Chinese RV arrivals in Phuket spur talks on total ban

[NamKangMan]

Not getting money from tourists.... it really does make them livid!

"it really does make them livid!" - and makes them an embarrassment on the world stage of tourism.

How petty.

[Happy Grumpy]

there will be issues with people dumping grey water and sewage into ditches.

Mate, they do that before they leave their house in China, never mind when out on the road in their RV.

[khaowong1]

The RV business is big in the US. Thailand would be a nice place to motor around. However, Thai's don't look at it that way. How you gonna milk someone for room rent when they don't rent a room. Thailand could be the RV Hub of Southeast Asia, but they don't seem to be smart enough to realize that.

[khaowong1]

.................“We could ban all RVs from Phuket entirely, and seize all the RVs and arrest their drivers already on the island – without exception.

“Or we could let each district come up with their own rules and regulations, and set up designated areas and routes for these vehicles, with a registration process......................

I wonder which one will be chosen!!

Or.... We could realize there is a gap in the market and open an RV park and make a bunch of money...

I guarantee, some farang and his Thia wife will try such a business, making a lot of money, and the local poobah and his henchmen will come down on them like a load of bricks.

[stevenl]

The RV business is big in the US. Thailand would be a nice place to motor around. However, Thai's don't look at it that way. How you gonna milk someone for room rent when they don't rent a room. Thailand could be the RV Hub of Southeast Asia, but they don't seem to be smart enough to realize that.

Yes, you',re a lot smarter than the Thai

[arend]

10 scattered RV's trigger a crisis and mass hysteria? ... OMG, the RV;s are coming!, the RV;s are coming!, circle the wagons! ...really, is this for real?

[jaywalker]

Simple when the RV's are parked where there not supppsed to park have one or two of those horrid boom box trucks park next to them and hit full volume.......

Love the idea but it would just make them feel right at home.

[gigman]

Just bunch of idiots not able to adjust to the rest of normal world

They have no face to say ..."we loosing money"

But "guys" you badly wanted those tourists and now you start having them .....

Ohhhh. what about your own modified vehicles in your country everywhere....for eg. motorbikes carry concrete mixers, veggies food etc.. are they safer then RV's ????.

Ohhh. just bunch of greedy idiots.

.

Edited February 26, 2016 by gigman

[pomchop]

So Rv's coming in near CR and then drive about 1000 miles to phuket? Seems to me the chinese i see driving around in Chiang Rai can barely even keep a car on the road without causing chaos on already chaotic roads. Driving a big RV is a very different experience than driving a car or motorbike.

Not to mention that chinese are notorious for dumping crap all over everywhere.

Thailand better nip it in the bud or chinese tour companies will see an opportunity to figure out thousands of RV's rentals, RV parks, cheaper less safe versions etc.

Not a pretty future in my opinion.

[spidermike007]

“Phuket does not have RV parks to accommodate these vehicles. We are afraid that by allowing ‘RV tourism’ on the island, we will have other issues to deal with, such as public health, cleanliness and public nuisance.”

V/Gov Prajiad noted the two possible solutions suggested at the meeting.

“We could ban all RVs from Phuket entirely, and seize all the RVs and arrest their drivers already on the island – without exception.

This is a bald faced attempt to ban these RV's, based on fear that hotel revenue will be diminished. It is childish, churlish, ignorant, fearful, misguided, and just plain stupid policy. So what if the Chinese want to drive through the country. All of the US and Europe is fine with this. What, is Thailand something so special, that worldwide laws do not apply here? As long as the RV's are careful with their rubbish, and waste, let them be. They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels. Forget about a few hotel rooms. It matters not. But, this administration is famous worldwide, for focusing energy and resources on things that matter not. Ignorant does not even begin to describe the entire lot of the authorities here. One does not even know where to start to describe them.

​And rather than being genuine, and truthful, about the true reasons for the proposed ban, they lie, and talk about public safety, and other relatively irrelevant issues. Men tell the truth. Boys, and freaks, and disingenuous politicians lie about everything.

[stevenl]

“Phuket does not have RV parks to accommodate these vehicles. We are afraid that by allowing ‘RV tourism’ on the island, we will have other issues to deal with, such as public health, cleanliness and public nuisance.”

V/Gov Prajiad noted the two possible solutions suggested at the meeting.

“We could ban all RVs from Phuket entirely, and seize all the RVs and arrest their drivers already on the island – without exception.

This is a bald faced attempt to ban these RV's, based on fear that hotel revenue will be diminished. It is childish, churlish, ignorant, fearful, misguided, and just plain stupid policy. So what if the Chinese want to drive through the country. All of the US and Europe is fine with this. What, is Thailand something so special, that worldwide laws do not apply here? As long as the RV's are careful with their rubbish, and waste, let them be. They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels. Forget about a few hotel rooms. It matters not. But, this administration is famous worldwide, for focusing energy and resources on things that matter not. Ignorant does not even begin to describe the entire lot of the authorities here. One does not even know where to start to describe them.

​And rather than being genuine, and truthful, about the true reasons for the proposed ban, they lie, and talk about public safety, and other relatively irrelevant issues. Men tell the truth. Boys, and freaks, and disingenuous politicians lie about everything.

"They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels."

We're talking Chinese here, the only ones profiting will be the 7/11's. The rest will only bear the brunt. No confiscation etc. necessary though, simply turn them around at the checkpoint.

Edited February 27, 2016 by stevenl

[Old Croc]

“Phuket does not have RV parks to accommodate these vehicles. We are afraid that by allowing ‘RV tourism’ on the island, we will have other issues to deal with, such as public health, cleanliness and public nuisance.”

V/Gov Prajiad noted the two possible solutions suggested at the meeting.

“We could ban all RVs from Phuket entirely, and seize all the RVs and arrest their drivers already on the island – without exception.

This is a bald faced attempt to ban these RV's, based on fear that hotel revenue will be diminished. It is childish, churlish, ignorant, fearful, misguided, and just plain stupid policy. So what if the Chinese want to drive through the country. All of the US and Europe is fine with this. What, is Thailand something so special, that worldwide laws do not apply here? As long as the RV's are careful with their rubbish, and waste, let them be. They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels. Forget about a few hotel rooms. It matters not. But, this administration is famous worldwide, for focusing energy and resources on things that matter not. Ignorant does not even begin to describe the entire lot of the authorities here. One does not even know where to start to describe them.

​And rather than being genuine, and truthful, about the true reasons for the proposed ban, they lie, and talk about public safety, and other relatively irrelevant issues. Men tell the truth. Boys, and freaks, and disingenuous politicians lie about everything.

"They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels."

We're talking Chinese here, the only ones profiting will be the 7/11's. The rest will only bear the brunt. No confiscation etc. necessary though, simply turn them around at the checkpoint.

Or, construct a large RV park near the entrance where they have to base themselves, and then use alternatives to tour the Island.

(tuk tuks, mini buses, light rail!)

[stevenl]

“Phuket does not have RV parks to accommodate these vehicles. We are afraid that by allowing ‘RV tourism’ on the island, we will have other issues to deal with, such as public health, cleanliness and public nuisance.”

V/Gov Prajiad noted the two possible solutions suggested at the meeting.

“We could ban all RVs from Phuket entirely, and seize all the RVs and arrest their drivers already on the island – without exception.

This is a bald faced attempt to ban these RV's, based on fear that hotel revenue will be diminished. It is childish, churlish, ignorant, fearful, misguided, and just plain stupid policy. So what if the Chinese want to drive through the country. All of the US and Europe is fine with this. What, is Thailand something so special, that worldwide laws do not apply here? As long as the RV's are careful with their rubbish, and waste, let them be. They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels. Forget about a few hotel rooms. It matters not. But, this administration is famous worldwide, for focusing energy and resources on things that matter not. Ignorant does not even begin to describe the entire lot of the authorities here. One does not even know where to start to describe them.

​And rather than being genuine, and truthful, about the true reasons for the proposed ban, they lie, and talk about public safety, and other relatively irrelevant issues. Men tell the truth. Boys, and freaks, and disingenuous politicians lie about everything.

"They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels."

We're talking Chinese here, the only ones profiting will be the 7/11's. The rest will only bear the brunt. No confiscation etc. necessary though, simply turn them around at the checkpoint.

Or, construct a large RV park near the entrance where they have to base themselves, and then use alternatives to tour the Island.

(tuk tuks, mini buses, light rail!)

Plenty of space there, there already is a big, largely unused parking with lots of space called the Phuket Gateway.

[Old Croc]

That's what I had in mind.

[spidermike007]

“Phuket does not have RV parks to accommodate these vehicles. We are afraid that by allowing ‘RV tourism’ on the island, we will have other issues to deal with, such as public health, cleanliness and public nuisance.”

V/Gov Prajiad noted the two possible solutions suggested at the meeting.

“We could ban all RVs from Phuket entirely, and seize all the RVs and arrest their drivers already on the island – without exception.

This is a bald faced attempt to ban these RV's, based on fear that hotel revenue will be diminished. It is childish, churlish, ignorant, fearful, misguided, and just plain stupid policy. So what if the Chinese want to drive through the country. All of the US and Europe is fine with this. What, is Thailand something so special, that worldwide laws do not apply here? As long as the RV's are careful with their rubbish, and waste, let them be. They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels. Forget about a few hotel rooms. It matters not. But, this administration is famous worldwide, for focusing energy and resources on things that matter not. Ignorant does not even begin to describe the entire lot of the authorities here. One does not even know where to start to describe them.

​And rather than being genuine, and truthful, about the true reasons for the proposed ban, they lie, and talk about public safety, and other relatively irrelevant issues. Men tell the truth. Boys, and freaks, and disingenuous politicians lie about everything.

"They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels."

We're talking Chinese here, the only ones profiting will be the 7/11's. The rest will only bear the brunt. No confiscation etc. necessary though, simply turn them around at the checkpoint.

They are buying food, they are eating in restaurants, they are purchasing alot of gas, they are having their vehicles repaired, buying gifts, souvenirs, and contributing on other levels. Not all Chinese are poor or cheap. If they can afford a motor home, they have cash! This is simply sour grapes within the hotel industry. Oh my God, we might lose 50 room nights per year! Heaven forbid such a thing. These are guys who look like men, but are really children trapped in a man's body, who are complaining, and listening. Some people just need to be ignored!

[stevenl]

“Phuket does not have RV parks to accommodate these vehicles. We are afraid that by allowing ‘RV tourism’ on the island, we will have other issues to deal with, such as public health, cleanliness and public nuisance.”

V/Gov Prajiad noted the two possible solutions suggested at the meeting.

“We could ban all RVs from Phuket entirely, and seize all the RVs and arrest their drivers already on the island – without exception.

This is a bald faced attempt to ban these RV's, based on fear that hotel revenue will be diminished. It is childish, churlish, ignorant, fearful, misguided, and just plain stupid policy. So what if the Chinese want to drive through the country. All of the US and Europe is fine with this. What, is Thailand something so special, that worldwide laws do not apply here? As long as the RV's are careful with their rubbish, and waste, let them be. They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels. Forget about a few hotel rooms. It matters not. But, this administration is famous worldwide, for focusing energy and resources on things that matter not. Ignorant does not even begin to describe the entire lot of the authorities here. One does not even know where to start to describe them.

​And rather than being genuine, and truthful, about the true reasons for the proposed ban, they lie, and talk about public safety, and other relatively irrelevant issues. Men tell the truth. Boys, and freaks, and disingenuous politicians lie about everything.

"They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels."

We're talking Chinese here, the only ones profiting will be the 7/11's. The rest will only bear the brunt. No confiscation etc. necessary though, simply turn them around at the checkpoint.

They are buying food, they are eating in restaurants, they are purchasing alot of gas, they are having their vehicles repaired, buying gifts, souvenirs, and contributing on other levels. Not all Chinese are poor or cheap. If they can afford a motor home, they have cash! This is simply sour grapes within the hotel industry. Oh my God, we might lose 50 room nights per year! Heaven forbid such a thing. These are guys who look like men, but are really children trapped in a man's body, who are complaining, and listening. Some people just need to be ignored!

As somebody who is active in the tourist industry: no, they are not spending, no it is not sour grapes, they are not contributing to the local economy.

[Old Croc]

@ Spidermike

I have no stake in the tourist industry here, but as a local resident, I understand the downside of this type of tourism in a place unsuitable and without facilities.

If you read the OP properly you will note that complaints have been made to the Governors office about parking (camping) at tourist spots and beaches and dumping of rubbish and refusal to move. It's worrying that only 10 vehicles are already causing problems. What happens if it turns into a flood?

The idiot comments about arrest and confiscation were over the top and best ignored.

I have nothing against this style of travel and would be quite happy if most of the illegal hotels and guest houses on Phuket had to close because tourists started using alternatives. It would be good to get some of the Island back.

I've travelled around Australia living on the roadside, and used to spend my holidays camping on remote beaches and bushland areas on fishing and prospecting trips. We always looked after the environment, waste was buried deep, toilet paper burnt and rubbish carted out. I can't see Asian tourists treating the countryside with this sort of respect.

I'll repeat, I think Phuket is currently unsuitable for unregulated camping nor RV tourism without proper facilities. I don't believe the Chinese have a good record of care for the environment and shouldn't be allowed to set up camp on beaches or wherever they decide to park.

[LivinginKata]

Or, construct a large RV park near the entrance where they have to base themselves, and then use alternatives to tour the Island.

(tuk tuks, mini buses, light rail!)

Plenty of space there, there already is a big, largely unused parking with lots of space called the Phuket Gateway.

Terrific idea, underused parking lot, gardens, and toilets. Perfect RV park ...

[craigt3365]

“Phuket does not have RV parks to accommodate these vehicles. We are afraid that by allowing ‘RV tourism’ on the island, we will have other issues to deal with, such as public health, cleanliness and public nuisance.”

V/Gov Prajiad noted the two possible solutions suggested at the meeting.

“We could ban all RVs from Phuket entirely, and seize all the RVs and arrest their drivers already on the island – without exception.

This is a bald faced attempt to ban these RV's, based on fear that hotel revenue will be diminished. It is childish, churlish, ignorant, fearful, misguided, and just plain stupid policy. So what if the Chinese want to drive through the country. All of the US and Europe is fine with this. What, is Thailand something so special, that worldwide laws do not apply here? As long as the RV's are careful with their rubbish, and waste, let them be. They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels. Forget about a few hotel rooms. It matters not. But, this administration is famous worldwide, for focusing energy and resources on things that matter not. Ignorant does not even begin to describe the entire lot of the authorities here. One does not even know where to start to describe them.

​And rather than being genuine, and truthful, about the true reasons for the proposed ban, they lie, and talk about public safety, and other relatively irrelevant issues. Men tell the truth. Boys, and freaks, and disingenuous politicians lie about everything.

"They are contributing to the economy on a myriad of levels."

We're talking Chinese here, the only ones profiting will be the 7/11's. The rest will only bear the brunt. No confiscation etc. necessary though, simply turn them around at the checkpoint.

They are buying food, they are eating in restaurants, they are purchasing alot of gas, they are having their vehicles repaired, buying gifts, souvenirs, and contributing on other levels. Not all Chinese are poor or cheap. If they can afford a motor home, they have cash! This is simply sour grapes within the hotel industry. Oh my God, we might lose 50 room nights per year! Heaven forbid such a thing. These are guys who look like men, but are really children trapped in a man's body, who are complaining, and listening. Some people just need to be ignored!

As somebody who is active in the tourist industry: no, they are not spending, no it is not sour grapes, they are not contributing to the local economy.

You would know more about this than most...

[LivinginKata]

As somebody who is active in the tourist industry: no, they are not spending, no it is not sour grapes, they are not contributing to the local economy.

You would know more about this than most...

Not sure that's entirely true Steven. Perhaps you are talking about your sector in the dive business. I see plenty of independent Chinese tourists renting holiday apartments in all the areas we operate rental accommodation. Indeed I am surprised by the numbers, mostly group of younger couples. These apartments are privately owned (and not by Chinese ... yet) and many motor bike rental outfits are doing well with the Chinese tourists. These independent Chinese do frequent local restaurants, but not so much bars.

For sure the Chinese mass tourists bused in to contract hotels add little to the local economy. I'm not sure how much the bigger Chinese companies have bought into Thailand's tourist market in terms of hotel property and transport, although I have no really researched this.

I just wonder how much local business the Chinese have bought into ?

Sorry mods - going off topic.

[pomchop]

So just let them drive around in Thailand with no special training, no special drivers license, no limits? Park and camp where you please, dump trash everywhere?.....seems a lot of the posters here don't seem very familiar with the horrible time that so many chinese have in driving a CAR on the correct side of the road....much less some chinese guy who suddenly decides to rent an RV and drive 1000 miles or so from Chiang Rai to Phuket in a big RIG......

Driving an RV is very different than driving a car....once i am convinced that the chinese I see driving into Chiang Rai in a regular car have any clue how to drive on the left hand side of the road and obey the most basic traffic laws like red lights...once i stop reading stories of crapping on floors and dumping trash wherever they please....once i think that when you are already getting complaints over ten or so RV causing problems with illegal parking, dumping, and the like.....once i no longer have to drive on Thai roads where dealing with crazy Thai drivers is plenty.....then open the floodgates and let a few thousand chinese come roaring into thailand in huge RV's.....let chinese companies come up with all kinds of unsafe RV's and rent them out to anybody who wants one..

I very much doubt the concern is over a few hotel room nights but more so over the thus far well documented cases of chinese recklessness and general lack of understanding of the most basic rules....some of the idiots who drive big Rigs in the USA on much better roads and at least semi seem to follow the road rules scare the crap out of me as well. Get hit by a car is one thing....get hit by a huge RV rig is much more serious.

[LivinginKata]

<snip>

Get hit by a car is one thing....get hit by a huge RV rig is much more serious.

But these are not 'huge' RV rigs. Mostly just built on pick-up chassis. Not really bus size ... as yet. More chance of getting written by a Thai bus or truck driver.

[stevenl]

As somebody who is active in the tourist industry: no, they are not spending, no it is not sour grapes, they are not contributing to the local economy.

You would know more about this than most...

Not sure that's entirely true Steven. Perhaps you are talking about your sector in the dive business. I see plenty of independent Chinese tourists renting holiday apartments in all the areas we operate rental accommodation. Indeed I am surprised by the numbers, mostly group of younger couples. These apartments are privately owned (and not by Chinese ... yet) and many motor bike rental outfits are doing well with the Chinese tourists. These independent Chinese do frequent local restaurants, but not so much bars.

For sure the Chinese mass tourists bused in to contract hotels add little to the local economy. I'm not sure how much the bigger Chinese companies have bought into Thailand's tourist market in terms of hotel property and transport, although I have no really researched this.

I just wonder how much local business the Chinese have bought into ?

Sorry mods - going off topic.

Of course there's some, there's always some and there's always exceptions to the rules. But that does not change the general principle.

[pomchop]

<snip>

Get hit by a car is one thing....get hit by a huge RV rig is much more serious.

But these are not 'huge' RV rigs. Mostly just built on pick-up chassis. Not really bus size ... as yet. More chance of getting written by a Thai bus or truck driver.

Looks pretty darn big to me in the picture.....and how many passengers would be riding in the back? Add in a bunch of screaming kids and relatives all talking at top of their voice to further distract the driver? Maybe they start off relatively small but give and inch and take a mile no doubt they will get bigger....why not cram 20 people in the back on a left hand drive large vehicle driving on different side of road and unable to read any of the thai or english traffic signs....what could possibly go wrong?

I see zero benefit to Thailand to allow these vehicles to come into Thailand from China. Just sharing the road with Thai bus and truck drivers who grew up here is quite enough "adventure" for me.

[ttthailand]

I always wondered why we see few RVs in Thailand. Now it's all clear to me. Modified vehicles ??

That nukes my long time of idea of buying an RV and meandering through Thailand.

and what is a baht bus if it is not a modified vehicle ?

It's about not making money and another Thailand ripoff by officials who can't scam or get in on the action.

[LivinginKata]

I always wondered why we see few RVs in Thailand. Now it's all clear to me. Modified vehicles ??

That nukes my long time of idea of buying an RV and meandering through Thailand.

and what is a baht bus if it is not a modified vehicle ?

It's about not making money and another Thailand ripoff by officials who can't scam or get in on the action.

Yes, yes .... we all well know it's different rules for Thai nationals ..... oh well, what's new ..

[ttthailand]

Welcome to Skegness

[craigt3365]

As somebody who is active in the tourist industry: no, they are not spending, no it is not sour grapes, they are not contributing to the local economy.

You would know more about this than most...

Not sure that's entirely true Steven. Perhaps you are talking about your sector in the dive business. I see plenty of independent Chinese tourists renting holiday apartments in all the areas we operate rental accommodation. Indeed I am surprised by the numbers, mostly group of younger couples. These apartments are privately owned (and not by Chinese ... yet) and many motor bike rental outfits are doing well with the Chinese tourists. These independent Chinese do frequent local restaurants, but not so much bars.

For sure the Chinese mass tourists bused in to contract hotels add little to the local economy. I'm not sure how much the bigger Chinese companies have bought into Thailand's tourist market in terms of hotel property and transport, although I have no really researched this.

I just wonder how much local business the Chinese have bought into ?

Sorry mods - going off topic.

I went to Samui a few years ago. People on here were saying how cheap the Russians were. Not in Samui. Renting rooms for 3-5k Baht/night, eating fancy dinners, etc.

From what I've read, the Chinese have bought into a lot of local businesses. Like the Russians have....

Interesting comment, LIK!

[LivinginKata]

<snip>

From what I've read, the Chinese have bought into a lot of local businesses. Like the Russians have....

I see no obvious visual sign of Chinese business buying in other than the charter bus company (like the Russians did). Might be larger companies are moving in without much fan fair. But I don't see any small scale businesses like shops open to cater for Chinese. That did happen with the Russians, many small shops opened to cater for Russians. It will be interesting to know more ...

[harrry]

One of these backward thinking council members really need to visit a nearby country and do a bit of research into these RV vehicles. I suggest a trip to Australia where there many thousands of them moving around the country at any given time. Its an excellent way to see the countryside, parks would soon spring up.

However sleeping in an RV outside a caravan park in Australia is not legal. In some states quite severe penalties apply. I understand Europe is the same.