Is the current climate destroying the tourism industry?

[ozyjon]

"Is the current climate destroying the tourism industry?"

I don't know but its pretty warm where i am.

[TheCruncher]

I like Thailand still. I just wish they would stop talking about wanting more tourists then making it more difficult to stay here and spend money. Constantly fiddling with the rules.

To be fair to them,

They say they want more tourists, not people staying here forever.

The Chinese are perfect, they come for two weeks then go back home.

But if the current troubles in China continue a bit longer, there will be no 2 week Chinese tourists anymore, similar to the Russians that have disappeared.

[BookMan]

Of course it has to do with the present government. Westerners view a military run government suspiciously, at best. And this one is no better than any other military government. Add that to the fact that Thais have become very bad rip-off artist and you get less tourist.

Would the average western tourist who visits Phuket or Samui even be aware that Thailand has a military government?

I doubt it

[Chivas]

I don't think it has anything to do with the Govt as tourists should feel safer. Thailand has lost it's charm.

Nail on the head buddy nail on the head. Combined with the fat bald drunk British Yobs in every tourist area the Country has totally lost its appeal. After over 150 times landing in Bangkok from the UK the next few may well be the last

[vr6onlysiam]

It's a recession and it will last probably for ever unless our governments print there own money. Which they won't .

[TrevorS]

The policitcal climate does contribute somewhat to the decline in tourism, but it is not the only factor; there is increased competition for other areas, one of them being Sri Lanka... which has just announced relaxation of its land ownership laws... Thailand needs to look beyond adhoc tourism income and should do the same if it is to considate external income. It should also look to neaby Malaysia to see how they have dealt with this.... the present government does not have the political or ecominc foresight to look beyond the immediate causes.....to fix the root issues.

[HooHaa]

whats wrong with the climate, the weather is lovely

Inane comments like this only prove that some people post here because they have nothing going on in their lives.

or posess a sense of humour, which, from that hat in your profile pic i can tell you must have.

have a lovely day. I am.

[spidermike007]

The policitcal climate does contribute somewhat to the decline in tourism, but it is not the only factor; there is increased competition for other areas, one of them being Sri Lanka... which has just announced relaxation of its land ownership laws... Thailand needs to look beyond adhoc tourism income and should do the same if it is to considate external income. It should also look to neaby Malaysia to see how they have dealt with this.... the present government does not have the political or ecominc foresight to look beyond the immediate causes.....to fix the root issues.

The things you are suggesting require vision, leadership, planning, objectivity, possessing a world view, and intelligence, without fear or excessive nationalistic blindness. Unfortunately, there is presently very, very little of the above. Malaysia is light years beyond Thailand, politically speaking.

[watso63]

I'd say Thailand has a lot more going for it than Egypt or Tunisia anyways

[watso63]

I don't think it has anything to do with the Govt as tourists should feel safer. Thailand has lost it's charm.

Nail on the head buddy nail on the head. Combined with the fat bald drunk British Yobs in every tourist area the Country has totally lost its appeal. After over 150 times landing in Bangkok from the UK the next few may well be the last

Aw diddums, you're really gonna be missed I'm sure

[Chivas]

I don't think it has anything to do with the Govt as tourists should feel safer. Thailand has lost it's charm.

Nail on the head buddy nail on the head. Combined with the fat bald drunk British Yobs in every tourist area the Country has totally lost its appeal. After over 150 times landing in Bangkok from the UK the next few may well be the last

Aw diddums, you're really gonna be missed I'm sure

What a pathetic post !! Whether I return or not the obvious comments made by many posters on the the thread should be sending alarm bells to any that have Businesses in whatever style, within Thailand. Flag waving Koreans and Chinese dont pay the Bills

[watso63]

I don't think it has anything to do with the Govt as tourists should feel safer. Thailand has lost it's charm.

Nail on the head buddy nail on the head. Combined with the fat bald drunk British Yobs in every tourist area the Country has totally lost its appeal. After over 150 times landing in Bangkok from the UK the next few may well be the last

Aw diddums, you're really gonna be missed I'm sure

What a pathetic post !! Whether I return or not the obvious comments made by many posters on the the thread should be sending alarm bells to any that have Businesses in whatever style, within Thailand. Flag waving Koreans and Chinese dont pay the Bills

What's wrong Chivas? You like to sling mud. Suck it up buttercup.

[Guy360]

It is always interesting to read this forum and witness just how many malcontents reside here in Thailand as well as wannabe malcontents who don't live in Thailand but can't help being critical of it. Many posters appear to be genuinely unhappy and miserable living here. They are critical of even the most simplistic of things. I don't understand why people, who bitch so much about the nation they are currently residing in, stay here and not return to their home nation.

I agree that Thailand has changed since my first trip here in 1965 and the first time I bought my condo in 2002. But so has the entire world. Mexico is not the same, neither is Europe, the Caribbean, VietNam and all of Asia. Prices have increased. Exchange rates have been like a Yo-Yo, up today and down tomorrow. Merchants, even the street vendors, are paying more for their products that they hawk to tourists. Vendors in general are the same. Some are pleasant, others are not. But the very same could be said about the tourists. Some are rude and insulting to the locals. Others are quite pleasant.

When you live in a country other than your native nation, you can look at it with a bit of a jaundiced eye. We see it far differently than a tourist sees it, especially a first time tourist. We see the changes. They only see it as it is, not as it was. We read the news and know what is going on beneath the surface. Tourists couldn't care less about the politics or the poorly constructed roads or streets that have to be redone every year. They care about the food, the ambiance and enjoying themselves.

The eyes of a tourist are far different than those living there. Today's world is one that affords even those on modest incomes to travel to places that only the rich and famous traveled to 50 years ago. My children have been traveling since they were young and have been to places I never dreamed of when I was their age. Going for a drive in an old beat up car on a Sunday afternoon was awesome and adventurous. A one week trip to Santa's Village in Dundee Illinois was an event I could have only dreamed of.

Today, people love to go to Thailand. To them it is still exotic and mysterious. It is "The King and I" with Yul Brenner. Elephants walking down the street. Monkeys stealing your lunch. James Bond Island. The Blue Lagoon. The temples and the palaces. It is new and charming to them. Try seeing it through their eyes, not yours and you can understand why tourism is not down and the average tourist is not jaded by coming to Thailand.

[mogandave]

Don't worry, the climate is changing...