Has Thailand finally killed the golden goose?

[Phuketboy]

It's is now high season but where are the tourists? Has Thailand finally killed the golden goose with the problems this year, Koh Tao, Political issues, curfews, removal of beach chairs etc etc etc? This definitely looks that way, at least this season. Beaches aren't anymore busy than a normal low season, streets certain aren't packed with crowds, bars that use to have 30 odd people in them now have 5-10, shops are saying they don't have customers, so their stock increases for the high season are now sitting in back rooms.

This may be different in various parts of the country, however this is not just an observation, this is what is also being talked about with other business owners. I personally know of 16 bars that are closing down this month around Bangla. I also know 3 hotel owners that are closing and 9 shop owners that are closing their doors. This is just in Patong and certainly shouldn't be happing in high season where the most money is generally made.

A few friends of mine who normally come here yearly as well as a number of customers are heading to Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Bali this time because they are all tired of the scams and problems here and have all said it is now getting too expensive compared to other destinations.

Is this happening across the country or is it just here? In 9 years i have never seen it like this.

[MJP]

Well there's all that and the fact people are mostly skint regardless of propaganda pumped out by governments about how well economies are doing.

I reckon this is mostly down to disposable incomes and lack thereof.

[David48]

As an Aussie, Thailand has done nothing to the 'ole Goose.

But pure economics play a role.

The Aussie has declined by 10% recently against the Thai Baht.

The Russian Rouble has crashed.

If the Yuan is roughly pegged to the USD.

You might get more Chinese and USA tourists ... that would have to be good ... wouldn't it?

[Chwooly]

From personal experience I can say Thailand is less expensive then Philippines and Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia I am sure are still less expensive but don't have the infrastructure that LOS has and with the baht dropping against the dollar I don't see it being getting anymore expensive.

However with all the negative publicity about corruption and the recent book that came out ranking LOS as very low on safety for tourists, I am sure a lot of people are staying home or find other destinations. I just left BKK and Nana was as dead as I have ever seen it. So either it is still early and the flocks will start arriving or else there is a serious economic down turn and it just isn't showing up on government's radar yet.

Either way it sucks for business owners and all those lovelies from ISAN might actually have to start dropping prices....

[NeverSure]

Does anyone have a clue how many Americans vacation in Thailand compared to Aussies and Europeans? I don't see that many when I'm there.

China's economy including exports is struggling. The Russian Ruble has crashed. Japan's economy is struggling.

I think it's currency values and economies that are doing at least some of this. Also, Thailand has become expensive. For people on a budget there are alternatives.

[cooked]

Getting away from Pattaya, today we noticed that there were many more Farangs about in Buriram than last week but this is a different form of tourist. The first time I came to Thailand it was also 1 December - end of January (coinciding with a mild winter back home and a terrible February).

I don't care if Pattaya disappears under a sand dune personally.

[Lissos]

How about boredom with Thailand?

Afterall, it has been on the 'new exciting exotic destination' circuit for quite some time now.

Such fads don't last forever. People want to try new things, or can be found returning to old haunts later on. Personally speaking, the various high profile incidents reported this year in flashing letters in international media just roll off me and wouldn't put me off returning again because I first came to South East Asia in the late 90s as a cheap charlie budget traveller and never expected the place to be a shining example of safety, certainty and corruption free, and I don't expect that now. It is like when people expect scandinavian levels of hygiene on a nile boat. Last year I found it far more expensive (for accomodation) in certain areas of Thailand than on my earlier visits, but I still don't think that is a final nail in the coffin for me. I just fancy a change sometimes so I go to other places, and perhaps the previous hordes from last high season may be doing similar?

[Lissos]

Either way it sucks for business owners and all those lovelies from ISAN might actually have to start dropping prices....

Or, expect them to double their prices, thereby punishing loyal customers in order to claw back losses

[Jack Mountain]

Maybe people save their money till the summer to see the Tour de France here ...

[David48]

Maybe people save their money till the summer to see the Tour de France here ...

Not next year ... nor the year afterwards ... apparently.

thailand-absent-from-tour-de-france-2016-announcement

.

[shirtless]

Tourist numbers are down . and that is a fact, As someone stated earlier in this thread most of peoples disposable income has gone , and we can all blame our stupid governments for this they are taxing us westerners into poverty while allowing the big corporations to pay sfa.

[eldragon]

Does anyone have a clue how many Americans vacation in Thailand compared to Aussies and Europeans? I don't see that many when I'm there.

China's economy including exports is struggling. The Russian Ruble has crashed. Japan's economy is struggling.

I think it's currency values and economies that are doing at least some of this. Also, Thailand has become expensive. For people on a budget there are alternatives.

Wiki has 2010 numbers of roughly 600K US tourists v nearly 3 million from the top five or six European nations combined.

Economics may be playing a small part in things, but I don't think there's any question that lower tourist numbers are due to perceptions about politics and safety. I get messages from back home every week asking what the heck's going on in LOS and if civil war has broken out yet.

[Jdiddy]

Wiki has 2010 numbers of roughly 600K US tourists v nearly 3 million from the top five or six European nations combined.

Economics may be playing a small part in things, but I don't think there's any question that lower tourist numbers are due to perceptions about politics and safety. I get messages from back home every week asking what the heck's going on in LOS and if civil war has broken out yet.

Only one i reply to straight away is my mother's query that inevitably comes every couple of months, otherwise she'll have the immigration knocking on my door or the Australian military invading, i swear shes resourceful enough to pull it off

[MJP]

Tourist numbers are down . and that is a fact, As someone stated earlier in this thread most of peoples disposable income has gone , and we can all blame our stupid governments for this they are taxing us westerners into poverty while allowing the big corporations to pay sfa.

I think this combined with demographics and change in socioeconomic groups is where it's at.

Boomers with the big bucks are aging and don't want to travel that far.

[CarlTyson]

Thailand is under Marshall Law and under the control of an oppressive Military Junta.

The Police are out of control, backing the systematic scamming of visitors.

Are you going to plan your family holiday there?

[David48]

Thailand is under Marshall Law and under the control of an oppressive Military Junta.

The Police are out of control, backing the systematic scamming of visitors.

Are you going to plan your family holiday there?

Absolutely a great time to visit!

I've never felt safer here.

My experiences says your observations are well wide of the Mark!

[CarlTyson]

Thailand is under Marshall Law and under the control of an oppressive Military Junta.

The Police are out of control, backing the systematic scamming of visitors.

Are you going to plan your family holiday there?

Absolutely a great time to visit!

I've never felt safer here.

My experiences says your observations are well wide of the Mark!

Observations? I was stating facts.

[simon43]

Usually, December is peak season in Phuket, and hotels/guesthouses in my area (Phuket Airport) are all fully booked and charging peak season prices.

Yesterday, I did a check on Booking.com for hotel availability of the 30 or so properties in my area.

26 out of the 30 still had rooms available, at room rates not much above low season prices.

My guesthouse wasn't one of those 26 and I'm charging twice my low season rate, so I'm happy

That is very unusual for Phuket, and certainly suggests that the tourists are not coming. I know quite a few guesthouse/hotel owners who are at a loss what to do. Even if they reduce their room rates to low season rates, the tourists are not there

Edited December 3, 2014 by simon43

[AYJAYDEE]

Thailand is under Marshall Law and under the control of an oppressive Military Junta.

The Police are out of control, backing the systematic scamming of visitors.

Are you going to plan your family holiday there?

which marshall are you referring to??

[konying]

Usually, December is peak season in Phuket, and hotels/guesthouses in my area (Phuket Airport) are all fully booked and charging peak season prices.

Yesterday, I did a check on Booking.com for hotel availability of the 30 or so properties in my area.

26 out of the 30 still had rooms available, at room rates not much above low season prices.

My guesthouse wasn't one of those 26 and I'm charging twice my low season rate, so I'm happy

That is very unusual for Phuket, and certainly suggests that the tourists are not coming. I know quite a few guesthouse/hotel owners who are at a loss what to do. Even if they reduce their room rates to low season rates, the tourists are not there

You can add Pattaya to that list.

Without a fail, News Year is already booked out.

In one my hotels, we only have 2 bookings over that period.

At the moment(which is high season) the same hotel is only half booked and its doing great, because 1 hotel next door has only 2 rooms out of 14 and another 9 rooms out of 75

Expedia provides some marketing tools to see market movement etc.

Current bookings for 2-2.5 star hotels market average is 31 bookings per month. Its laughable.

[kingalfred]

The "bubbles burst" "party's over"

Etc. Say what you like, there is no high season activity around many tourist parts of the country, Chinese visitors are the "new target tourists", but I assure you they wont be spending much,and there wont be any need for the Sukhumvit Sex bars .

[Berkshire]

As an Aussie, Thailand has done nothing to the 'ole Goose.

But pure economics play a role.

The Aussie has declined by 10% recently against the Thai Baht.

The Russian Rouble has crashed.

If the Yuan is roughly pegged to the USD.

You might get more Chinese and USA tourists ... that would have to be good ... wouldn't it?

Yeah, you pretty much nailed it. Unfortunately in Chiang Mai, there doesn't seem to be a shortage of tourists. I wish they would head to the coastal towns, but for whatever reason, they love Chiang Mai. Traffic is getting horrible.

[konying]

The "bubbles burst" "party's over"

Etc. Say what you like, there is no high season activity around many tourist parts of the country, Chinese visitors are the "new target tourists", but I assure you they wont be spending much,and there wont be any need for the Sukhumvit Sex bars .

Nor need to shops or restaurants as Chinese come ONLY in groups and spend nothing anywhere.

Those who come alone, eat noodles from 7-11 and do nothing but window shop, which is not surprising considering most crap sold is from China

[harrry]

Thailand is under Marshall Law and under the control of an oppressive Military Junta.

The Police are out of control, backing the systematic scamming of visitors.

Are you going to plan your family holiday there?

which marshall are you referring to??

This one?

[A1Str8]

No.

[daveAustin]

- The expense. Holiday in Europe is cheaper when flights are taken out

- The Baht, sill way to high

- Junta

- High profile murder cases

- Unexplained deaths through dodgy food/drink

- Increased crime against tourists

- Obligatory scamming putting off potential return visitors

- Obligatory poor service putting off potential return visitors

- Social media has revealed to the masses what some Thais are really like

- Better destinations elsewhere for cheaper, minus the baggage

[emass spomgiform]

Thailand is under Marshall Law and under the control of an oppressive Military Junta.

The Police are out of control, backing the systematic scamming of visitors.

Are you going to plan your family holiday there?

Absolutely a great time to visit!

I've never felt safer here.

My experiences says your observations are well wide of the Mark!

chachoengsao is not thailand in general

[baneko]

Nana was very busy last weekend...Through the week not so much. Lots of hotels bursting at the seams.

[DLock]

I was in Phuket for the weekend.

If the crazy traffic, parking and amount of tourists on Bangla is any indication, there are plenty of tourists. Lots of Russians, Chinese and shirtless Australians.

But what I did notice is new hotels, condos and guest houses everywhere. Perhaps the tourist population has too many options and the amount of rooms and restaurants is outpacing tourist arrivals. The gold rush is over for many. They good ones will survive. Poor ones will fold.

If that was low tourists, I would hate to be there for high season. It was ridiculous.

[ZAKY]

It's is now high season but where are the tourists? Has Thailand finally killed the golden goose with the problems this year, Koh Tao, Political issues, curfews, removal of beach chairs etc etc etc? This definitely looks that way, at least this season. Beaches aren't anymore busy than a normal low season, streets certain aren't packed with crowds, bars that use to have 30 odd people in them now have 5-10, shops are saying they don't have customers, so their stock increases for the high season are now sitting in back rooms.

This may be different in various parts of the country, however this is not just an observation, this is what is also being talked about with other business owners. I personally know of 16 bars that are closing down this month around Bangla. I also know 3 hotel owners that are closing and 9 shop owners that are closing their doors. This is just in Patong and certainly shouldn't be happing in high season where the most money is generally made.

A few friends of mine who normally come here yearly as well as a number of customers are heading to Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Bali this time because they are all tired of the scams and problems here and have all said it is now getting too expensive compared to other destinations.

Is this happening across the country or is it just here? In 9 years i have never seen it like this.

Its true, i have seen the same thing, to my opinion is that each leader at the head of this country bring its lot to what degree of positiveness? or what degree of negativeness ? We will never have the right middle !Thaksin is a buisiness person; so is Yinluck. They have acted accordingly ! Prayut is a military...