Hotels association wants control of tourist arrivals in Phuket

[webfact]

Hotels association wants control of tourist arrivals in Phuket



PHUKET: -- The Southern Hotels Association has suggested that the number of tourists visiting Phuket in the future should be kept at an appropriate level to match with the capacity of accommodation.

Mr Krisda Tansakul, president of the Southern Hotels Association, said today (Thursday) the idea of controlling the number of tourist arrivals in Phuket was floated at a recent meeting with Mrs Kobkarn Wattanawarangkun, minister of tourism and sports.

He said that idea was meant to screen tourist arrivals with emphasis on “quality” or high-spending tourists.

He pointed out that Phuket was overwhelmed with tourists many of them arriving in tour groups and, hence, prompting a surge of illegal and inexpensive hotels to accommodate the budget tourists often leading to price cutting.

Mr Krisda disclosed that many four-star hotels which are popular among tourists have slashed their prices down to approximate 2,500 baht per day in order to remain competitive with 3-star hotels.

There are 70,000 hotel, service apartment and condominium rooms in Phuket but 60 percent of them are illegal, said Mr Krisda.

Mrs La-iad Bungseethong, president of the Northern Hotels Association, said that 60 percent of hotels in Chiang Mai are illegal and they have engaged in fierce price cutting to outdo one another to attract customers.

She urged them to register with the authorities and urged authorities concerned to tighten up control of these illegal business.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/hotels-association-wants-control-tourist-arrivals-phuket/


-- Thai PBS 2014-10-24

[lee b]

So what do they want them to do, be turned away...Oh sorry can't come NO VACANCY

[fritzzz25]

Another "genius" portraying "thai-ness" of greed. "emphasis on “quality” or high-spending tourists."

My tens of thousands of baht I spend in the Kingdom each year will never be spent in Phuket province.

Edited October 23, 2014 by fritzzz25

[bkkjames]

Amazing but not unsurprising.. Instead of shut down the illegal businesses, let's only allow in those booked into 4 or 5 star hotels.

Looks good on paper.

[robertthebruce]

Quality tourists ??? , what I see waking about is just your average everyday Joe Bloggs,

Maybe there is Auality high spending tourists , but it seems they never leave there Hotel grounds...

As long as people come, what's the difference, it's keeping things ticking over.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

[hansgruber]

They will never get what tourists want or need so there lies the problem.

Thais will never understand farangness.

[NamKAheng]

What they are saying is that the BIB are not doing their job on the island, that is a big surprise!

[santa1000]

[santa1000]

I want to drive a Ferrari and boom boom a super model everu night BUT i don´t get that either.

[MacWalen]

More greed. So only rich could visit Phuket?

[StefanBBK]

If you want only high end tourism, then you need to provide high end facilities. If there are illegal hotels, close them down.

But mind you a well placed hot dog stand can make higher profits than a 3 star restaurant....

[Andrew65]

So what do they want them to do, be turned away...Oh sorry can't come NO VACANCY

Sounds like a classic case of wanting the market rigged in ones favour! (TIT)

[alant]

what is am illegal hotel? Is there a definition of a hotel or something. Lets face it, you would have problems hiding the thing especially when promoting the place so how come they are there?

[forkncrazy]

So this Mr Krisda Tansakul representing the Hotels association, apparently only 4 and 5 star hotels are allowed in it, wants his high profit margin back but is not willing to put forth a service to justify farang's spending more? Instead they want to regulate the number of tourists to Phuket to only high spending that stay in the hotels in his association? Well sounds like the good people of Phuket going to lose a lot of tourism money when you want to exclude probably at least 70 percent of the tourists that travel to this destination. I wonder if this is the same idiot that thought it would be a good idea to issue id bracelet's to tourists and proposed it to Thailand Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul?

[Andrew65]

They will never get what tourists want or need so there lies the problem.

Thais will never understand farangness.

Agreed Hans, they also wouldn't realize that high quality and high spending are not always necessarily the same thing

[Sharp]

I'm speechless!!

[Andrew65]

So this Mr Krisda Tansakul representing the Hotels association, apparently only 4 and 5 star hotels are allowed in it, wants his high profit margin back but is not willing to put forth a service to justify farang's spending more? Instead they want to regulate the number of tourists to Phuket to only high spending that stay in the hotels in his association? Well sounds like the good people of Phuket going to lose a lot of tourism money when you want to exclude probably at least 70 percent of the tourists that travel to this destination. I wonder if this is the same idiot that thought it would be a good idea to issue id bracelet's to tourists and proposed it to Thailand Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul?

A few years ago I read an article where Khun Chuwit Kamolwisut was quoted as saying the same kind of thing re "quality tourists".

Around the same time another interview was with a guy who was currently the head of L'Oreal for the whole of south east Asia. This guy stated that the first time that he ever came to Thailand (20-30 years earlier), was as a student backpacker. I'm pretty sure this guy was hoping to be in Thailand for the long-term. I am sure that there are many similar cases over the years.

Anyway, a case of "low quality" becoming potentially a "high quality" resident.

[Bobobirdiebuddy]

Yet another reason I haven't been to Phuket for 10 years. And that is going to be the very last time.

[Bobobirdiebuddy]

Yet another reason to skip Phuket.

[bongoz]

I just don't get it...

If Phuket is overwhelmed with tourists why are the slashing their prices?

"He pointed out that Phuket was overwhelmed with tourists many of them arriving in tour groups and, hence, prompting a surge of illegal and inexpensive hotels to accommodate the budget tourists often leading to price cutting.

Mr Krisda disclosed that many four-star hotels which are popular among tourists have slashed their prices down to approximate 2,500 baht per day in order to remain competitive with 3-star hotels."

[yellowboat]

This woman is utterly pathetic. Again, the wealthy and privileged of Thailand want more. They find this whole free market thing and that the non rich want to compete. The lower end travellers help the whole economy. The highend tourons just help the wealthy few. How are you ever going to fill Thai Airlines jets if only a few Thais have money ?

[rickirs]

If you want the really high rollers, put in a State-owned casino. Call it a "Thaisino." It will provide employment for Thais as well. Otherwise, treat Phuket like a "special trade zone" that requires a $250 nonrefundable annual entry fee for any nonThai family; will include limited healthcare insurance. That will deter all those low budget tour groups and backpackers.

[yellowboat]

If you want the really high rollers, put in a State-owned casino. Call it a "Thaisino." It will provide employment for Thais as well. Otherwise, treat Phuket like a "special trade zone" that requires a $250 nonrefundable annual entry fee for any nonThai family; will include limited healthcare insurance. That will deter all those low budget tour groups and backpackers.

Taxes on casinos are around 30-40% on gaming proceeds I believe, so why would any gonverment even bother owning a casino only to get less revenue from what would be a poorly run buiness. It is Thailand. What state owned busiiness works with any effectiveness?

Again, there is something wrong with the economics if 4-5 star hotels cannot compete. Government intervention into the market place is never a good idea. There is always a backlash when civil servants get involved in business

[wabothai]

Are they not happy with a full house?

[wabothai]

At the big bridge there then will be a roadblock sying no vacancies, turn around. Never heard such non-sense.

[KarenBravo]

Yet another reason I haven't been to Phuket for 10 years. And that is going to be the very last time.

Thank you so much in supporting and following the government's directive that only quality tourists should contemplate going to Phuket.

We feel sure that you would have a much better time in Pattaya, or, even better, Benidorm.

Please tell all your friends, too.

With Thanks,

TAT.

[Crazy chef 1]

If you want the really high rollers, put in a State-owned casino. Call it a "Thaisino." It will provide employment for Thais as well. Otherwise, treat Phuket like a "special trade zone" that requires a $250 nonrefundable annual entry fee for any nonThai family; will include limited healthcare insurance. That will deter all those low budget tour groups and backpackers.

Taxes on casinos are around 30-40% on gaming proceeds I believe, so why would any gonverment even bother owning a casino only to get less revenue from what would be a poorly run buiness. It is Thailand. What state owned busiiness works with any effectiveness?

Again, there is something wrong with the economics if 4-5 star hotels cannot compete. Government intervention into the market place is never a good idea. There is always a backlash when civil servants get involved in business

in matter of self supporting revenue-the RTP...

[Lupatria]

Next steps: one day tickets, or a 'Elite Phuket Entry Pass' for an annual fee conveniently deducted without further notice from your home country bank account?

[aguy30]

Another "genius" portraying "thai-ness" of greed. "emphasis on “quality” or high-spending tourists."

My tens of thousands of baht I spend in the Kingdom each year will never be spent in Phuket province.

"tens of thousands of baht" Those 250 baht rooms, kauw pad and pad Thai meals really add up quickly.

High quality and high spender for sure. Wow, are you from mainland China? Did you receive a special invitation from TAT?

Edited October 24, 2014 by aguy30