Tourist number down?

[phuketlive]

Mercman24, "cheap charlies"..., when i see 220 bahts, even 270 bahts in tai pan here in patong for a lady drink, no im not going to buy one.

People are crazy with prices in phuket, maybe cheaper in other places, but why go spend so much money for a lady drink... euro and aussi $ down, they dont realize i think how much it is for farangs just for a f...... lady drink....

[DDuval]

By the sound of the places the OP visited, it appears that sex tourism in Thailand may be on the decline. This is called "progress." What's the problem?

What possible reason would anyone come to Thailand with a family for a holiday, you would have to be brain dead to be a quality tourist and spend your money in Thailand. So many quality places to visit for high spending tourist that speak English and are not polluted and corrupt. Thailand is simply not value for money for a western family tourist

Edited May 17, 2015 by DDuval

[Thongkorn]

By the sound of the places the OP visited, it appears that sex tourism in Thailand may be on the decline. This is called "progress." What's the problem?

What possible reason would anyone come to Thailand with a family for a holiday, you would have to be brain dead to be a quality tourist and spend your money in Thailand. So many quality places to visit for high spending tourist that speak English and are not polluted and corrupt. Thailand is simply not value for money for a western family tourist

you have been

[northernjohn]

We went down to have lunch just south of that big ugly hotel Ambassador city Jomtein and I counted 10 tour buses in a line heading into Pattaya.

Tourist of a different kind and Pattaya will need to adapt. Time to build that casino.

Are you sure they were not just passing through?

[northernjohn]

Last Sunday walking street was packed with Chinese tourists, I mean really packed ! You could hardly walk. The bars however along the street were nearly empty. Even the bars that have chairs facing the street where you can sit and watch the people go by were empty. These seats are always full ! I was a little shocked by the sharp contrast between the street and the bars and the number of people. If this is any indication of the future times will be getting ruff....

do you want to seat on this chair and be guffed by a hord of Chinese like they look to monkeys in a Zoo ??

will you in such a situation enjoy your beer ??

Yes for the bar owners. But not for the people geared up for tourists. It will be good times for them.

Is going to be an interesting year. No rioting or demonstrations where people are getting killed Martial Law is gone. Not that it was a bother in the first place. My son was here for a month of it and didn't know it until I mentioned it to him. The one thing I see holding it back in the future for the westerners is the Chinese If they have been among them they might not want to come back to Thailand. The majority of Chinese can and are self centered and rude.

[tuonsai]

totaly agree with it being quiet, and those "holier than though" clowns on here, shut it ok. it has been quiet even before christmas. and even the "sexpats" as you will call them are ALL CHEAP CHARLIES just ask the girls,- they sit in the bars i frequent all afternoon/nights clutching a bottle of LEO or CHANG.and never buy a "lady drink" drink, just ogle the girls, some ladies exist only on "lady drinks" they are not all "on the game" . i know a friend in cowboy who in 3 days had not had one lady drink. so no money for 3 days. (now some idiot will come on here and say "tell her to get a job in a factory" )

I'm not suprised Western tourism is down as Thailand is no longer such good value and people are realizing.

Like a beer at a Bangkok bar for 120-150 just way too expensive as you can get the same thing for a third in neighboring countries. It's only a matter of time before all those that were going to visit have visited already so the numbers stop increasing. Additionally most tourist are repeat visitors like myself, who have been here 20+ times. The only reason I come is because this is a hub for Air Asia, otherwise I don't find it competitive with neighboring countries in terms of friendliness and value for money, and it has a lot of downsides and annoyances like the fact they censor the internet or refuse to change money because I forgot my passport. These things make me not want to come here.

Edited May 17, 2015 by tuonsai

[fey]

Higher quality tourists stay at resorts and insulate more. Usually all inclusive stuff where there is little inclination to leave and the resort also works to keep them close.

They don't sit at cowboy and pattaya walking street and catch clap, or complain about beer prices and such. They are usually attached or getting laid is not an issue at least scouting for it not as necessary.

These are families and those with means. Quality tourists who use credit cards and eat/drink at good restaurants and upscale bars. Not rich people or high societies, just very comfortable but otherwise normal seeming folks. Usually fairIy conservative living and acting. Not likely to stick around very long.

They also have jobs or things going on. i.e. Not just retired sitting around with (fart) nothing to do.

You could probably find them by checking into some of those resorts on samui with private beaches or maybe in northern phuket (not patong). But i cant really see you doing that, would not have much in common.

Edited May 18, 2015 by fey

[mogandave]

totaly agree with it being quiet, and those "holier than though" clowns on here, shut it ok. it has been quiet even before christmas. and even the "sexpats" as you will call them are ALL CHEAP CHARLIES just ask the girls,- they sit in the bars i frequent all afternoon/nights clutching a bottle of LEO or CHANG.and never buy a "lady drink" drink, just ogle the girls, some ladies exist only on "lady drinks" they are not all "on the game" . i know a friend in cowboy who in 3 days had not had one lady drink. so no money for 3 days. (now some idiot will come on here and say "tell her to get a job in a factory" )

...and it has a lot of downsides and annoyances like the fact they censor the internet or refuse to change money because I forgot my passport. These things make me not want to come here.

Can't watch porn on the Internet and have to carry your ID, that will no doubt cut down on the number of "quality" tourists.

Indeed

[Berkshire]

By the sound of the places the OP visited, it appears that sex tourism in Thailand may be on the decline. This is called "progress." What's the problem?

What possible reason would anyone come to Thailand with a family for a holiday, you would have to be brain dead to be a quality tourist and spend your money in Thailand. So many quality places to visit for high spending tourist that speak English and are not polluted and corrupt. Thailand is simply not value for money for a western family tourist

I get your point--you only come to Thailand for the hookers. Could it be possible that there are other people out there who doesn't think like you?

[Phuketboy]

People on here arguing about High Season/Low Season and that of course the numbers are down. I can remember and it wasn't that long ago that there was not much difference between the streets being busy with tourists weather it be low or high. There might have been some less during the low season, but it certainly wasn't that great. I will try and pull some photos in the difference ion Bangla if I can find them to prove this. The truth is that tourists just aren't coming here as a result of many things. The government, the bad publicity, the murders last year Koh Tao, beach chair removals, costs have gone up, girls all thinking they are superstars and not so appreciative anymore, girls costing too much, people tired of being ripped off by the tuk tuk scum, more businesses closing because of greedy landlords, and the biggest one of all is the strong Baht against other currencies.

[fey]

People on here arguing about High Season/Low Season and that of course the numbers are down. I can remember and it wasn't that long ago that there was not much difference between the streets being busy with tourists weather it be low or high. There might have been some less during the low season, but it certainly wasn't that great. I will try and pull some photos in the difference ion Bangla if I can find them to prove this. The truth is that tourists just aren't coming here as a result of many things. The government, the bad publicity, the murders last year Koh Tao, beach chair removals, costs have gone up, girls all thinking they are superstars and not so appreciative anymore, girls costing too much, people tired of being ripped off by the tuk tuk scum, more businesses closing because of greedy landlords, and the biggest one of all is the strong Baht against other currencies.

Figured as much you would bring that up. Awaiting your currency exchange lecture while i order another mai thai.

[tuonsai]

totaly agree with it being quiet, and those "holier than though" clowns on here, shut it ok. it has been quiet even before christmas. and even the "sexpats" as you will call them are ALL CHEAP CHARLIES just ask the girls,- they sit in the bars i frequent all afternoon/nights clutching a bottle of LEO or CHANG.and never buy a "lady drink" drink, just ogle the girls, some ladies exist only on "lady drinks" they are not all "on the game" . i know a friend in cowboy who in 3 days had not had one lady drink. so no money for 3 days. (now some idiot will come on here and say "tell her to get a job in a factory" )

...and it has a lot of downsides and annoyances like the fact they censor the internet or refuse to change money because I forgot my passport. These things make me not want to come here.

Can't watch porn on the Internet and have to carry your ID, that will no doubt cut down on the number of "quality" tourists.

Indeed

It's becoming a fascist state man!

[mogandave]

totaly agree with it being quiet, and those "holier than though" clowns on here, shut it ok. it has been quiet even before christmas. and even the "sexpats" as you will call them are ALL CHEAP CHARLIES just ask the girls,- they sit in the bars i frequent all afternoon/nights clutching a bottle of LEO or CHANG.and never buy a "lady drink" drink, just ogle the girls, some ladies exist only on "lady drinks" they are not all "on the game" . i know a friend in cowboy who in 3 days had not had one lady drink. so no money for 3 days. (now some idiot will come on here and say "tell her to get a job in a factory" )

...and it has a lot of downsides and annoyances like the fact they censor the internet or refuse to change money because I forgot my passport. These things make me not want to come here.

Can't watch porn on the Internet and have to carry your ID, that will no doubt cut down on the number of "quality" tourists.

Indeed

It's becoming a fascist state man!

Because they don't like porn and want to stop money laundering and tax evasion?

[ttthailand]

A tourist friend who has been to Thailand many times and normally stops once or twice a year for a few weeks went to Soi Cowboy recently. He had not been there in a few years. He asked me what happened to the ladies there. As I also don't normally go to those types of areas I said what happened. He goes on to speak about buying two different ladies drinks but after they didn't want be bar fined. This guy is not old and is friendly and has been around. He continued to say the girls drank their shot and was asking for another in 5 minutes. I have had others tell me same.

A Korean friend who also went same place said a girl wanted 1,500 BF and 4,000 for her. He said cheaper in Korea.

Once the sex is gone the tourists will follow.

[Robert24]

totaly agree with it being quiet, and those "holier than though" clowns on here, shut it ok. it has been quiet even before christmas. and even the "sexpats" as you will call them are ALL CHEAP CHARLIES just ask the girls,- they sit in the bars i frequent all afternoon/nights clutching a bottle of LEO or CHANG.and never buy a "lady drink" drink, just ogle the girls, some ladies exist only on "lady drinks" they are not all "on the game" . i know a friend in cowboy who in 3 days had not had one lady drink. so no money for 3 days. (now some idiot will come on here and say "tell her to get a job in a factory" )

I'm not suprised Western tourism is down as Thailand is no longer such good value and people are realizing.

Like a beer at a Bangkok bar for 120-150 just way too expensive as you can get the same thing for a third in neighboring countries. It's only a matter of time before all those that were going to visit have visited already so the numbers stop increasing. Additionally most tourist are repeat visitors like myself, who have been here 20+ times. The only reason I come is because this is a hub for Air Asia, otherwise I don't find it competitive with neighboring countries in terms of friendliness and value for money, and it has a lot of downsides and annoyances like the fact they censor the internet or refuse to change money because I forgot my passport. These things make me not want to come here.

respect your personal view on Thailand, fair enough. But for me I still like see Thailand very differently. I travel a lot and I'm always happy to come back and call Thailand home. I don't pay 120-150 baht for a beer, all the nice places I visit, beer and whiskey is still very cheap, actually cheaper compared to most places I visit and travel to. Most things are a lot cheaper here and service is still good most of the time.

If it is true what you say that most visitors/tourists are repeat visitors/tourists doesn't that speak for Thailand? Why would you come back if you don't like it? I wouldn't travel here just because it's an Air Asia hub. Why can't you travel from KL instead or Singapore?

[willyumiii]

On my recent vacation, touring bangkok and southern Thailand last March, I thought the number of tourist is up.

Every tourist destination was uncomfortably crowded.

But I could see how maybe tourist spending is down.

Thousands of Chinese tourist on packaged tours spending nothing other than the tour fee and what seems to be a rise in grubby, penny pinching, young backpacker tourists.

The upper class money spending tourists seemed to be pretty much missing.

I was so disappointed in the crowds and quality of people, I cut my vacation short and came home.

Thailand needs to work on improving the quality of tourist and not increasing the numbers.

Edited May 18, 2015 by willyumiii

[mogandave]

"Quantity is a quality in itself."

[fey]

A tourist friend who has been to Thailand many times and normally stops once or twice a year for a few weeks went to Soi Cowboy recently. He had not been there in a few years. He asked me what happened to the ladies there. As I also don't normally go to those types of areas I said what happened. He goes on to speak about buying two different ladies drinks but after they didn't want be bar fined. This guy is not old and is friendly and has been around. He continued to say the girls drank their shot and was asking for another in 5 minutes. I have had others tell me same.

A Korean friend who also went same place said a girl wanted 1,500 BF and 4,000 for her. He said cheaper in Korea.

Once the sex is gone the tourists will follow.

I had that happen to. I bought a lady drink for a girl i liked without being asked. Then her friend came over and would not leave and kept interfering in our connect four game trying to get me to by them both drinks. I think she was a mentor to the girl i liked or something who was new.

Very frustrating. Ended up just leaving because i could not stand her friend. Not sure if it was a setup or intentional.

[tuonsai]

I'm not suprised Western tourism is down as Thailand is no longer such good value and people are realizing.

Like a beer at a Bangkok bar for 120-150 just way too expensive as you can get the same thing for a third in neighboring countries. It's only a matter of time before all those that were going to visit have visited already so the numbers stop increasing. Additionally most tourist are repeat visitors like myself, who have been here 20+ times. The only reason I come is because this is a hub for Air Asia, otherwise I don't find it competitive with neighboring countries in terms of friendliness and value for money, and it has a lot of downsides and annoyances like the fact they censor the internet or refuse to change money because I forgot my passport. These things make me not want to come here.

respect your personal view on Thailand, fair enough. But for me I still like see Thailand very differently. I travel a lot and I'm always happy to come back and call Thailand home. I don't pay 120-150 baht for a beer, all the nice places I visit, beer and whiskey is still very cheap, actually cheaper compared to most places I visit and travel to. Most things are a lot cheaper here and service is still good most of the time.

If it is true what you say that most visitors/tourists are repeat visitors/tourists doesn't that speak for Thailand? Why would you come back if you don't like it? I wouldn't travel here just because it's an Air Asia hub. Why can't you travel from KL instead or Singapore?

You're right, the more you get of the beaten track the friendlier it gets. Unfortunately it's not so easy if you don't speak Thai to leave the major tourist areas.

I've kept coming back because I live in Cambodia and always pass through here for AirAsia - tickets to Europe are much more expensive from Kuala Lumpur.

I'm trying to like Thailand and really wish I could like it, it's just not happening. I see the good things but the fact that I go into a 7-11 or a KFC and they purposely do not speak a word of English and treat me like a weirdo just bothers me.

They disrespect us here. Even the poorest Cambodian can learn 10 words in English to be polite to a foreigner, or if not their body language will show respect. I've never had a salesperson in Cambodia speak to me in Cambodian. Here in Thailand they all speak to me in Thai and purposely refuse to even say hello in English. It's not true salespeople at KFC cannot learn the 20 words they need to serve foreign customers like everywhere else in the world. Here they purposely don't learn it.

Over the past two days there have been two instances of ordinary Thais cutting in front of me in line, acting like I'm either not a human or a complete idiot because I'm a foreigner.

There are some very nice Thais, true, but there is also this. At least in Bangkok where I am.

Edited May 18, 2015 by tuonsai

[ttthailand]

Quality going down while prices going up is one reason.

I also believe most if not all western visitors now will have at least one negative experience during their stay; being ripped off or having a problem with a taxi or tuktuk driver, being in or seeing an accident, being scammed or watching a scam take place by a jetski operator, being ripped off in a bar or restaurant, being robbed on the street, etc etc .... It finally reached the point that everyone takes notice to the negative side of Thailand and are telling their friends back home.

The Internet and smart phones are also exposing the ugly side of this country and it over shadows the lovely parts.

[mogandave]

I'm not suprised Western tourism is down as Thailand is no longer such good value and people are realizing.

Like a beer at a Bangkok bar for 120-150 just way too expensive as you can get the same thing for a third in neighboring countries. It's only a matter of time before all those that were going to visit have visited already so the numbers stop increasing. Additionally most tourist are repeat visitors like myself, who have been here 20+ times. The only reason I come is because this is a hub for Air Asia, otherwise I don't find it competitive with neighboring countries in terms of friendliness and value for money, and it has a lot of downsides and annoyances like the fact they censor the internet or refuse to change money because I forgot my passport. These things make me not want to come here.

respect your personal view on Thailand, fair enough. But for me I still like see Thailand very differently. I travel a lot and I'm always happy to come back and call Thailand home. I don't pay 120-150 baht for a beer, all the nice places I visit, beer and whiskey is still very cheap, actually cheaper compared to most places I visit and travel to. Most things are a lot cheaper here and service is still good most of the time.

If it is true what you say that most visitors/tourists are repeat visitors/tourists doesn't that speak for Thailand? Why would you come back if you don't like it? I wouldn't travel here just because it's an Air Asia hub. Why can't you travel from KL instead or Singapore?

You're right, the more you get of the beaten track the friendlier it gets. Unfortunately it's not so easy if you don't speak Thai to leave the major tourist areas.

I've kept coming back because I live in Cambodia and always pass through here for AirAsia - tickets to Europe are much more expensive from Kuala Lumpur.

I'm trying to like Thailand and really wish I could like it, it's just not happening. I see the good things but the fact that I go into a 7-11 or a KFC and they purposely do not speak a word of English and treat me like a weirdo just bothers me.

They disrespect us here. Even the poorest Cambodian can learn 10 words in English to be polite to a foreigner, or if not their body language will show respect. I've never had a salesperson in Cambodia speak to me in Cambodian. Here in Thailand they all speak to me in Thai and purposely refuse to even say hello in English. It's not true salespeople at KFC cannot learn the 20 words they need to serve foreign customers like everywhere else in the world. Here they purposely don't learn it.

Over the past two days there have been two instances of ordinary Thais cutting in front of me in line, acting like I'm either not a human or a complete idiot because I'm a foreigner.

There are some very nice Thais, true, but there is also this. At least in Bangkok where I am.

People seem friendly and respectful to me.

What is it you want to talk about with a clerk at 7-11 or KFC?

[metisdead]

Troll posts have been removed, if the trolling continues, a posting holiday will be coming soon.

[RasiMike]

Last month, the family and I jumped in the pickup (4 adults and 4 kids) for a few weeks driving holiday and tour of towns/cities and sites from Issan - Bangkok and surrounds - southern beaches - Nong Khai and back south along the border. Everywhere was quieter than in previous years where we have done similar drives.... not just my observations but the view of hoteliers and eateries in most areas - some hotels were very cheap and nearly empty. Old friends and associates in the tourist business say it has definitely been quiet for some time. Main comment from taxis was the lack of farang tourists, though they pointed out the busloads of chinese on tours.

If tourist numbers are up I'd hazard a guess that the are going to CM or the islands, as we didn't see too many where we went?

[BigBadGeordie]

Low season , its raining cats and dogs in the North

Which "North" do you speak of?

Manchester, it always rains in Manchester ;-)

[DDuval]

By the sound of the places the OP visited, it appears that sex tourism in Thailand may be on the decline. This is called "progress." What's the problem?

What possible reason would anyone come to Thailand with a family for a holiday, you would have to be brain dead to be a quality tourist and spend your money in Thailand. So many quality places to visit for high spending tourist that speak English and are not polluted and corrupt. Thailand is simply not value for money for a western family tourist

you have been

I'm not a family tourist i'm a sexpat who just made big bux in Thailand and got the hell out of there....

[Rocketsurgeon]

Pattaya will always be most dead this time of year. Everyones home after winter holidays, summer has not started...its hot as Hades.

Went thru Hualalompong, suprised to.see more backpackers than December although numbers were still small. Hey...its something

Edited May 22, 2015 by Rocketsurgeon