Martial law in Thailand more bad news for embattled tourism industry

[flamesfan]

However, beach resorts and other destinations within Thailand have not been affected by the political situation and the airports and other transportation systems are running as normal.

Looking at all the empty and many closed down bars around Pattaya I would beg to differ. Most "tourists" seem to be residents from Bangkok.

I am holidaying in Koh Lanta and it is deserted!! Thailand Tourism is being greatly affected!!

[NotMyUsualid]

I am on a very popular island right now. It's literally a ghost town. Incredible. Bands playing to empty venues. Not a person there enjoying the music. I feel sorry for the locals.

Indeed - I have been called a fool for saying this would happen too. And much sooner than many may think possible.

I've seen some mock 'empty threats' of leaving LOS, and I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

I'm in KL for a visa to go back one more time, so I may get my belongings, and then I am off...

I think I'll check back in with this site for entertainment purposes, from time to time in the next couple of years.

And I'll of course add my visa experience to your blog when I find out the results of that.

Ladies and gents, there are other hot countries to explore (some with no ridiculous property / aircraft ownership laws too), also with nice beaches... Just a shame there is not a national sport of Muay Thai there also (the original reason for my coming to LOS).

This visa & military mess is going to hit the Thai everyday people so bad - Patong was a joke last Sat night. Not been in a year and it was a shadow of its former self, in terms of numbers of people.

And it is going to get much worse.

Bye 'yall...

[silent]

Why one who believed that democracies were useless, but better than any other option!! In Thailand's case maybe a dictatorship is the answere

More than democracy, dictatorship or revolution, what's really needed is evolution from the flock mentality and teaching of the majority to think for themselves. Case in point, which is why the forces had to step in after things getting too wild with the red and yellow shepherds dividing the field.

[Scarpolo]

I am on a very popular island right now. It's literally a ghost town. Incredible. Bands playing to empty venues. Not a person there enjoying the music. I feel sorry for the locals.

Indeed - I have been called a fool for saying this would happen too. And much sooner than many may think possible.

I've seen some mock 'empty threats' of leaving LOS, and I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

I'm in KL for a visa to go back one more time, so I may get my belongings, and then I am off...

I think I'll check back in with this site for entertainment purposes, from time to time in the next couple of years.

And I'll of course add my visa experience to your blog when I find out the results of that.

Ladies and gents, there are other hot countries to explore (some with no ridiculous property / aircraft ownership laws too), also with nice beaches... Just a shame there is not a national sport of Muay Thai there also (the original reason for my coming to LOS).

This visa & military mess is going to hit the Thai everyday people so bad - Patong was a joke last Sat night. Not been in a year and it was a shadow of its former self, in terms of numbers of people.

And it is going to get much worse.

Bye 'yall...

well, at least give some of us a heads up on the new upcoming places to consider moving too, where the US Dollar is strong, and we can still get massages for $3.00

[louse1953]

there is going to be a lot of hungry mouths, crime will escalate, is this the beginning of the end for thailand

Beginning of the end,nail in the coffin,how many times have we heard this.Tourists will still come and get photo ops with army.Thailand will muddle through as usual.If tourist fly in to places other than Bangers,they wouldnt even know about a army takeover.

[Deli]

After a few days things won't be on front pages any longer. Ukraine, Syria, Nigeria will be in the focus again and if the Army doesn't mess around, it only can become better. Timing was good, it's low season and tourism is quite anyhow. Let's get it settled and start allover again. Same same - not different

[louse1953]

Bars closing down in Pattaya?

I dont suppose the bar girls have much saved in the bank,

It sounds like the entire food chain in Thailand will feel this, all the way up to the indebted families up north.

The pinch will soon give way to a flood of blood as hungry people start stealing, from their neighbors

Thailands economy is based around Pattaya's success or failure!!!We're all doomed.

[DrTuner]

I am on a very popular island right now. It's literally a ghost town. Incredible. Bands playing to empty venues. Not a person there enjoying the music. I feel sorry for the locals.

Oh the low season, how I've missed you the past few years. Looks like it's time for an island holiday.

[Scarpolo]

I wouldnt be so fast to dismiss trouble in Pattaya and other tourist destinations as not having a ripple effect, to mean,

if thousands of bar workers and others reliant on the free flowing ATMs of sex pats suddenly dissapears

CRIME will explode,

and who will it affect most?

Thais with money are the second target,

after what is left of the white man

[louse1953]

I am on a very popular island right now. It's literally a ghost town. Incredible. Bands playing to empty venues. Not a person there enjoying the music. I feel sorry for the locals.

Indeed - I have been called a fool for saying this would happen too. And much sooner than many may think possible.

I've seen some mock 'empty threats' of leaving LOS, and I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

I'm in KL for a visa to go back one more time, so I may get my belongings, and then I am off...

I think I'll check back in with this site for entertainment purposes, from time to time in the next couple of years.

And I'll of course add my visa experience to your blog when I find out the results of that.

Ladies and gents, there are other hot countries to explore (some with no ridiculous property / aircraft ownership laws too), also with nice beaches... Just a shame there is not a national sport of Muay Thai there also (the original reason for my coming to LOS).

This visa & military mess is going to hit the Thai everyday people so bad - Patong was a joke last Sat night. Not been in a year and it was a shadow of its former self, in terms of numbers of people.

And it is going to get much worse.

Bye 'yall...

Dont forget to turn off the light!!!

[Maejo Man]

That picture in the OP is priceless.

Come to Thailand and go home with a snappy in a real Jeep, complete with .30 cal machine gun.

I was thinking an M60, but perhaps my eyes (and the times) have changed. 7.62mm

You are correct...It is an M60

[Artisi]

And know doubt the economy will suffer like hell the rich will get richer the poor will be a lot poorer and the baht will get weaker but should the latter happen I will not complain more baht in my pocket !

what websites do you guys use for up to date BAHT exchange?

Bangkok Bank website.

[watso63]

That picture in the OP is priceless.

Come to Thailand and go home with a snappy in a real Jeep, complete with .30 cal machine gun.

I was thinking an M60, but perhaps my eyes (and the times) have changed. 7.62mm

You are correct...It is an M60

No, no, no.

The L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) is a 7.62 x 51mm belt-fed general purpose machine gun which can be used as a light weapon and in a sustained fire (SF) role.

In the SF role, mounted on a tripod and fitted with the C2 optical sight, it is fired by a two-man team who are grouped in a specialist Machine Gun Platoon to provide battalion-level fire support. In SF mode, the GPMG, with a two-man crew, lays down 750 rounds-per-minute at ranges up to 1800 metres.

The GPMG can be carried by foot soldiers and employed as a light machine gun (LMG), although it has largely been replaced by the lighter 5.56 x 45mm Minimi in this role, in most regiments. A fold-out bipod is used to support the GPMG in the LMG role.

Versions of the GPMG are mounted on most Army vehicles and some helicopters.

Calibre 7.62mm

Weight 13.85kg (gun plus 50-round belt)

Length 1230mm (light role)

Barrel length 629mm

Muzzle velocity 838m/s

Feed 100-round disintegrating link belt

Effective range 800m light role, 1800m sustained fire role

Cyclic rate of fire 750 rounds per minute

[MantisMan]

A friend of mine changed his route yesterday on Friday. Instead holidays in Thailand he will take a flight at Suvarnabhumi right away to Vietnam.

i guess he is not the only one.

Yeah, because Vietnam's nice and quiet at the moment...not!

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/vietnams-anti-china-riots-scaring-off-foreign-businesses-095605375.html#BASqiCU

Yes, it might be said that right now, it's more dangerous to be in Vietnam than it is to be in Thailand !

Still, the buildings being burnt down are owned by mainland Chinese companies, and the ones being killed are Chinese workers in those companies. So you should be safe if you're from Europe. But the violence might spread out of control, some Taiwan companies in Vietnam have been attacked. And Singaporean companies are a bit worried.

Hey, Burma is 'safer' than Thailand and Vietnam !

Actually, they are not just Chinese companies and workers being attacked. There are also Taiwanese and Hong Kong companies there being attacked people being injured.

Anything with Chinese characters "MUST" be from China.

Surprised the young man in the pic didn't get behind the M60 for the photo op.

[Fookhaht]

I was checking the cost of hotels in Bangkok. It appears that the prices are going up, just when there is a drop in tourism.

Thai Economics 101: demand drops/increase prices

[watso63]

Check out the differences between the M60 (image 1) & the GPMG (image 2). Foresight and barrell flash eliminator are two easy ones to spot.

Edited May 21, 2014 by watso63

[bunuel]

The handwriting has been on the wall for some time now - that is, for anyone who pays attention to

these things. Love Thailand, but Thai politics are not my business, so time to leave. LOS has been

sweet, and have no complaints - far more congenial than a lot of other places in the world!

quote name="NotMyUsualid" post="7856821" timestamp="1400644033"]

I am on a very popular island right now. It's literally a ghost town. Incredible. Bands playing to empty venues. Not a person there enjoying the music. I feel sorry for the locals.

Indeed - I have been called a fool for saying this would happen too. And much sooner than many may think possible.

I've seen some mock 'empty threats' of leaving LOS, and I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

I'm in KL for a visa to go back one more time, so I may get my belongings, and then I am off...

I think I'll check back in with this site for entertainment purposes, from time to time in the next couple of years.

And I'll of course add my visa experience to your blog when I find out the results of that.

Ladies and gents, there are other hot countries to explore (some with no ridiculous property / aircraft ownership laws too), also with nice beaches... Just a shame there is not a national sport of Muay Thai there also (the original reason for my coming to LOS).

This visa & military mess is going to hit the Thai everyday people so bad - Patong was a joke last Sat night. Not been in a year and it was a shadow of its former self, in terms of numbers of people.

And it is going to get much worse.

Bye 'yall...

[Thai at Heart]

Bars closing down in Pattaya?

I dont suppose the bar girls have much saved in the bank,

It sounds like the entire food chain in Thailand will feel this, all the way up to the indebted families up north.

The pinch will soon give way to a flood of blood as hungry people start stealing, from their neighbors

Yup, I don't doubt it.

Just wait and watch for the reds next move. They won't sit idle. This might get very serious very fast.

[daveAustin]

I'm surprised to not read that tourism only accounts for 6% GDP from the usual types (rolls eyes).

[Benmart]

However, beach resorts and other destinations within Thailand have not been affected by the political situation and the airports and other transportation systems are running as normal.

Looking at all the empty and many closed down bars around Pattaya I would beg to differ. Most "tourists" seem to be residents from Bangkok.

I have the same observations.

A good friend, who is a long-time Pattaya business owner, says 2013 was a "bad year" and this year has been much worse. Fewer visiting his restaurant and spending less. However, his operating costs continue to increase.

The dark clouds have arrived and the storm may well follow.

[craigt3365]

A few posts violating our zero tolerance policy have been removed from view and a member is now on a posting holiday.

[Benmart]

The handwriting has been on the wall for some time now - that is, for anyone who pays attention to

these things. Love Thailand, but Thai politics are not my business, so time to leave. LOS has been

sweet, and have no complaints - far more congenial than a lot of other places in the world!

quote name="NotMyUsualid" post="7856821" timestamp="1400644033"]

I am on a very popular island right now. It's literally a ghost town. Incredible. Bands playing to empty venues. Not a person there enjoying the music. I feel sorry for the locals.

Indeed - I have been called a fool for saying this would happen too. And much sooner than many may think possible.

I've seen some mock 'empty threats' of leaving LOS, and I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

I'm in KL for a visa to go back one more time, so I may get my belongings, and then I am off...

I think I'll check back in with this site for entertainment purposes, from time to time in the next couple of years.

And I'll of course add my visa experience to your blog when I find out the results of that.

Ladies and gents, there are other hot countries to explore (some with no ridiculous property / aircraft ownership laws too), also with nice beaches... Just a shame there is not a national sport of Muay Thai there also (the original reason for my coming to LOS).

This visa & military mess is going to hit the Thai everyday people so bad - Patong was a joke last Sat night. Not been in a year and it was a shadow of its former self, in terms of numbers of people.

And it is going to get much worse.

Bye 'yall...

Thanks for the post. Do come back and visit as we will most likely be in desperate need of the business. LOL.

Good luck my friend.

[Scarpolo]

if 2013 was a bad year, it can not be tied in to the protests, in any way,

it is more likely that DEBT is the culprit

[watso63]

I remember the 1st time I encountered Russians on a foreign holiday was in Tenerife. I never went back there again. The 2nd time was in Thailand. Same experience, except that I live here now and know how to avoid them as I don't stay in hotels hotel full of them. Sad, but true.

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[mancub]

om now on until

However, beach resorts and other destinations within Thailand have not been affected by the political situation and the airports and other transportation systems are running as normal.

Looking at all the empty and many closed down bars around Pattaya I would beg to differ. Most "tourists" seem to be residents from Bangkok.

I am holidaying in Koh Lanta and it is deserted!! Thailand Tourism is being greatly affected!!

Nothing to do with it being the low or rainy season, then ?

[mojorison]

Well you can thank suthep for all of this. if he had kept his word (which he did not) in the beginning whenthe Pm dissolved Parliment non of this would have happened. But he is just too greedy and wants to be the supreme commander of Thailand in a dictatorship similar to North Korea

Give it a rest. TV have announced a zero tolerance policy on blatant propaganda.

Why do you think the former disgraced PM dissolved parliament? Perhaps if PTP had acted honestly and within the law none of this wouldn't have happened?

Stop trying to blame others for the real cause, which everyone here knows.

I'm confused... what does everyone here know? (Are you talking about the known knowns, the known unknowns, or the unknown unknowns?) I think you need to be a little more specific with your inanity.

[Scarpolo]

Well you can thank suthep for all of this. if he had kept his word (which he did not) in the beginning whenthe Pm dissolved Parliment non of this would have happened. But he is just too greedy and wants to be the supreme commander of Thailand in a dictatorship similar to North Korea

Give it a rest. TV have announced a zero tolerance policy on blatant propaganda.

Why do you think the former disgraced PM dissolved parliament? Perhaps if PTP had acted honestly and within the law none of this wouldn't have happened?

Stop trying to blame others for the real cause, which everyone here knows.

I'm confused... what does everyone here know? (Are you talking about the known knowns, the known unknowns, or the unknown unknowns?) I think you need to be a little more specific with your inanity.

ok Rummy

[Chris Lawrence]

When it hurts the hip pocket things get done, Still got along way to go up the tree before the people at the top are really affected. Dictatorship may not occur as one of the real elite may not want to get involved. The elite are still in the top paddock gorging themselves.

Dictator has real power which no one is prepared to give up.

[Scarpolo]

When it hurts the hip pocket things get done, Still got along way to go up the tree before the people at the top are really affected. Dictatorship may not occur as one of the real elite may not want to get involved. The elite are still in the top paddock gorging themselves.

Dictator has real power which no one is prepared to give up.

Thailand has piled on massive consumer debt, as well as public debt,

this is a new ingredient in this puzzle

people's cost of living is much higher than a decade ago,

and their debt burdens are growing,

this will affect the elite, as, they will not have customers

taxi drivers will be unable to make their monthly expense,

hotels were at 30% when I was there in january

this is much uglier than reported

Edited May 21, 2014 by Scarpolo

[wellred]

Does anyone think this was deliberately done during the low season so that it can be resolved in time for high season?