Thai tourism industry leery of 'low-end' Chinese tourists

[Traveller45]

No shit? Little late now. You should have done your homework before. Now all the quality high end customers or most of them are gone and will never come back. Try charging the Chinese double for everything. Dosent work does it?.....No repair for this damage accept an exchange rate, may double what it is now.You will have to buy them back..........lol.....

What do you mean "try charging the Chinese double for everything. Doesnt work does it?" Actually isn't that already happening and expected to happen anyway?

I am not sure what you mean by that or even if I understand your meaning correctly that is what is needed. Low-end Chinese tourists are not appreciated by many in the tourist industry (and even by many who are not in the tourist industry) due to their lack of manners, screaming, spitting everywhere, and general behaviour as if they were still in some small city in Hunan or the backwaters of Yunnan or wherever. Stealing of blankets, pillows etc. from hotels, refusal to tip (although that's because in China no one tips) don't help matters either. As they generally come on pre-purchased package tours, they spend little else after arrival.

It's different for more high-end tourists who spend a ton on shopping, although they typically purchase goods that are sold for less in Thailand than in China, often luxury goods that have nothing to do with Thailand and simply enhance a major retailer's profit margins (think Central or Robinson) rather than the average Somchai on the streets.

I have met quite a few nice Chinese travellers (mainly in Laos and a couple in northern Vietnam though, but OK same thing it could just as well have been in Thailand) and while some of them were low budget, maybe because they were younger, travelling by themselves rather than in a package tour, some of them could speak some English (though I mostly spoke with them in Chinese) and in general acted much like their western counterparts they were respected by those around them from what I could gather. The funniest encounter was with a Chinese backpacker who hitchhiked everywhere he went in Laos, preferring the back of a local goods truck than a bus and sometimes attempting to camp in front of a hotel rather than staying in a room. I was driving in Laos and picked him up and we became good friends. Not surprisingly, he got a job working at a backpacker hostel in Kunming upon his return to China.

[Isaandon]

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Attention please....slim shady 555555. Many Thais are half or a % of Chinese. So are we all! Anyway, has anyone noticed the difference in a Thai business and a Thai/Chinese business? Worlds apart... As for Chinese tourist, i digress!

[Traveller45]

I have also met some very nice Chinese both in China and abroad. They move in groups. That is Socialist manner. We find here a point that is irritating both Westerners and Asians from elsewhere, but there it is, that's what they do. Second, when for the first time ever substantial middle class, or even lower middle class, develops and they have the means to travel abroad, you will sometimes have loud, screaming hordes. They do not mean bad, that is just their way. I like them, for they are law-abiding, they mostly do not get drunk in public, they do not engage in crime while abroad. After a while, you will see, differentiation will set in. You will then see Chinese with all types of budgets. Indeed, you can see the rich ones already now, but there will be more educated upper-middle class ones. It is that fraction that is most desirable to have as tourists and that takes longest to develop. Do something for them, and have some patience!

[Isaandon]

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Last night mobile conversation with a friend at the night market Jomptien beach, quote My wife has just brought me some food, we have so many choices where to sit and eat it, as there is very few tourists here at this usually busy place.

Quote. " the last 4 days we have been sitting on the beach relaxing and could choose where we wanted as very few tourists were around.

Suppose all those Chinese tourists were either on a tour--gathered in a shopping mall--- or eating pre arranged food at a Chinese venue. ALL PRE PAID.

They do not tip as they are never in a normal Thai establishment to do so individually.

Not knocking the Chinese nation but speaking of their habits when on tour.

Rarely do you see them eat from street vendors --rarely do you see them in bars/go gos, rarely do you see them singly on a beach in a deck chair, they are herded like on a school trip we remembered as kids in the UK.

they are in a group like many other because of languish skills.
I think the country has to invest on Chainess tourism as they will be soon the richest country in the world.

Reality check. Richest in exactly what? Spell check would be nice too!

[JesseFrank]

Who say the Chinese tourist are cheap ?

I see they have sight seeing trips to Tesco, big C and 7/11, so they must spend some money there.

[capt_canada42]

Finally people are learning they don't want low end tourists from Russia or China all the business's where dying here in Phuket

[atsiii]

It sounds like the resort owners don't want the Chinese tourists for the same reasons they don't want local Thai tourists: they are cheap, they bring all their own food and drinks, they crowd as many people into one room as humanly possible, then leave a disaster area behind when they check out.

TAT needs to promote new "virtual" tourism: don't come in person (because we don't want you), just send your money.

[capt_canada42]

What an completely obnoxious and arrogant OP, we don't want "these types" of tourist because they don't spend enough money.

Yes but its how the Thai's see it for years they also hated the young European back packers for the same reason years ago but i point out to them these same back packers have grown up and many are back investing here ..

[Thai at Heart]

TimCM:

""I am sure I read somewhere that the Chinese are the largest group of tourists in Thailand.

Surely a better way would be to look at customizing tourism for them while protecting their other segments.

It would be a too big potential market to ignore or destroy.""

EXACTLY !!!

I've seen China's unbelievable fast growth and development during the past 20 years.

Wait a couple of years, they will soon be the biggest spenders in the travel industry. Worldwide.

Problem is that isn't on a per capita basis.

You need more Chinese to generate revenue than Europeans. Particularly when ur main attraction is titty bars and beer.

Hardly a main attraction for Chinese.

[Hulkster]

I'm jolly good young squire. Fetch me your finest drop of Thai whisky.

Good lad. I'm just having a tipple. A nightcap before I retire to the mansion in On Nut.

Young Nok, you drank your 200 baht cola exceptionally fast. You must have been awfully parched. Allow me to buy you another. Oh no, 200 baht is not a problem I'm a high end tourist.

Edited June 19, 2014 by Hulkster

[bunuel]

You mean the "low-end Chinese" will drive away the few left that the Russians have not driven away?

The absence of ANY tourism development strategy for LOS has been evident for years. Perhaps the generals now in charge will learn from their Turkish colleagues that different nationalites have different interests as tourists, and that they often do not mix well. Met with a Turkish general two decades ago while doing an article on Turkish tourism development, and he showed me how the English, the French and the Germans were all funneled into different areas which offered activities they each like. This is essential to positive tourism development, and helps avoid scenarios where one grouo drives away another. In their frantic search for inflated numbers, TOT has failed to distinguish between Hi-End and Low-End markets, and thus has

succeeded in driving away the Hi-End market. And since it looks like the Chinese are becoming more influential in Thailand, operators will have to start learning Mandarin!

No shit? Little late now. You should have done your homework before. Now all the quality high end customers or most of them are gone and will never come back. Try charging the Chinese double for everything. Dosent work does it?.....No repair for this damage accept an exchange rate, may double what it is now.You will have to buy them back..........lol.....

[Trembly]

Chiang Mai locals shocked by 'rude' Chinese tourists :

"On social network sites and local forums, locals posted more evidence of what they say are offensive acts by the Chinese:

1. A tendency to not flush the toilet.
2. Flouting traffic laws when driving, riding a bicycle, or parking their car.
3. Being loud - even in five-star hotels.
4. Littering, spitting, queue-jumping.
5. Allowing children to defecate in public pools.
6. Terrible English-language skills that lead to difficulties in communication.

Even Chinese people living in Chiang Mai said they found the behaviour of their fellow countrymen shocking and embarrassing."

[Thai at Heart]

You mean the "low-end Chinese" will drive away the few left that the Russians have not driven away?

The absence of ANY tourism development strategy for LOS has been evident for years. Perhaps the generals now in charge will learn from their Turkish colleagues that different nationalites have different interests as tourists, and that they often do not mix well. Met with a Turkish general two decades ago while doing an article on Turkish tourism development, and he showed me how the English, the French and the Germans were all funneled into different areas which offered activities they each like. This is essential to positive tourism development, and helps avoid scenarios where one grouo drives away another. In their frantic search for inflated numbers, TOT has failed to distinguish between Hi-End and Low-End markets, and thus has

succeeded in driving away the Hi-End market. And since it looks like the Chinese are becoming more influential in Thailand, operators will have to start learning Mandarin!

No shit? Little late now. You should have done your homework before. Now all the quality high end customers or most of them are gone and will never come back. Try charging the Chinese double for everything. Dosent work does it?.....No repair for this damage accept an exchange rate, may double what it is now.You will have to buy them back..........lol.....

They don't have even have a target level of resorts. Everything from 1star to 5 all in the same resorts surrounded by pink lights.

I am sorry, but they really might have killed the goose now. If the Chinese don't come, who is left?

[The stuttering parrot]

Who's left?

How about that certain group of tourists who's guide comes down early morning to drape the towels over every deck chair to stop people relaxing so their group can tour all morning and have a chair all after noon.

We just took them off the 4 chairs we wanted and when they come back boy did I get the death stare!

There are arrogant rude and cheap tourists from all parts of the world!

[Tokay]

Most people coming on budget tours are cheap. Doesn't matter where they are coming from. The Chinese I know who have come here are loaded and spent lots of money while here, staying in 4 and 5 start hotels. Everyone has class and trash. If you cater to the trash, then what do you expect?

At the end of the day it doesn't matter. The Thais hate anyone who isn't dumb enough to pay triple the charge and take their abuse. They want dumb tourists with deep pockets. Anyone else is a problem.

[Tokay]

Chiang Mai locals shocked by 'rude' Chinese tourists :

"On social network sites and local forums, locals posted more evidence of what they say are offensive acts by the Chinese:

1. A tendency to not flush the toilet.
2. Flouting traffic laws when driving, riding a bicycle, or parking their car.
3. Being loud - even in five-star hotels.
4. Littering, spitting, queue-jumping.
5. Allowing children to defecate in public pools.
6. Terrible English-language skills that lead to difficulties in communication.

Even Chinese people living in Chiang Mai said they found the behaviour of their fellow countrymen shocking and embarrassing."

That is really generalizing, but the culture is different from all areas of the world. If the Thais has ANY worldly experience whatsoever, they would know this. They want everyone to accept their culture, but are unwilling to accept the culture of anyone else.

There is good and bad people everywhere. The Thais mostly hate the Chinese out of jealousy. They are better looking, better educated, whiter skin (much whiter), better dressed, and very bossy, which can also be said as being a bit rude. But you also have to look at it like this, most Thais are peasants and are unfortunately treated as such. However, they are treated that way by their own people too. The wealthy Thais treat the lower class (street vendors, market people, food stalls) with disrespect too.

[Thailand]

I don't recall ever seeing any High end chinese tourists, just the hordes of queue jumpers and street spitters.

Simply looking in the wrong place, there are thousands of them. Perhaps it's the places that you frequent doesn't cater to them?

[Kunjay]

FACT, Chinese people in general are rude, dirty/unhygienic, obnoxious, not generous and the list goes on simply one of the worst races on the planet, ask any Thai and they will 100% endorse my what I said.

This I know for a fact as I lived in China, they shit in the street they spit everywhere they have no considerations for others theyre just a filthy race of people something the lovely Thai's have just found out over the last 5 years.

Sorry if this offends people but I'm sure some out there will feel the same.

[HeijoshinCool]

Maybe this thread should be closed because it violates forum rules?

[martinhp]

Tourism industry leery of 'low-end' Chinese tourists

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Maybe if they spent more money and didn't upset the better-heeled visitors from Europe, Chinese visitors would get some love from the tourism industry.

A proposal to offer free visas to Chinese visitors has been met with resistance from the ground up, with the ever-ebullient Tourism Authority of Thailand even weighing in against the idea.

The authority has publicized results of a "survey" which concluded Chinese arrivals are "low-end" and negatively affect the more profitable tourist-flows from Britain, France and Germany, according to Bangkok Post.

Cutting through the euphemisms, those opposing the idea seem to believe the unpopular guests from China are too cheap and chase away the more predictable guests with deeper pockets. [read more...]

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/06/19/tourism-industry-leery-low-end-chinese-tourists

-- Coconuts Bangkok 2014-06-19

[Friendly Stranger]

Thailand: You want high end tourists then act high end!

[martinhp]

Tourism industry leery of 'low-end' Chinese tourists

By Coconuts Bangkok

http://img4.coconuts.co/cdn/farfuture/

79fTS6KBISzegUWbwhhnUe5rp5ATKlxEvk9z69Ly6OM/mtime:1403150891/sites/default/

files/styles/article_header/public/field/image/chinese_0.jpg[/im

BANGKOK: -- Maybe if they spent more money and didn't upset the better-heeled visitors from Europe, Chinese visitors would get some love from the tourism industry.

A proposal to offer free visas to Chinese visitors has been met with resistance from the ground up, with the ever-ebullient Tourism Authority of Thailand even weighing in against the idea.

The authority has publicized results of a "survey" which concluded Chinese arrivals are "low-end" and negatively affect the more profitable tourist-flows from Britain, France and Germany, according to Bangkok Post.

Cutting through the euphemisms, those opposing the idea seem to believe the unpopular guests from China are too cheap and chase away the more predictable guests with deeper pockets. [read more...]

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/06/19/tourism-industry-leery-low-end-chinese-tourists

I thougt they ment the army they know haw to do in short time every one gone

-- Coconuts Bangkok 2014-06-19

[Thailand]

FACT, Chinese people in general are rude, dirty/unhygienic, obnoxious, not generous and the list goes on simply one of the worst races on the planet, ask any Thai and they will 100% endorse my what I said.

This I know for a fact as I lived in China, they shit in the street they spit everywhere they have no considerations for others theyre just a filthy race of people something the lovely Thai's have just found out over the last 5 years.

Sorry if this offends people but I'm sure some out there will feel the same.

You integrated well when you lived there did you?

[timewilltell]

Well the Westerners coming here have found greener pastures, all of which was on the cards and written about over the last donkeys years. They have made the tourist areas worse with corruption seriously affecting every aspect from taxi mafia to jet ski scams, over building and crappy shacks all over the beaches, dirt and rubbish everywhere, lousy roads even in the middle of major towns like Patong. Two tier pricing and a social ethos to screw the foreigner.

Eventually tourists tire and seek other destinations, the financial crisis adding its push to find places nearer to home to holiday too. So to take up the balance the industry has courted the Russian and Chinese markets which have come online through social changes in those huge areas. Now they are finding these markets to be awash with people who are less well heeled than the Westerners Thais love to hate.

Like the Spanish and Greeks they will find out abusing your visitors and building millions of crappy hotel rooms just ends up destroying the environment and leaves a mass of unoccupied concrete behind when the tourist stop coming - the Costa del Sol is a great example of what is in store through that model.

The Thais had it all for the taking but greed overtook good governance and the result is plain to see. Maybe the Russian and Chinese market is all that is left and the better class of those societies will not put up with mistreatment any more than their Western counterparts.

Maybe enlightenment is slowly illuminating the tourist industry?

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[H1w4yR1da]

Maybe this thread should be closed because it violates forum rules?

Who made you daddy? Mind your business!

[harrycallahan]

A thai tourist guide once let me in that they are known as 'penguins', on account of getting around in groups and all acting in unison.

[Loptr]

Thailand: the final destination; for low end nose picking Chinese, poor classless hippies/students, sex pervs, non native speaking English teachers, drunks, various types of criminals including out right idiots, wannabe bar owners, oldies etc.

Ok, I'll bite... Which category do you fall under?

[thailand49]

Thailand: You want high end tourists then act high end!

I love this! The Thai government got to really take the cake! I live here and I do not want to be so negative as when I moved here I was in cloud nine but years have changed me. I still wake up and give every Thai the benefit of the doubt in general but when I read stories like this?

This government let in through greed, corruption etc... Nigerians women to sell themselves on Education Visa on Sukhumvit in Bangkok right in front of the police box on Nana while their pimps run around creating crime and when it gets out of hand they yell bloody murder and act if they did not know about the problem. Now it is the Russians, in Phuket etc etc.. Mafia out of hand crime?

They want the tourist Chinese give away the store to get them by giving them free visas and cheap tours etc... and now complaint about them in Chang Mai etc.. low end.. etc... being too loud and cheap! Maybe the Thais should look in the mirror and see that they are just as low as the Chinese. Hey what about the cheap Indians?

Edited June 20, 2014 by thailand49

[Gotalaugh]

What an completely obnoxious and arrogant OP, we don't want "these types" of tourist because they don't spend enough money.

Not only that. The OP verifies that racism is alive and well in the LOS.

Yes and most of it comes from the Thais. Could you imagine the uproar if the British Government decided to charge the dark skinned people a fiver to walk round Regents Park.

[Gotalaugh]

Sorry for the quote mess up above but I'm fascinated, is there really a park they charge foreigners admission in Thailand? I've been here some time but not actually encountered that.