Chinese tourists to bring smiles back to Thailand

[webfact]

Chinese tourists to bring smiles back to Thailand
John Phillips

(CNBC) Political unrest kept tourists away from Thailand for much of this year, but a surge in Chinese tourists over the past two months may signal a recovery next year, analysts say.

"Thailand's tourism sector, which was a key growth driver before the most recent political crisis, finally looks to be on the mend, and should add much-needed support to the economy going into 2015," Capital Economics said in a note last week.

Political unrest this year, triggered by a parliamentary bill in November 2013 that could have allowed the return of an ousted leader, saw the removal of the incumbent prime minister and ended with a coup d'état in May 2014, dented Thailand's tourism sector, which accounts for around 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Visitor arrivals were down 12 percent on year from January through September, data from Thailand's Department of Tourism show, weighed by protests and outbreaks of violence in the first half of the year and caution among travelers thereafter.

Full story: http://www.cnbc.com/id/102287777

-- CNBC 2014-12-24

[terryp]

[Kooweerup]

Chinese tourists to bring smiles back to Thailand

I agree.

Yep Chinese vandalising Temples, throwing hot water on flight attendants, threatening to blow up planes and stealing tuk tuks, I bet Thais cant wipe the smiles of their faces.

[meatboy]

the only smiles i see from chinese tourist is when they FART.

[kotsak]

It's great reading such titles early morning and starting your day rolling on the floor laughing. You can't make this $hit up..

[konying]

And here we go.

Just wondering does the author know that Chinese hardly spend any money?

It's like having a full bar, fully staffed yet no one drinking.

Yes it's busy, only it's costing money to be open without any income

[Thian]

Yes the Quality Tourists are also smiling when groups of chinese are running around in the airport/planes/hotels/markets. They are soo civilised and have such good manners!

[baboon]

Blimey, it's all tourism this morning! I thought it was an insignificant part of the economy?

[hansgruber]

Desperate times if it's come to this.

[tonbridgebrit]

And here we go.

Just wondering does the author know that Chinese hardly spend any money?

It's like having a full bar, fully staffed yet no one drinking.

Yes it's busy, only it's costing money to be open without any income

konying, what are you talking about ??

Those Chinese tourists stay in hotels, and the increasing number of Chinese tourists has caused the construction of new hotels in Thailand during the last decade. The construction industry certainly benefits Thailand, even though lots of the construction workers are actually Cambodians.

Also, those hotels need staff, and a lot of the staff are Thai, so those Chinese tourists are creating some jobs in Thailand.

[daveAustin]

"Chinese tourists to bring smiles back to Thailand"

Well someone needs to.

[thesetat2013]

And here we go.

Just wondering does the author know that Chinese hardly spend any money?

It's like having a full bar, fully staffed yet no one drinking.

Yes it's busy, only it's costing money to be open without any income

konying, what are you talking about ??

Those Chinese tourists stay in hotels, and the increasing number of Chinese tourists has caused the construction of new hotels in Thailand during the last decade. The construction industry certainly benefits Thailand, even though lots of the construction workers are actually Cambodians.

Also, those hotels need staff, and a lot of the staff are Thai, so those Chinese tourists are creating some jobs in Thailand.

Heehee! And i thought the headline was funny. Your reply tops it. The only thing China brings is their numbers. Hotels are not being built because of chinese tourism. The hotels that are already standing are having trouble being filled. Even the larger number of china tourists is still keeping the tourism income low because they dont spend money.

[ChrisY1]

As long as the Chinese tourists are safe.....they will keep coming.....so...no mishaps, no drownings, boat sinkings, murders, falling off high balconies.........and of course, they must not be scammed!

[chainarong]

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Blimey, it's all tourism this morning! I thought it was an insignificant part of the economy?

This is Chinese tourism that's different

[tonbridgebrit]

And here we go.

Just wondering does the author know that Chinese hardly spend any money?

It's like having a full bar, fully staffed yet no one drinking.

Yes it's busy, only it's costing money to be open without any income

konying, what are you talking about ??

Those Chinese tourists stay in hotels, and the increasing number of Chinese tourists has caused the construction of new hotels in Thailand during the last decade. The construction industry certainly benefits Thailand, even though lots of the construction workers are actually Cambodians.

Also, those hotels need staff, and a lot of the staff are Thai, so those Chinese tourists are creating some jobs in Thailand.

Heehee! And i thought the headline was funny. Your reply tops it. The only thing China brings is their numbers. Hotels are not being built because of chinese tourism. The hotels that are already standing are having trouble being filled. Even the larger number of china tourists is still keeping the tourism income low because they dont spend money.

Okay, during the last ten years, there has been mass construction of new hotels in most of Thailand's resorts and beaches, do you agree ?? Pattaya, and a whole load of other places certainly do look different compared to ten or fifteen years ago.

I'm only trying to say that there has been a massive increase in the number of Chinese tourists during the last ten or fifteen years. This is something that we all know is true. Yes, and a big increase in Russians as well. Chinese and Russians certainly account for a higher percentage of the tourists than ten years ago.

Would Thailand benefit if the number of Chinese tourists was to fall ? How about if the number of Chinese tourists would be the same as what it was ten or fifteen years ago ? How many empty or half-empty hotels ?

Most people do accept, looking at the last ten years, the number of Chinese tourists will increase considerably in the next ten years. If Thailand was to stop building new hotels, well, the existing hotels will certainly be catering for the increased numbers over the next few years.

[jalansanitwong]

The problem with Thailand is that it always thinks that quantity not quality is most important.

Chinese and Russians dont spend much here because theyre on budget tours whence most of the money has been spent before they get here!

Thais think that every tourist who comes to LOS has 500,000 baht handy and just cant wait to spend it all and quickly go home..the perfect quality tourist. dreamworld stuff.

The very people that Thailand publicly ridicules and insults daily are the FARANGS who are the bread and butter of Thai tourism and investment.

Its rubbish that hotels are built for the poor thrifty Chinese. Hotels are built here to cater for the Farangs and Japanese.

Would anyone on this forum invest money in building a hotel to cater for Chinese?

Can you imagine what the rooms would look like after 12 months. The Chinese will turn the hotel into a dump.Spit on the carpet,urinate on the bathroom floor,steal fittings etc etc.

Will they spend 3000 baht ahead on a hotel dinner ?

Are the farangs coming this New Years?

Thailand gets the bottom end cheap charlie tourist market. The Chinese who travel to Australia,USA and Europe are a much higher calibre tourist. (if there is such a Chinese) lol

Chinese in Melbourne & Syndey might spend 5-10,000 dollars on weddings. Do you see that here?

Thailand's got a problem with these cheap new era tourists Are the Russians who come here from Moscow and St Petersburg? I doubt it very much. More likely East Siberians.

Any country that thinks it can rely on China for a living is in for a big shock. People forget that China is a communist country run by tyrants.

Edited December 24, 2014 by jalansanitwong

[rasmus5150]

Last night I was at the airport, and saw bus full of Chinese tourists getting ready to fly home. Amid all the screams, pushing and chaos, there where 2 pieces of luggage left at the drop off point. The last tourist did not care as this was not his luggage, and promptly kicked it and left. The bus driver did (of course) not receive any tip, so he just left without the bags. All this left a smile on my face.

[ezzra]

Thailand will smile once the loud chatter, spiting and bad manners will not be so obvious

to them...

[daiwill60]

Shouldnt this head line read something like this:

"Political unrest HAS kept MUCH NEEDED HIGH END QUALITY tourists away from Thailand for much of this year, but a surge in LOW SPENDING, BADLY BEHAVED Chinese tourists over the past two months DUE TO THE REMOVAL OF VISA RESTRICTIONS FOR CHINESE TOURISTS, AND GENERAL SUCKING UP TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM INVESTING IN THAI INFRASTUCTURE, may signal a recovery next year, analysts say.

[Dannyboy666]

. 5555555555, They Bring Nothing, Tour Only, can buy all that crap in China, Gawking Faces do not help Thailand, I sit airport right now, a group of 50 just walked by, not one shopping bag, I mean not one, so Funny Thainess Thinking, oiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[konying]

And here we go.

Just wondering does the author know that Chinese hardly spend any money?

It's like having a full bar, fully staffed yet no one drinking.

Yes it's busy, only it's costing money to be open without any income

konying, what are you talking about ??

Those Chinese tourists stay in hotels, and the increasing number of Chinese tourists has caused the construction of new hotels in Thailand during the last decade. The construction industry certainly benefits Thailand, even though lots of the construction workers are actually Cambodians.

Also, those hotels need staff, and a lot of the staff are Thai, so those Chinese tourists are creating some jobs in Thailand.

Oi Wei ,

Do they go shopping ? No

Do they go drinking? No

Do they go out to eat? No

They get driven around in Chinese owned buses, staying in Chinese owned hotels, eat in Chinese owned restaurants and shop in Chinese owned shops.

Now be a spot and tell me what hotels were built because of Chinese tourists and the exact number of Chinese tourists in the past decade?

If you can not, then try using brain and common sense before posting utter rubbish

[moe666]

My girl friend works in a hotel here in Chiang Mai and as she says, yes there are some rude Chinese and she also says there are some polite ones. In our neighborhood we get a lot of the Chinese here it is a nice side show watching them crash their newly hired scooter. They will eat in some of the local cafes but you never see them drinking in the bars. Their favorite phrase is cheaper, cheaper. You do see more businesses with chinese signs about and a few guest houses that cater to them.

[Manbing]

Chinese tourists account for a large amount of the tourism revenue in Thailand, they are currently further encouraged by visa exemptions and spend on average as much as many other tourists in Thailand.

Russians and Europeans in general are the biggest per head spenders in Thailand, however the recent drop in value of the Ruble- down 30%, and the slowing European economy, struggling to improve; coupled with the ongoing imposition of marshal law, eroding the confidence of foreign travelers planning holidays to Thailand. Means reliance on these previous 'big spenders' is not an option.

Still the Chinese new year tourism revenues are significant to the Thai economy and boost the annual tourism revenues for the end of the year. Its all about the number of Chinese visitors.

This sector is so important, the Thai government have funded the building of infrastructure (roads) to increase the amount of Chinese travelers and bus tours visiting northern Thailand via Laos.

Thats the truth;)

Edited December 24, 2014 by Manbing

[soalbundy]

Thailand will smile once the loud chatter, spiting and bad manners will not be so obvious

to them...

Everyone smiles when they leave

[simon43]

Right now, a new, 500-room hotel/condo/shop/restaurant project is under construction about 1km from Phuket International Airport, (but not under the flightpath), and only a few hundred metres from Nai Yang Beach.

The project owners are Chinese.

The OrBorTor told me that the project owners told him that there was no longer any good reason to 'bus' all their Chinese tourists down to Patong, (expensive buses, time-factor etc). Better, just bus them 1km to stay in this new Chinese hotel, eat at the in-house restauraqnt, buy souvenirs (probably made in China) from the in-house souvenir shops.

I think Patong should be worried (or grateful!) that future Chinese tourists will not venture more than 1km from the airport

[Noi657]

Thailand will welcome these tourists with open arms all the while good old China carry on investing big in thai infrastructure!

I mean let's be honest.... Thailands elite are pretty much Chinese anyway!

[FireMedic]

I can't wait for them to start crapping and pissing in the street in front of everyone. Ever been on an Air Asia flight with Chinese on it? Even though the girls come through and collect trash about a dozen times, when you get off the plane, it looks like rubbish tornado went through the cabin. The entire floor is covered with noodles, bowls, cups, bags, and every other thing they can throw on the floor. They are always screaming and shouting at each other, trying to have full conversations from the front of the plane to the back, they are always trying to sneak into the Red chairs and pretend to sleep so the girls don't wake them up...It goes on and on. I don't think Thais have the patience for that behavior on a grand scale.

[falangjim]

Every coffee shop in Bangkok needs a Chinese businessman in it blathering away on his cell at obscene decibels.

[HeijoshinCool]

Gee, just six or seven months ago TAT issued an official press release saying they didn't WANT ANY MORE CHINESE TOURISTS!

(Guess the Chinese missed that.)

[klauskunkel]

Chinese tourists to bring smiles back to Thailand

No, no, the PM is bringing the happiness back. Yes.