Low customer numbers?

[greenerphuket]

I've been talking with people working in different tourism related businesses and a lot of people complain low customer numbers ranging from 20-40% down compared to last year. This is mainly due to inreasing numbers of Chinese and Russian tourists. Our numbers are currently down about 20% and low season was even worse. Anyone else experiencing a similar trend?

[gerry123]

20-40% down compared to last year. This is mainly due to increasing numbers of Chinese and Russian tourists. ??

​sorry a bit confusing up /down down /up ??? or have i missed the point again

[hansgruber]

Tourist numbers are the same but its just that they sit on tour buses and get taken to places that make the tour operators money.

The free thinking independent travellers from Europe are not what they used to be.

Now a select few reap all the profits.

Sent from my LG-D858

[fforest1]

Tourist want sunbeds and umbrellas its just that simple....They will vote with their feet.

[gerry123]

tourist numbers are not the same

[thailiketoo]

Tourist numbers are the same but its just that they sit on tour buses and get taken to places that make the tour operators money.

The free thinking independent travellers from Europe are not what they used to be.

Now a select few reap all the profits.

Sent from my LG-D858

I guess they bring all the food and beds from China and Russia and gas for the bus. Wow, who would have thought.

Edited November 10, 2014 by thailiketoo

[LivinginKata]

I just driven from Kata to Patong and back. I can tell you the volume of traffic is high, very high. Too many novice m/bike drivers and too many hire car drivers. All driving slowly looking at the views - nightmare.

[greenerphuket]

20-40% down compared to last year. This is mainly due to increasing numbers of Chinese and Russian tourists. ??

​sorry a bit confusing up /down down /up ??? or have i missed the point again

Sorry. I though it was obvious. Yes, like hansgruber says the market has changed and tourists are escorted to selected businesses. Arrivals are up but I am not sure how much of the money actually stays in Phuket or Thailand.

[gerry123]

20-40% down compared to last year. This is mainly due to increasing numbers of Chinese and Russian tourists. ??

​sorry a bit confusing up /down down /up ??? or have i missed the point again

Sorry. I though it was obvious. Yes, like hansgruber says the market has changed and tourists are escorted to selected businesses. Arrivals are up but I am not sure how much of the money actually stays in Phuket or Thailand.

obviously not obvious to me but from what T A T has to say numbers are down from last year this time and as we all know there figures are never reliable so i will concede numbers are up obviously

[stevenl]

I just driven from Kata to Patong and back. I can tell you the volume of traffic is high, very high. Too many novice m/bike drivers and too many hire car drivers. All driving slowly looking at the views - nightmare.

Yep, this morning had to take evasive action to avoid a Chinese couple who were driving so slowly on their bike it fell over.

[NamKangMan]

With the Russian ruble going into free fall, it will be interesting to see if the Russian tourist numbers remain the same in the near future.

[hkt83100]

I just driven from Kata to Patong and back. I can tell you the volume of traffic is high, very high. Too many novice m/bike drivers and too many hire car drivers. All driving slowly looking at the views - nightmare.

Yep, this morning had to take evasive action to avoid a Chinese couple who were driving so slowly on their bike it fell over.

Whoever rents a motorbike to people like these deserves to be shot immediately without right to appeal.

[LivinginKata]

With the Russian ruble going into free fall, it will be interesting to see if the Russian tourist numbers remain the same in the near future.

Yes, I just had a regular Russian couple check-in last night. The guy was bemoaning the exchange rate for his rubles. Can't remember the exact number but he implied that he was getting near half the baht from last year.

[LivinginKata]

Just out of idle interest I checked http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=RUB&to=THB&view=1Y

High of 1.005 rouble to the baht

Today 0.701 rouble to the baht

[KarenBravo]

Just out of idle interest I checked http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=RUB&to=THB&view=1Y

High of 1.005 rouble to the baht

Today 0.701 rouble to the baht

That doesn't make sense.

If you only have to give 70 Kopecs to buy one Baht now, whereas before, you had to give 100 kopecs, then that means the Ruble has strengthened.

I am presently in Russia.

On the 25th August, I was getting approximately 36 Rubles to one US dollar.

The exchange rate now is 48 Rubles to one US dollar.

The ruble has lost 30% of its value in three months.

Edited November 10, 2014 by KarenBravo

[LivinginKata]

Just out of idle interest I checked http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=RUB&to=THB&view=1Y

High of 1.005 rouble to the baht

Today 0.701 rouble to the baht

That doesn't make sense.

If you only have to give 70 Kopecs to buy one Baht now, whereas before, you had to give 100 kopecs, then that means the Ruble has strengthened.

I am presently in Russia.

On the 25th August, I was getting approximately 36 Rubles to one US dollar.

The exchange rate now is 48 Rubles to one US dollar.

The ruble has lost 30% of its value in three months.

Quite right KB - I must corrected myself. My Russian guest was complaining that inflation of Russia had doubled.

[hansgruber]

Tourist numbers are the same but its just that they sit on tour buses and get taken to places that make the tour operators money.

The free thinking independent travellers from Europe are not what they used to be.

Now a select few reap all the profits.

Sent from my LG-D858

I guess they bring all the food and beds from China and Russia and gas for the bus. Wow, who would have thought.

They stay in the lowest 3 star hotels at a rate that other can't compete. They don't venture out and eat at restaurants or shop at establishments of their own free will.

Pre organised days via the road clogging buses to commission based pitstops. Same goes for food.

Small business is suffering, not the tour operators you make money off them at every turn based on rip off commissions. They are thriving along with 7/11 and family marts.

Sent from my LG-D858

[pagallim]

That really is going to be interesting over the next few months, if the ruble has lost 30-50% of it's previous value. The demographic of the tourists at present I would estimate at 30/30% Russian/Chinese. The remaining 40% from a more diverse population (US/Europe/Australia/Asia etc etc).

Any loss of Russian tourists is going to make a severe dent into the Phuket market, as in the main they do get out and about and spend money. The Chinese (with the rare exception) do not.

Probably won't be felt for a couple of months, as most (Russians) will have already paid for their holiday. Impact on next year..........?

[KarenBravo]

Don't forget the Koreans. They arrive by the plane-load, but, for comparison, you can lump them in with the Chinese as pretty much every minute they stay in Phuket has been organised for them.

[NamKangMan]

Just out of idle interest I checked http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=RUB&to=THB&view=1Y

High of 1.005 rouble to the baht

Today 0.701 rouble to the baht

That doesn't make sense.

If you only have to give 70 Kopecs to buy one Baht now, whereas before, you had to give 100 kopecs, then that means the Ruble has strengthened.

I am presently in Russia.

On the 25th August, I was getting approximately 36 Rubles to one US dollar.

The exchange rate now is 48 Rubles to one US dollar.

The ruble has lost 30% of its value in three months.

"The ruble has lost 30% of its value in three months." - yes. That's around about the figure I was referring to in my earlier post.

Most package holidays abroad are booked more than 3 months in advance, so, those who booked 3 months ago, thought they would have a certain amount to spend here on their holiday. Their holiday budget, so to speak. That amount has recently dropped, by a third - 30%.

If they were not spending before, I can only think they will certainly not be spending anything now.

Of concern to the tourism industy here, those Russians who are considering booking a package holiday here in the future, may no longer be able to afford to come here, at all.

[NamKangMan]

That really is going to be interesting over the next few months, if the ruble has lost 30-50% of it's previous value. The demographic of the tourists at present I would estimate at 30/30% Russian/Chinese. The remaining 40% from a more diverse population (US/Europe/Australia/Asia etc etc).

Any loss of Russian tourists is going to make a severe dent into the Phuket market, as in the main they do get out and about and spend money. The Chinese (with the rare exception) do not.

Probably won't be felt for a couple of months, as most (Russians) will have already paid for their holiday. Impact on next year..........?

"Probably won't be felt for a couple of months, as most (Russians) will have already paid for their holiday. Impact on next year..........?" - I completely agree.

I predict Russian tourist numbers will be down, way down, in the second quarter of next year, based on currency exchange alone.

[simon43]

They stay in the lowest 3 star hotels at a rate that other can't compete.

Thank heavens I own 2-star hotels built on very cheap land, (low running costs). Typically, 50% of guests are mainland Chinese and avoid buying food and alcohol at the hotel to save money.

(But tonight for a change, they are buying many beers - no running up tabs though, cash payment per beer!)

[Felt 35]

Tourist numbers up - Kingdom of making believe

[pitchag]

20-40% down compared to last year. This is mainly due to increasing numbers of Chinese and Russian tourists. ??

​sorry a bit confusing up /down down /up ??? or have i missed the point again

Sorry. I though it was obvious. Yes, like hansgruber says the market has changed and tourists are escorted to selected businesses. Arrivals are up but I am not sure how much of the money actually stays in Phuket or Thailand.

The same thing happened in Australia on the Gold Coast the Japanese, koreans and Chinese booked their holidays in their home countries and were led around like sheep to selected duty free shops and restaurants and told it was not safe to go out on your own, they even charged them to go to our FREE beaches for a couple of hours.

So the the business's that were not connected to the tour company got nothing from the Asian tourist unless you agreed to give a massive kick back to the tour leaders

I was in Walking St Pattaya the other night and there was dozens of tour groups following the guide with the flag did not see them stop once to buy a drink or anything they just had to keep up with the guy with the flag

These tour groups really do not do much for local business

[thailiketoo]

20-40% down compared to last year. This is mainly due to increasing numbers of Chinese and Russian tourists. ??

​sorry a bit confusing up /down down /up ??? or have i missed the point again

Sorry. I though it was obvious. Yes, like hansgruber says the market has changed and tourists are escorted to selected businesses. Arrivals are up but I am not sure how much of the money actually stays in Phuket or Thailand.

The same thing happened in Australia on the Gold Coast the Japanese, koreans and Chinese booked their holidays in their home countries and were led around like sheep to selected duty free shops and restaurants and told it was not safe to go out on your own, they even charged them to go to our FREE beaches for a couple of hours.

So the the business's that were not connected to the tour company got nothing from the Asian tourist unless you agreed to give a massive kick back to the tour leaders

I was in Walking St Pattaya the other night and there was dozens of tour groups following the guide with the flag did not see them stop once to buy a drink or anything they just had to keep up with the guy with the flag

These tour groups really do not do much for local business

They eat food in Thailand and stay at hotels in Thailand so they do spend some money. Think about the backpackers and digital nomads eating noodles and drinking rice wine imported non taxed herbs and sleeping in the park or on the curb. I think I'd rather have the Chinese.

[madmitch]

20-40% down compared to last year. This is mainly due to increasing numbers of Chinese and Russian tourists. ??

​sorry a bit confusing up /down down /up ??? or have i missed the point again

Sorry. I though it was obvious. Yes, like hansgruber says the market has changed and tourists are escorted to selected businesses. Arrivals are up but I am not sure how much of the money actually stays in Phuket or Thailand.

The same thing happened in Australia on the Gold Coast the Japanese, koreans and Chinese booked their holidays in their home countries and were led around like sheep to selected duty free shops and restaurants and told it was not safe to go out on your own, they even charged them to go to our FREE beaches for a couple of hours.

So the the business's that were not connected to the tour company got nothing from the Asian tourist unless you agreed to give a massive kick back to the tour leaders

I was in Walking St Pattaya the other night and there was dozens of tour groups following the guide with the flag did not see them stop once to buy a drink or anything they just had to keep up with the guy with the flag

These tour groups really do not do much for local business

They eat food in Thailand and stay at hotels in Thailand so they do spend some money. Think about the backpackers and digital nomads eating noodles and drinking rice wine imported non taxed herbs and sleeping in the park or on the curb. I think I'd rather have the Chinese.

Seems like you have very blinkered views on backpackers, who probably are better for local small businesses than many other travellers......especially the Chinese.

[thailiketoo]

They eat food in Thailand and stay at hotels in Thailand so they do spend some money. Think about the backpackers and digital nomads eating noodles and drinking rice wine imported non taxed herbs and sleeping in the park or on the curb. I think I'd rather have the Chinese.

Seems like you have very blinkered views on backpackers, who probably are better for local small businesses than many other travellers......especially the Chinese.

Don't forget my blinkered view of digital nomads too. I think it is a draw, Chinese, Backpakers and Digital nomads except there are1,367,640,000 Chinese to draw from or 20% of the world's population.

[hansgruber]

Look at all the family marts and 7/11s popping up. Especially Nai harn.

One near icon that's big and another on the way to the lagoon at Nai harn.

Add that to the newish one on Rawai beach rd that popped up in the old cafe was remarkable.

One week that was a family mart.

Oh how they have prospered due to the shift in visitors.

[DrDave]

I just driven from Kata to Patong and back. I can tell you the volume of traffic is high, very high. Too many novice m/bike drivers and too many hire car drivers. All driving slowly looking at the views - nightmare.

A lot of the novice motorbike drivers might have been due to the fact that there were 2 cruise ships moored in Patong Bay with a combined capacity of almost 4,000 pax at the time. The beach at Patong was unusually crowded too, and cruise tour buses were double-parked all along the southern end of Thaweewong Rd.

Edited November 11, 2014 by DrDave

[Guest]

With the Russian ruble going into free fall, it will be interesting to see if the Russian tourist numbers remain the same in the near future.

Yes, I just had a regular Russian couple check-in last night. The guy was bemoaning the exchange rate for his rubles. Can't remember the exact number but he implied that he was getting near half the baht from last year.

What it's worth, the Russians have a great sense of humour.

"Did you managed to make a wish?"