation in his basement?

Why is it, that every other week, TAT can pump out BS like this and just goes to The Nation 1:1?

And to the TAT: if you want quality customers you have to ffer a quality product. Quality, by the standard of your CUSTOMERS, not the standard of YOURSELF! Regarding TAT, Thailand is heaven on Earth, pristine beaches, crystal- clear waters, untouched jungle, sight that have "no equal" in all the world and a wonderful, stress- free, holiday -experience.

Care to ask what the customer thinks about this?

[jackr]

How's about concentrating on the tourist you have regardless of 'quality'? Make sure they are kept safe and have good value than dragging in as many as possible to reach a target. You could make a start by educating your people not to rip foreigners off by default.

[mrtoad]

Every time I hear there is another drive by TAT for 'quality' high-end tourists, thinking this will increase their imaginary financial goals, it literally makes me cringe.

Generally, the only places that profit from this level of tourist are the hotels or resorts that they are staying in. These are not the tourists that put money back into the communities. These are visitors who eat all their meals in the hotels, go where they are driven by their limousines and normally molly-cuddled for their entire holiday.

The tourists who put the money back into the communities are the workers and middle class, who find it normal to eat out and basically enjoy themselves in a normal manor.

If this is overlooked by TAT, then their targets will always remain out of reach.

IMHO, off course..........

That makes far too much sens for the idiots at <deleted> TAT

[ginjag]

Quality tourists DO contribute to the economy even though they are all normally-pre booked tours, As pointed out where they stay the staff are paid and spend locally OR send money UP North.

Problem with TAT is their upper class type of thinking, they nevr stop promoting B/S like this instead of looking after the people already here or who will just take a flight and stay in moderatly priced G/houses.

EVERY tourist is a Quality person important to Thailand, Take care of them you silly people, get off your high horses,and think of what the everyday tourists needs are, In other words cater for all types.

[hellodolly]

Every time I hear there is another drive by TAT for 'quality' high-end tourists, thinking this will increase their imaginary financial goals, it literally makes me cringe.

Generally, the only places that profit from this level of tourist are the hotels or resorts that they are staying in. These are not the tourists that put money back into the communities. These are visitors who eat all their meals in the hotels, go where they are driven by their limousines and normally molly-cuddled for their entire holiday.

The tourists who put the money back into the communities are the workers and middle class, who find it normal to eat out and basically enjoy themselves in a normal manor.

If this is overlooked by TAT, then their targets will always remain out of reach.

IMHO, off course..........

Well, a large hotel may have over 800 local staff, purhases mass quantities of local supplies so they do contribute to the economy.

Agreed.

But the point is that for every 5,000 baht the quality tourists spend it only affects half as many people as if it was being spent by back packers.

[dunque]

Nice photo, of Boracay.

you should try google image search - this suggests it is Wasana Resort Ranong

http://www.zoover.com/thailand/thailand/ranong/wasana-resort/bungalow/photos

[PaullyW]

Interesting read on the topic.

http://meebal.com/why-is-thailand-failing-to-lure-wealthy-expats-in-greater-numbers/

[PaullyW]

deleted double post

[PaullyW]

deleted triple post

[dunque]

The TAT workshop is looking at getting 'quality tourists'.

Dictionary definition of Tat:

Tat Noun. 1. Rubbish, junk. Abb. of tatty.

Used to refer to the kind of junk sold by crafty Cockneys to unsuspecting tourists in central London.

e.g. "You can't wear that old jacket, it's tat." {Informal}

Image problem?

Bleedin L. Somewon wat can understand proper English like wat I can.

Reminds me of a time when I was working in Savannah, GA and was invited to an evening out in 'The Englsh Bar.' There was nothing English about the place, in fact it was reminiscent of a Dutch bar/restaurant. The owner said that though he and his wife were very happy there, she did miss London and would I speak with her. He pointed her out and I tapped her on the shoulder and said "Orlright gel." She took the cue and for most of the evening we conversed using Cockney slang and the following morning my project team members asked <deleted> we had been talking about. They hadn't understood a word.

You are Dick van Dyke and I claim my five baht

[chrisinth]

Every time I hear there is another drive by TAT for 'quality' high-end tourists, thinking this will increase their imaginary financial goals, it literally makes me cringe.

Generally, the only places that profit from this level of tourist are the hotels or resorts that they are staying in. These are not the tourists that put money back into the communities. These are visitors who eat all their meals in the hotels, go where they are driven by their limousines and normally molly-cuddled for their entire holiday.

The tourists who put the money back into the communities are the workers and middle class, who find it normal to eat out and basically enjoy themselves in a normal manor.

If this is overlooked by TAT, then their targets will always remain out of reach.

IMHO, off course..........

Well, a large hotel may have over 800 local staff, purhases mass quantities of local supplies so they do contribute to the economy.

Agreed, that is true, the large hotels do provide jobs and contribute to the local community. But how many of the rooms of said hotels are reserved for package holiday makers? It is the package tours that keep the majority ticking over in the low season, without them they will struggle.

Yes, I realise it is the pipe dream of TAT to have exclusive high quality tourists here to fill the rooms, screw the package tourist, but that is all it is, a pipe dream. Ideas dreamed up by people in their ivory towers with no clue as to how the real world works.

It only takes a little bit of practice to mess up a whole lot of theory................

[NeverSure]

When Thailand stops being a littered, cluttered, filthy, backwards shlithole, then they can talk about a higher quality tourist. Oh did I mention dangerous roads with no real traffic policing or how many tourists die each year?

Maybe the best they could do for now is to try to get better looking Isaan gals into the bars.

Where do you live or hang out so I can avoid it.

Yes, please avoid me. If you think that the parts of Thailand that most tourists see aren't just as I described, then you have blinders on.

[IsaanUSA]

Sounds easy. Just keep raising prices and the low quality tourists won't be able to afford to visit.