Tourism business in Thailand's North, Isaan robust in 4th quarter

[webfact]

Tourism business in north, northeastern regions robust in 4th quarter
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 10 -- Thai tourists are expected to take the North and the Northeast by storm to experience cold weather and more than Bt48 billion will change hands in the region in the fourth quarter of this year, according to Kasikorn Research Center.

Kasikorn estimates that Bt33 billion will be spent in the North in the last quarter, some 11.5 per cent higher year-on-year.

Meanwhile, it projected Thai tourists will spend Bt15.5 billion in the Northeast during the same period, a rise of 10.7 per cent year-on-year.

The research center stated that the North and the Northeast were popular holiday destinations for Thai tourists, especially in December when there will be five-day extended holidays during the New Year.

The center pointed out that tourism in Thailand slowed down in the first nine months of this year due to political problems, the high cost of living and domestic economic situations.

It expects tourism will pick up in the last quarter as operators are intensifying marketing campaigns. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-11-10

[thesetat2013]

Key words here: Thai tourists....

Not western tourists.

They paint a pretty picture for the toutism industry in the North

I find it hard to believe that people would take a train12-15 hours or drive so far just to look at old temples or to feel cool weather.

But them i am not thai and not a buddhist so maybe im wrong.

[EricBerg]

KRC must have taken in former TAT staff. Predictions of growth all over the place.

[jacky54]

came through the airport on Saturday and no queue at all at immigration, never seen it that slow in 20 years. Might have been the early time but plane from London not full either.

Edited November 10, 2014 by jacky54

[Thailand]

[Chao Lao Beach]

No shortage of western pensions driving Issan, cheers, beers for all.

[bluebluewater]

I wonder how they were able to measure and project all of these numbers?

" due to political problems, the high cost of living and domestic economic situations."

If this is why people (Thai tourists) were not travelling earlier in the year has all this ended? I think not.

[thaiguzzi]

Isaan never has had "Western" tourists , and that's the way i like it.

[sgtsabai]

Thai tourists maybe, Western no. Downtown Udon and Nong Khai like a ghost town. In the 7 yrs I've been up here I've never seen downtown this devoid of westerners, yea! Then again like I tell all westerners, we have no phones, no internet, the airport is just a dirt strip, no electricity, no paved roads, no cold beer, no bars and especially no bar ladies so don't come up.

[Fat Haggis]

Thai tourists maybe, Western no. Downtown Udon and Nong Khai like a ghost town. In the 7 yrs I've been up here I've never seen downtown this devoid of westerners, yea! Then again like I tell all westerners, we have no phones, no internet, the airport is just a dirt strip, no electricity, no paved roads, no cold beer, no bars and especially no bar ladies so don't come up.

Sounds perfect !! I don't see many Farang either around my area, I saw more today at the Immigration office than I see through the month, it suits me down to the ground I'm not anti social by any means but I don't like sitting around talking bullshit day in day out over beers!!

[Bob24402380]

Been in NK 6 years now and lowest level of westerners ever (tourists & expats) - long may it continue...

[longstebe]

Been in NK 6 years now and lowest level of westerners ever (tourists & expats) - long may it continue...

What about the guys with businesses that cater for the farangs?

[longstebe]

Thai tourists maybe, Western no. Downtown Udon and Nong Khai like a ghost town. In the 7 yrs I've been up here I've never seen downtown this devoid of westerners, yea! Then again like I tell all westerners, we have no phones, no internet, the airport is just a dirt strip, no electricity, no paved roads, no cold beer, no bars and especially no bar ladies so don't come up.

You actually say this to every westerner you meet?

How do you go about doing that?

Last but not least, why would you say that to every westerner you meet?

[ttthailand]

Thais are heading north for the holidays because they too are now afraid of getting raped and murdered on the islands.

Western tourists, the remaining few, I think may also start to rethink their travel plans and head north.

[Krataiboy]

Mystic Meg is alive and well and living in Thailand.

[rickirs]

Remember that Thai tourists come at a cost to the government. Individuals who buy local package tours or hotel accommodation will be able to list the purchases as deductible expenses against their taxable income for the year. The deductible amount is set at no more than15,000 baht.

This part of the policy is expected to cost 400 million baht.

[Toknarok]

I don't know about the North, but here in Issan (Buriram) apart from the residents (mostly retired) the only Westerners we see here are those visiting with their wives/gfs who have come to visit their families. There is of course, an enormous influx of Thai visitors (can they be called tourists?) who come home from their places of work on holidays, especially New Year and Songkran. We also used get get an influx on polling days when they came to exercise their right to vote, but that has now been denied them so they don't come any more.

[GinBoy2]

In which Virtual Realty do some of these so called 'research' centers reside? There isn't, never has been a tourist industry in the NE, so predictions (Thai's love that word, I think they drum it into them at the TAT induction center) are far fetched to say the least.

So in the spirit of current Thai(ness) and to support the zealots of TVF, our official prospective tourist poll suggests:

99.9% expect Isaan to be awash with backpacking tourists

99.8% expect every tourist to spend at least $10,000 per week in the local economy

100% of all tourists 100% support the military junta (sorry, government)

99.98% support the current price of Som Tam

100% believe there is no crime, corruption or double pricing

110% believe Prayuth to be the most handsome man on the planet

120% believe Yingluck is a She Devil

99.9% believe it never rains in Thailand

100% expect to travel to Thailand on Thai International's exceptional aircraft

Edited November 11, 2014 by GinBoy2