Foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand drop 10.28 percent

[media]

Then why are all my favorite hotels charging higher advertised rates this year than the same months last year?

Thai logic, if your not achieving enough sales, you need more income to survive.. the only logical way to get this is to put the prices UP. it sounds crazy to us but its logical to them.

[englishoak]

Then why are all my favorite hotels charging higher advertised rates this year than the same months last year?

also all my hotels crazy up with prices !!

for this Xmass new year we will stay mostly home,

never before in last 10 years !!

Thai mentality less customers so charge them extra rather than reduce prices to attract more customers and increase general revenue!!

Three bookings at hiked pices is better for them than six booking at bargain rates with happy free spending punters.

That is TV myth number 16. Now go out and find a hotel that raises prices when all the rooms are empty.

NOT an urban myth, happens regularly and have personally seen it dozens of times over the years when tourism is having a bad time or the hotel is. Dosnt have to be empty before they do it.

Its not urban myth but standard practise, same as its standard practise for a second hand run down buildings being sold for the same price as a brand new one next door.... if the new one goes for more then the guy with the run down shole will often increase the price not lower it . Fact.

[tullynagardy]

Good side of it is no long wait at BKK arrival immigration. Thailand tourist industry I couldn't care less. In fact, what farangs us retirees living in Thailand need is another 1997 crisis meltdown and foreign currency going to 100 baht per £.

Fixed that for you. Not every farrang living in Thailand is retired living on a pension from abroad. For those working on a fixed salary in baht what you suggest above would be catastrophic.

[BuckBee]

Multiply that percentage by 3 & it would be about right ...

[thailiketoo]

also all my hotels crazy up with prices !!

for this Xmass new year we will stay mostly home,

never before in last 10 years !!

Thai mentality less customers so charge them extra rather than reduce prices to attract more customers and increase general revenue!!

Three bookings at hiked pices is better for them than six booking at bargain rates with happy free spending punters.

That is TV myth number 16. Now go out and find a hotel that raises prices when all the rooms are empty.

NOT an urban myth, happens regularly and have personally seen it dozens of times over the years when tourism is having a bad time or the hotel is. Dosnt have to be empty before they do it.

Its not urban myth but standard practise, same as its standard practise for a second hand run down buildings being sold for the same price as a brand new one next door.... if the new one goes for more then the guy with the run down shole will often increase the price not lower it . Fact.

The Erawan Group Public Co. Ltd.

The Erawan Group is a developer and operator of luxurious hotels, office buildings and shopping centers in the heart of Bangkok. Hotels include the Grand Hyatt Erawan, and JW Marriott Bangkok (with adjacent Phloenchit Center). Operates also Erawan Shopping Center at Ratchaprasong intersection.

http://www.theerawangroup.com/ Alpina International Management Co. Ltd.

Alpina International Management Co. Ltd. is a hotel and resort management company based in Thailand, established by a group of prominent business people and experts in the tourism industry.

http://www.alpinahotels.com/ Mai-BS (Thailand)

Hotel and Resort Consultant and expert Training Company to support hotel and resort developers, investors and owners. We also provide standardized or customized expert training for management and staff at all kind of service industries.

http://www.mai-bs.com/ Baan Krating Resorts

Baan Krating Resorts : a unique network of small boutique resorts in Thailand that maintain the essence of the Thai hospitality with the flexibility of private home living rather than a restricted hotel atmosphere. Locations : Chiang Dao, Pai (Northern Thailand), Khao Lak, Phuket.

http://www.baankrating.com/ Sawasdee Resorts Group

We at Sawasdee are committed to providing good services and accommodation at reasonable prices.Currently,our hotels are located in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

http://www.sawasdee-hotels.com/ Central Hotels and Resorts

A group of deluxe–hotels operating mainly in Thailand, and with locations in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Samui.

http://www.centralhotelsresorts.com Six Senses : Hotels, Resorts and Spas

Six Senses Hotels and Resorts provides hotel management services, consultants, consulting services, hotel management.

http://six-senses.com/ Amari Hotels and Resorts

Thailand Hotel – Amari Hotels and Resorts, Bangkok Thailand. For information on hotels and resorts in Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, look no further.

http://www.amari.com/ Asia Hotel Group

Asia Bangkok Hotel (Phayathai Road), Asia Airport Hotel (Bangkok) and Asia Pattaya Beach Hotel.

http://www.asiahotel.co.th/ Pinnacle Hotels and Resorts

Pinnacle Hotels and Resorts : 3 hotels in Bangkok, 2 hotels in Jomtien, Chonburi province, one hotel on Koh Samui, and one hotel at Satun.

http://www.pinnaclehotels.com/ Imperial Hotels Group

Hotel chain with 11 hotels around Thailand.

http://www.imperialhotels.com Dusit Group

Hotel chain in Thailand for both business and holiday travelers

http://www.dusit.com Siam City Hotels and Resorts

Siam City hotel in Bangkok as well as Siam Bayview Resort and Siam Bayshore Resort both in Pattaya. These three hotels cater to the needs of discerning business people and leisure travellers alike.

http://www.siamhotels.com/ Woraburi Hotels and Resorts

Woraburi Hotels and Resorts. We make sure you have everything. Convenient business services, pleasurable dining and comfortable function and seminar facilities.(Sukhumvit, Khao San, Phuket, Ayudhaya)

http://www.woraburi.com/ Grande Asset Development Public Co. Ltd.

Managing Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit and Hua Hin Blue Lagoon Resort.

http://www.grandeasset.com/

It does not happen in the above hotels.

Do think adding the word "fact" after your folksy anecdotal evidence makes it more believable?

Edited October 16, 2014 by thailiketoo

[englishoak]

Thai mentality less customers so charge them extra rather than reduce prices to attract more customers and increase general revenue!!

Three bookings at hiked pices is better for them than six booking at bargain rates with happy free spending punters.

That is TV myth number 16. Now go out and find a hotel that raises prices when all the rooms are empty.

NOT an urban myth, happens regularly and have personally seen it dozens of times over the years when tourism is having a bad time or the hotel is. Dosnt have to be empty before they do it.

Its not urban myth but standard practise, same as its standard practise for a second hand run down buildings being sold for the same price as a brand new one next door.... if the new one goes for more then the guy with the run down shole will often increase the price not lower it . Fact.

The Erawan Group Public Co. Ltd.

The Erawan Group is a developer and operator of luxurious hotels, office buildings and shopping centers in the heart of Bangkok. Hotels include the Grand Hyatt Erawan, and JW Marriott Bangkok (with adjacent Phloenchit Center). Operates also Erawan Shopping Center at Ratchaprasong intersection.

http://www.theerawangroup.com/ Alpina International Management Co. Ltd.

Alpina International Management Co. Ltd. is a hotel and resort management company based in Thailand, established by a group of prominent business people and experts in the tourism industry.

http://www.alpinahotels.com/ Mai-BS (Thailand)

Hotel and Resort Consultant and expert Training Company to support hotel and resort developers, investors and owners. We also provide standardized or customized expert training for management and staff at all kind of service industries.

http://www.mai-bs.com/ Baan Krating Resorts

Baan Krating Resorts : a unique network of small boutique resorts in Thailand that maintain the essence of the Thai hospitality with the flexibility of private home living rather than a restricted hotel atmosphere. Locations : Chiang Dao, Pai (Northern Thailand), Khao Lak, Phuket.

http://www.baankrating.com/ Sawasdee Resorts Group

We at Sawasdee are committed to providing good services and accommodation at reasonable prices.Currently,our hotels are located in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

http://www.sawasdee-hotels.com/ Central Hotels and Resorts

A group of deluxe–hotels operating mainly in Thailand, and with locations in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Samui.

http://www.centralhotelsresorts.com Six Senses : Hotels, Resorts and Spas

Six Senses Hotels and Resorts provides hotel management services, consultants, consulting services, hotel management.

http://six-senses.com/ Amari Hotels and Resorts

Thailand Hotel – Amari Hotels and Resorts, Bangkok Thailand. For information on hotels and resorts in Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, look no further.

http://www.amari.com/ Asia Hotel Group

Asia Bangkok Hotel (Phayathai Road), Asia Airport Hotel (Bangkok) and Asia Pattaya Beach Hotel.

http://www.asiahotel.co.th/ Pinnacle Hotels and Resorts

Pinnacle Hotels and Resorts : 3 hotels in Bangkok, 2 hotels in Jomtien, Chonburi province, one hotel on Koh Samui, and one hotel at Satun.

http://www.pinnaclehotels.com/ Imperial Hotels Group

Hotel chain with 11 hotels around Thailand.

http://www.imperialhotels.com Dusit Group

Hotel chain in Thailand for both business and holiday travelers

http://www.dusit.com Siam City Hotels and Resorts

Siam City hotel in Bangkok as well as Siam Bayview Resort and Siam Bayshore Resort both in Pattaya. These three hotels cater to the needs of discerning business people and leisure travellers alike.

http://www.siamhotels.com/ Woraburi Hotels and Resorts

Woraburi Hotels and Resorts. We make sure you have everything. Convenient business services, pleasurable dining and comfortable function and seminar facilities.(Sukhumvit, Khao San, Phuket, Ayudhaya)

http://www.woraburi.com/ Grande Asset Development Public Co. Ltd.

Managing Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit and Hua Hin Blue Lagoon Resort.

http://www.grandeasset.com/

It does not happen in the above hotels.

Do think adding the word "fact" after your folksy anecdotal evidence makes it more believable?

Are you for real ?

So lets get this straight, you come up with a list of a few hotels you think or know it dosnt happen in... .......it dosnt matter, and that means............... it dosnt happen ?

LOL ok

[thailiketoo]

That is TV myth number 16. Now go out and find a hotel that raises prices when all the rooms are empty.

NOT an urban myth, happens regularly and have personally seen it dozens of times over the years when tourism is having a bad time or the hotel is. Dosnt have to be empty before they do it.

Its not urban myth but standard practise, same as its standard practise for a second hand run down buildings being sold for the same price as a brand new one next door.... if the new one goes for more then the guy with the run down shole will often increase the price not lower it . Fact.

The Erawan Group Public Co. Ltd.

The Erawan Group is a developer and operator of luxurious hotels, office buildings and shopping centers in the heart of Bangkok. Hotels include the Grand Hyatt Erawan, and JW Marriott Bangkok (with adjacent Phloenchit Center). Operates also Erawan Shopping Center at Ratchaprasong intersection.

http://www.theerawangroup.com/ Alpina International Management Co. Ltd.

Alpina International Management Co. Ltd. is a hotel and resort management company based in Thailand, established by a group of prominent business people and experts in the tourism industry.

http://www.alpinahotels.com/ Mai-BS (Thailand)

Hotel and Resort Consultant and expert Training Company to support hotel and resort developers, investors and owners. We also provide standardized or customized expert training for management and staff at all kind of service industries.

http://www.mai-bs.com/ Baan Krating Resorts

Baan Krating Resorts : a unique network of small boutique resorts in Thailand that maintain the essence of the Thai hospitality with the flexibility of private home living rather than a restricted hotel atmosphere. Locations : Chiang Dao, Pai (Northern Thailand), Khao Lak, Phuket.

http://www.baankrating.com/ Sawasdee Resorts Group

We at Sawasdee are committed to providing good services and accommodation at reasonable prices.Currently,our hotels are located in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

http://www.sawasdee-hotels.com/ Central Hotels and Resorts

A group of deluxe–hotels operating mainly in Thailand, and with locations in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Samui.

http://www.centralhotelsresorts.com Six Senses : Hotels, Resorts and Spas

Six Senses Hotels and Resorts provides hotel management services, consultants, consulting services, hotel management.

http://six-senses.com/ Amari Hotels and Resorts

Thailand Hotel – Amari Hotels and Resorts, Bangkok Thailand. For information on hotels and resorts in Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, look no further.

http://www.amari.com/ Asia Hotel Group

Asia Bangkok Hotel (Phayathai Road), Asia Airport Hotel (Bangkok) and Asia Pattaya Beach Hotel.

http://www.asiahotel.co.th/ Pinnacle Hotels and Resorts

Pinnacle Hotels and Resorts : 3 hotels in Bangkok, 2 hotels in Jomtien, Chonburi province, one hotel on Koh Samui, and one hotel at Satun.

http://www.pinnaclehotels.com/ Imperial Hotels Group

Hotel chain with 11 hotels around Thailand.

http://www.imperialhotels.com Dusit Group

Hotel chain in Thailand for both business and holiday travelers

http://www.dusit.com Siam City Hotels and Resorts

Siam City hotel in Bangkok as well as Siam Bayview Resort and Siam Bayshore Resort both in Pattaya. These three hotels cater to the needs of discerning business people and leisure travellers alike.

http://www.siamhotels.com/ Woraburi Hotels and Resorts

Woraburi Hotels and Resorts. We make sure you have everything. Convenient business services, pleasurable dining and comfortable function and seminar facilities.(Sukhumvit, Khao San, Phuket, Ayudhaya)

http://www.woraburi.com/ Grande Asset Development Public Co. Ltd.

Managing Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit and Hua Hin Blue Lagoon Resort.

http://www.grandeasset.com/

It does not happen in the above hotels.

Do think adding the word "fact" after your folksy anecdotal evidence makes it more believable?

Are you for real ?

So lets get this straight, you come up with a list of a few hotels you think or know it dosnt happen in... .......it dosnt matter, and that means............... it dosnt happen ?

LOL ok

You listed no hotels where it does happen. I listed the largest and most successful hotels in Thailand where it does not happen.

[MK1]

Chinese tourists expected to bolster the arrival figures towards the end of year is just fudging the arrival figures particularly when these tourists do very little to boost local economies; since they’re mostly pre-booked on organized guided Chinese tour packages.

Edited October 16, 2014 by MK1

[les Dennis]

I hope they only give the calenders to the "good tourists" that meet The Generals approval. Maybe they could air drop some from a plane over Jersey and Norfolk.

[american12bthai]

Then why are all my favorite hotels charging higher advertised rates this year than the same months last year

Because revenue is down and they think increasing prices will replace it.

its a chinese mentality thai style. like the beach chairs, they charge 300 to sit on a public beach... even when there is nobody in them. if they would lower their prices more people would sit in them. the logic does not exist in Thailand.

[thailiketoo]

Chinese tourists expected to bolster the arrival figures towards the end of year is just fudging the arrival figures particularly when these tourists do very little to boost local economies; since they’re mostly pre-booked on organized guided Chinese tour packages.

Since they eat and sleep at Thai restaurants and hotels I don't know how you figure.

[thailiketoo]

Then why are all my favorite hotels charging higher advertised rates this year than the same months last year

Because revenue is down and they think increasing prices will replace it.

its a chinese mentality thai style. like the beach chairs, they charge 300 to sit on a public beach... even when there is nobody in them. if they would lower their prices more people would sit in them. the logic does not exist in Thailand.

How much have baht bus fares or motorcycle taxi fares or taxi fares gone up in ten years?

According the latest The Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI), tourists in Thailand paid virtually the same for their accommodation in 2013, compared to 2012, with a national rate of 3,364 THB. Koh Yao Noi recorded the most expensive destination at 9,519 THB per room per night. http://www.samuitimes.com/visitors-thailand-paid-per-night-average-thb-3364-hotel/

Estimation 2013 2012 % change

Koh Yao Noi 9,519 8,713 9%

Koh Samet 6,367 6,557 -3%

Pranburi 5,177 5,769 -10%

Takua Pa 5,031 4,834 4%

Koh Lipe 4,433 5,135 -14%

Koh Phi Phi 4,404 4,886 -10%

Sattahip 4,234 4,166 2%

Rawai 4,197 4,576 -8%

Koh Samui 4,105 4,147 -1%

Phuket 4,100 3,981 3%

Koh Chang 3,834 3,649 5%

Hua Hin 3,770 3,861 -2%

Koh Phangan 3,694 4,025 -8%

Krabi 3,591 3,407 5%

Koh Tao 3,445 3,190 8%

Bang Phli 2,967 2,822 5%

Bangkok 2,945 2,934 0%

Klaeng 2,740 2,526 8%

Pattaya 2,720 2,641 3%

Pak Kret 2,704 2,536 7%

Chiang Mai 2,629 2,785 -6%

Chiang Rai 2,307 3,010 -23%

Udon Thani 1,847 1,875 -1%

Rayong 1,770 1,554 14%

Songkhla 1,517 1,517 -0%

Average price per hotel night 2013 £69 Average price 2014 £59 15% DOWN.

http://files.hotel-price-index.com/2014/fall/PDF/HPI-H1-2014-UK.pdf

As tourism goes down so do hotel prices.

Edited October 16, 2014 by thailiketoo

[ersl]

It is no longer the free wheeling happy go lucky place it used to be. The police up and own Sukhumvit both in and out of uniform. Random urine tests! Stall holders cleared of the streets like so much human rubbish. A massive amount of poor people, especially women, in dreadful inhuman prisons for petty offences. Massively wealthy individuals for whom there is no rule of law. A majority of oppressed fearful people for which the full weight of a military backed law machine is used to keep them uneducated, denied health care and denied justice. The world has been looking at Thailand since the Airport occupation and I must say this forum has done a lot to shed light not on amazing Thailand but on a sadly depressing thuggish Thailand. When we came here in the 60s it was especially for the weed. Then for women, partying and music in a relaxed atmosphere. It is not just that Thailand has changed for the worse- the world has tried to move on from petty neo fascism during a period of openness via modern media: Would I let my kids go to Thailand? No. The police and the absence of any rule of law combined with militantly corrupt politicians are more dangerous than any drugs, dangerous roads or foreign illnesses. Bangladesh is now marketing its self as Thailand is but the point is Thailand never used to need to markets itself. Its charm and genial corruption covered a myriad of sins. This is no longer the case.

I agree fully with The Manic. I first went to LOS in 2006 and had a magic time as a single bloke, it was just so friendly every where. People were seemingly innocent. The bars were great fun and cheap. You could get laid almost any where for the sake of it. Thai chicks were so inquistive of our extra leg as we were of their home away from home. Bars were raging parties to all hours. Hookers were cheap and friendlyand fun to hang out with. I remember getting free rides in Taxis who were going home. I even had a big party night with a bunch of Thai police in Pattaya, they carried me back to my hotel and we all got together next day for hair of the dog.

Fast forward to 2009, after the airport blockade. I got in about midday and it was hell to get a taxi for less than 800. I did get one eventually and he promised 200 which ended up 1200, but the guest house I stay in fixed him up and I got in for 400 which I thought was reasonable. I coudn't wait to go up the street for that awesome Thai massage I used to get but the price had gone up from 100 for a good 90 min to to 500 for 50 min.

I came to study and was going to be in BKK for at least 3 months and I was even keen on staying as I did not really know how much BKK and Thailand had changed. It had become the opposite of 2006. My favourite hooker spot would not even look at me, it was Japs only for them. Why? They cum fast and pay big!

The bars were traps, every one of them double billed me. I paid the bill and stayed to finish my poole game or drink and see if I could get some action; fatal mistake. I got hit with the same bill when I left as the action was a high priced rags, and the poole girls who were great sports back in 2006 had turned mean. None could ever beat me then or in 2006 but they got pretty nasty because I won, swearing at me in Thai. I just stopped going to bars.

One night I just happened to be walking past Sukhumvit, not going in at all. It was round midnight. The hookers were pretty aggressive and I just remained polite. One hooker grabbed me and would not release me. She said we are going to the ATM. I told her that she can go alone and tried to break away but she held on. Try as I might to get some excuse nothing worked so I just gave her a shove, nothing too big and made my get away. Well, she started screaming at the top of her lungs about falang. Pretty quickly a bunch of people got together back behind her and within a couple of minutes it was mob and they were angry, so I took off, as I was running I looked back and saw a mob running and shouting about 200 metres behind me. I knew that they would get some one in a car to cut me off and they did just as I thought it so I ducked off into a construction site, just like in a Muay Thai movie. I was throwing barrels and stuff to block them and I was shitting myself because I knew that they were out for blood. I knew I was gunna be really dead, then I saw out back of the building site a massive car park full of cars and trucks. So I jumped the fence and headed into the var park. I did not know I could jump 2 metre fences! Any way they were less than 50 metres behind by now, the little fast fellas and they had weapons in their hands. I jumped on cars and ran from car to car. They were jumping car to car too. So I dropped down and had time to think. I could see many many feet. I thought I was dead. Then i spotted light truck and pushed myself under the tray between it and the differential. It hurt but it was the only thing I could think of. Well, they scoured that car park for a good two hours and came back to that truck maybe 6 times. I waited another hour until there was no sound for 30 minutes. I got out very bruised and went home via back streets.

I still had to do my study and every day I got cheated over and over again. One was very peculiar; I'd go for a meal and I love Thai food. I'd find a good eatery and go back the next day, but I would only get half the serving I got the day before. This happened all the time so I asked the school person taking care of us. she said,"It's because you are slim and you don't need so much food." She covered for them. So some how I stumbed upon a chinese lunch shop and they not only did not charge me for half the meal the 2nd time but gave me more for free, every day, as I can speak Chinese very well and even hooked me up with a honey!

When I finished my training I just wanted out of BKK and went south and found the same rip offs so I went to Cambo and had the time of my life. Totally opposite to LOS - Land Of Sour!

I keep up with things in LOS but I can't see me ever going back unless a miracle happens.

One last thing I wish to add is that the world is in the greatest depression since the Great Depression. In HK here prices go up 20% a month for the past two years!!! Every day 100s of 1,000s are doing massive street demonstrations all over Europe and USA. At least 100,000,000 million are homeless and living on garbage. Thais do not look at that now and did not back in 2009.

It is going to get worse, much worse, across the planet.

You aint seen nothing yet!

[smotherb]

'Smotherb'

You do accept right, they will never build red-light districts, with bars that have stages for dancing girls, that cater for foreigners, they will never build such places in PP or Yangon ??

I sure wish I could see into the future too. My clouded vision suggests if Thailand looses even more of it's tourist trade, neighboring countries my simply try to fill the void.

Flying Malaysian airlines for sure. Or looking for democracy movements in Burma and Vietnam?

Gee, I did not know tourists came here for the democracy. No, I wasn't suggesting an Islamic country for all the alkies and sex tourists. And, yes, Vietnam and Burma may be possible locations.

[Grindting]

Hopefully all western tourists will eventually not choose to pick Thailand for their annual vacation. The human rights issues with the cambos and Burmese is enough of a reason, let alone the scams, corruption and general arrogance of the thai's. I wonder how many western tourists actually return after the taxi driver has ripped them off as soon as they step off the plane? Or the tuktuk driver who convinces them the temples are closed and then ends up taking them around shops instead, then the following day they discover the temples were open but they were just done over by another thai.. What about when they find their bill padded but can't argue their way out of it with the aggressive Thais? Why would ANY tourist want to come back to this kind if place? Other than sextourists who will admit that 'this is Thailand' and shrug it off!?

[balo]

Hopefully all western tourists will eventually not choose to pick Thailand for their annual vacation. The human rights issues with the cambos and Burmese is enough of a reason, let alone the scams, corruption and general arrogance of the thai's. I wonder how many western tourists actually return after the taxi driver has ripped them off as soon as they step off the plane? Or the tuktuk driver who convinces them the temples are closed and then ends up taking them around shops instead, then the following day they discover the temples were open but they were just done over by another thai.. What about when they find their bill padded but can't argue their way out of it with the aggressive Thais? Why would ANY tourist want to come back to this kind if place? Other than sextourists who will admit that 'this is Thailand' and shrug it off!?

Hopefully you wll stay home and never visit the kingdom again.

Thailand is more than corruption and scams . And if you can't see that then just stay away. Do you think Cambodia is better og the Phillippines? They all share the same , corrupted police and politiciians.

But also hardworking , honest people, the ones that I share my time with .

[englishoak]

Hopefully all western tourists will eventually not choose to pick Thailand for their annual vacation. The human rights issues with the cambos and Burmese is enough of a reason, let alone the scams, corruption and general arrogance of the thai's. I wonder how many western tourists actually return after the taxi driver has ripped them off as soon as they step off the plane? Or the tuktuk driver who convinces them the temples are closed and then ends up taking them around shops instead, then the following day they discover the temples were open but they were just done over by another thai.. What about when they find their bill padded but can't argue their way out of it with the aggressive Thais? Why would ANY tourist want to come back to this kind if place? Other than sextourists who will admit that 'this is Thailand' and shrug it off!?

Hopefully you wll stay home and never visit the kingdom again.

Thailand is more than corruption and scams . And if you can't see that then just stay away. Do you think Cambodia is better og the Phillippines? They all share the same , corrupted police and politiciians.

But also hardworking , honest people, the ones that I share my time with .

Which is all very well except tourists dont have the first clue which are hard working and which are dangerous and its not about expats living here who know a bit and how to avoid problems but tourists who are clueless.

[Grindting]

Hopefully all western tourists will eventually not choose to pick Thailand for their annual vacation. The human rights issues with the cambos and Burmese is enough of a reason, let alone the scams, corruption and general arrogance of the thai's. I wonder how many western tourists actually return after the taxi driver has ripped them off as soon as they step off the plane? Or the tuktuk driver who convinces them the temples are closed and then ends up taking them around shops instead, then the following day they discover the temples were open but they were just done over by another thai.. What about when they find their bill padded but can't argue their way out of it with the aggressive Thais? Why would ANY tourist want to come back to this kind if place? Other than sextourists who will admit that 'this is Thailand' and shrug it off!?

Hopefully you wll stay home and never visit the kingdom again.

Thailand is more than corruption and scams . And if you can't see that then just stay away. Do you think Cambodia is better og the Phillippines? They all share the same , corrupted police and politiciians.

But also hardworking , honest people, the ones that I share my time with .

Your dream will be my command, of course I never want to step foot into Thailand unless I absolutely have to for work.

What good does comparing Thailand to other 3rd world countries do for your argument that everything that I've said isn't completely correct!?

Of course there is more to Thailand than the corruption and the scams, but it's these things that many tourists (far too many than just a small minority) face as soon as they step off the plane.

Tourists don't care what long time expats like you or I think about the place, they're only there for 2 weeks and to spend their hard earned cash on a nice well deserved break. Do not give it to Thailand, they do not deserve it and do not appreciate it. Even backpackers id advise to stay well clear and get better value for money in other 3rd world countries, Thailand doesn't want them anyway. All Thailand wants is Middle Aged couples staying at the mandarin, hotel pickup so they don't get to experience the initial scams, mandarin organized excursions to shield the tourist from the scams and show them only the nice bits (not the filthy broken and cluttered sidewalks which reek of stinking sewage and rotten fish), buy loads of crap trinkets for 10 times what they're worth and then fck off back to the airport out of there.

Edited October 16, 2014 by Grindting

[joecoolfrog]

I think some of you are in for a nasty shock regarding Cambodia. The corruption and lack of human rights over there makes Thailand look positively cherubic.

[ScubaPhuket]

I think some of you are in for a nasty shock regarding Cambodia. The corruption and lack of human rights over there makes Thailand look positively cherubic.

I would suggest that the lack of human rights & the corruption levels are similar but Cambodia doesn't have several million angry, yaba & ice smoking young men desperate for female foreigner's charms & male foreigner's blood.

They might get there once enough tourists have tramped their country & the tourist dollar makes them as rich & as arrogant as the thais though.

[wilcopops]

I think some of you are in for a nasty shock regarding Cambodia. The corruption and lack of human rights over there makes Thailand look positively cherubic.

time and again you get people citing the situation in another country as if it s some kind of mitigation for the situation here - this is a completely false argument....it actually has no bearing on the matter whatsoever.

[joecoolfrog]

wilcopops

You are correct , but in this instance my post was simply a rebutal to those who were praising Cambodia in an unrealistic fashion.

[thailiketoo]

Hopefully all western tourists will eventually not choose to pick Thailand for their annual vacation. The human rights issues with the cambos and Burmese is enough of a reason, let alone the scams, corruption and general arrogance of the thai's. I wonder how many western tourists actually return after the taxi driver has ripped them off as soon as they step off the plane? Or the tuktuk driver who convinces them the temples are closed and then ends up taking them around shops instead, then the following day they discover the temples were open but they were just done over by another thai.. What about when they find their bill padded but can't argue their way out of it with the aggressive Thais? Why would ANY tourist want to come back to this kind if place? Other than sextourists who will admit that 'this is Thailand' and shrug it off!?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/745499-barber-shop-and-whiskey-saloon-in-the-conrad-hotel/

I came to Thailand because of this guy's review of the barber shop and he was right. That alone makes a trip to Thailand worthwhile.

[wilcopops]

wilcopops

You are correct , but in this instance my post was simply a rebutal to those who were praising Cambodia in an unrealistic fashion.

yes -comparisons either way are both irrelevant.

there seems to be a lack of appreciation of the issues and the kind of tourism that Thailand offers, most seem to have a solely Euro-centric perspective which distorts their opinion.

Edited October 17, 2014 by wilcopops

[joecoolfrog]

Yes a lot of members dont seem to appreciate that developing countries offer a trade off . For me both Thailand and Cambodia are still in credit albeit less so than in the past in the case of the former.

[silent]

why are all the stories conflicting?

have they killed the golden goose?

LOS "ask one question, get ten different answers"

[japsportscarmad]

I think some of you are in for a nasty shock regarding Cambodia. The corruption and lack of human rights over there makes Thailand look positively cherubic.

How do you know have you lived there or just read the papers

[retsdon]

All tourist destinations go through fashions. For 15 years or so, Thailand was very fashionable. Quaint, inexpensive, slightly exotic without being horribly backward. But what brought people here 20 years ago has largely gone ( other than the tarts) and there hasn't been anything put in its place. Beaches? The world is full of them, and the unspoiled character that used to bring people to Thailand's coastline has been destroyed. Peace and quiet? A few million new cars on the road and a countrywide construction boom. Inexpensive prices? Only the taxis these days.

A month or so ago when I was fighting my way through the traffic in the little town where I settled fifteen years ago, I was startled to see a line of pedal songthaews with their solitary tourists in the back stuck in the traffic in front of me. The upmarket hotel in town has always punted this 'traditional' tour of town to its guests, but even ten years ago it was getting anachronistic. Now, it's simply absurd and embarassing. Will these people be reporting back to their friends about what a lovely place Thailand is after being hornswoggled into paying to be choked by exhaust fumes for an hour? The thing is, if they binned this stupid tour, what could they replace it with? A visit to the mall to eat Macdonalds or sit in Starbucks? There's nothing to bring anyone to the town anymore. Now it's just an unregulated traffic jam most of the time with lots of people hurrying about their business.

Like the rest of the country, really.

[mojorison]

!!% yeah good. And I can tell you first hand that Koh Tao is a barren wasteland. It's devoid of activity even for this quiet time of year.

[joecoolfrog]

I think some of you are in for a nasty shock regarding Cambodia. The corruption and lack of human rights over there makes Thailand look positively cherubic.

How do you know have you lived there or just read the papers