Thailand expects tourism boost after street protests

[webfact]

Thailand expects tourism boost after street protests
Reuters

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand expects around 27.8 million tourists this year, the government said on Wednesday, up 12.2 percent on 2014 when the capital was gripped by anti-government protests and the murder of two British tourists on a holiday island made headlines worldwide.

Thailand is under martial law following the May 22 coup, but the government has vowed to attract more tourists to the country, famous for its Buddhist temples, golden beaches and raunchy night life.

"The prime minister has ordered every public sector to urgently build confidence and fix every tourist problems quickly in order to rebuild confidence for tourists, including hygiene, safety and the transport system development," junta spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp told reporters.

The government predicts tourism revenue to reach 1.4 trillion baht (28.42 billion pounds) from foreign arrivals this year.

Full story: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/thailand-expects-tourism-boost-street-protests-120156460--business.html#yDOTAg9

-- YAHOO! News 2015-01-22

[Somtamnication]

Yes, cover up all the warts and wrinkles and paint it pink.

[thesetat2013]

Hehe and to think only last month they were claiming tourism would not be so high because of the ruble. What inspired this jump or is it just more wishful thinking on TAT

[Thian]

With the Russian roubel very low, euro very low, martial law, racist taxi-drivers, corrupt police i don't see many tourists coming except huge groups of very low-class chinese.

[NeverSure]

It must be Thursday.

[alex8912]

Wow they make it sound like Utopia and Shangri-La combined for 2015. Maybe I'll stay the whole year as a tourist to see how it turns out with my new one year special for 2015 tourist visa

[ExPratt]

I may call TAT and ask them next weeks lottery numbers

[Caveat Emptor]

If Yingluck's supporters get uppity the troops will be back on the streets. Will TAT claim it's just a promotion event ?

[Thian]

I may call TAT and ask them next weeks lottery numbers

I know some high officials of the TAT but they can't speak english. Thailand only

[ExPratt]

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I may call TAT and ask them next weeks lottery numbers

I know some high officials of the TAT but they can't speak english. Thailand only alt=wai2.gif width=20 height=20> alt=clap2.gif>

Wouldn't surprise me actually if no one in TAT could speak another language

[maapaa]

Thailand is ... famous for its Buddhist temples, golden beaches and raunchy night live.

Does this mean that the government is still promoting sex tourism ... and thus human trafficking?

[ratcatcher]

Thailand is ... famous for its Buddhist temples, golden beaches and raunchy night live.

Does this mean that the government is still promoting sex tourism ... and thus human trafficking?

Yes, that's right, temples and greedy monks, beaches decorated with plastic garbage and raunchy nightlife. The whole package, plus a few elephants, all under the watchful eyes of a caring military.

[ThePlant]

After a quick whizz down the other week to an eerily quiet Patts at a time of year when, in the past you couldn't move or had to book a room 2 months in advance, I hope it picks up for the sake of the many people dependent on tourism for an income....

[Tatsujin]

Wonderful news. More wild guesses and made up numbers from the boys at TAT who have their collective heads so far up their own <profanity removed >, I don't think they even realize there are other countries out there, and that tourists magically appear wishing to spend oodles of cash here, all the while being treated like crap, scammed, beaten up, murdered, etc etc.

You can always rely on them to post something "positive" however after any recent negative publicity, all aimed at the gullible. Cos after all, this is Thailand, where if you say something, it MUST be true.

I'm still waiting on the "honest cabbie returns XXX baht" story, which I expect will appear very soon.

[lildragon]

News of police harassment on tourists is starting to spread internationally. I was down in Samui last week for the so called 'high season' and it was pretty dead considering...

[jalansanitwong]

RAUNCHY night life ? beer bars ,gogos bars and massage rooms? all of which are illegal businesses that supply prostitutes.

So Thailand's future tourist growth will be sustained by illegal business ?

Nothings changed in Thailand in 40 years.

[HeijoshinCool]

All of these announcements by the junta over the last, uhm, nine months, are the product of someone who exhibits symptoms of pseudologia fantastica.

EDIT: Someone tell me how to turn off the spellchecker that misspells any words with more than two syllables, please!

Edited January 22, 2015 by HeijoshinCool

[ToddinChonburi]

Just fix the numbers, then you have your number correct. Good job Thailand, WAIT !!!!! your suppose to fix these numbers at the end of the year not before. OOOOOPS !!!!

[alant]

I am guessing there will be a massive influx of tourists to see the international sporting events at Pattaya. The change from a place to get and easy beer and company must be well on the way now and the bulldozers at work clearing land for the new venues.

[shirtless]

Tat would never lie ,would they oh they are a government body so the answer is obvious.

[chainarong]

Besides the Buddhist Temples how many other countries have Golden beaches , (some cases better) and raunchy night clubs , I rest my case

[digibum]

The great thing about "expecting" is that it's so easy. You just sit back and "expect" things to happen.

Digibum Expects ThaiVisa Friendliness to Skyrocket 24% in 2015

Digibum Expects All Bangkok Taxi Drivers Will Begin Using Meters in 2015

Digibum Expects the Thai Educational System Will Exceed Western Standards by 2020

This is so fun. I love "expecting"

[Emster23]

Given the nonsense that comes from their mouths, I don't think they have all that great a command of Thai language either.....

[ratcatcher]

Besides the Buddhist Temples how many other countries have Golden beaches , (some cases better) and raunchy night clubs , I rest my case

Ah yes, but how many countries actually have the golden beaches in the raunchy night spots?

I rest my case of beer.

[Noi657]

Street protests stopped months ago, so.... What happened from then until now?

[digibum]

"The prime minister has ordered every public sector to urgently build confidence and fix every tourist problems quickly in order to rebuild confidence for tourists, including hygiene, safety and the transport system development," junta spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp told reporters.

​This is the part that worries me the most. Leaders who issue orders to subordinates without a plan, tend to be really bad leaders. This is the part where the PM should be calling in representatives from every public sector and asking them to come back to him with a plan. Then he goes through all of the various proposals, sorts out a comprehensive plan, and throws his full weight and support behind it with the necessary resources to accomplish it. That's what a real leader does.

[chotthee]

I thought the junta Prayuth is going to promote "Amazing Thainess Coup Tour" to attract tourist, especially from China, North Korea, Japan, Egypt, Pakistan and especially UK.

[noitom]

Lipstick on the pig. The Thai "raunchy" night life is the big lure.

[NongKhaiKid]

The PM has ordered every public sector to build confidence and fix every tourist problem quickly.

Should be no problem as didn't TAT say the only complaints were about transpiration and nothing about scams, ripoffs etc ?

[Baerboxer]

I am guessing there will be a massive influx of tourists to see the international sporting events at Pattaya. The change from a place to get and easy beer and company must be well on the way now and the bulldozers at work clearing land for the new venues.

Yes Alan, huge numbers will come to see the Tour de France, the F1 Grand Prix and international mega superstar concerts in Thailand this year. Most will probably take advantage of the new, easy to get, cheap extended tourist visas and stay longer to take in all the cultural aspects, beaches and visit the famous Islands.

Shhhh - there is a rumor Elvis will be playing here too,