2016 Thai tourism continues growing

[marcusd]

I just got back from a SETV run to Vietnam with a two week look around taking advantage

of the UK passport holders not requiring a visa for 2 week visits that is currently allowed.

I was very surprised and impressed. I was only in Saigon(HCMC) and Nha Trang and traveled

between the two by train. Both cities were cleaner than the places I have visited in Thailand.

The beach and water was cleaner that the popular tourist beaches in Thailand. (I know there

are special places in Thailand that are excellent as well). The number1 tourist group according

to hotel and restaurant staff was Russian 40%, followed closely by Chinese 35% and all other

countries combined making up 25%. The food was great, the people were very friendly and

helpful and prices were 30-40% lower than Thailand. No visible sex industry (although I am

sure it exists as it does everywhere in the world). A much better choice for couples, families,

backpackers. Thailand really needs to look over its shoulder. I really enjoy Thailand but

there are other options.

yes I expoerienced this too many times and Philippine islands as well. Thailand is now finished dying a slow death

[mcfish]

I just got back from a SETV run to Vietnam with a two week look around taking advantage

of the UK passport holders not requiring a visa for 2 week visits that is currently allowed.

I was very surprised and impressed. I was only in Saigon(HCMC) and Nha Trang and traveled

between the two by train. Both cities were cleaner than the places I have visited in Thailand.

The beach and water was cleaner that the popular tourist beaches in Thailand. (I know there

are special places in Thailand that are excellent as well). The number1 tourist group according

to hotel and restaurant staff was Russian 40%, followed closely by Chinese 35% and all other

countries combined making up 25%. The food was great, the people were very friendly and

helpful and prices were 30-40% lower than Thailand. No visible sex industry (although I am

sure it exists as it does everywhere in the world). A much better choice for couples, families,

backpackers. Thailand really needs to look over its shoulder. I really enjoy Thailand but

there are other options.

Couldn't wait to get out of Saigon. It must have the loudest noise pollution on the planet, no adult entertainment and the street hawkers will send you round the bend. Tons of backpackers though.... Another reason to get out.

Sent from my SC-01D using Tapatalk

[chainarong]

You got love these statements , does anyone think these figures are true as the tourism industry does not reflect these stats

They used to be kind of a laugh, now they are very irritating and a plain lie.

The best thing the government can do today is to get rid of this brainless woman.

And replace her with?

The highest bidder?

There must be somebody with a little more brains.

There is , but I am not available due to watching out for who flower sellers sell their flowers 2

[exbikey]

You got love these statements , does anyone think these figures are true as the tourism industry does not reflect these stats

They used to be kind of a laugh, now they are very irritating and a plain lie.

The best thing the government can do today is to get rid of this brainless woman.

And replace her with?

The highest bidder?

There must be somebody with a little more brains.

"There must be somebody with a little more brains"

As they say on the ThaiVisa Forum...

'Post the link'

[Redline]

Is there another country named Thailand? Or, maybe it was a translation mistake because I'm not seeing it~

Thai tourism continues growing

[JAG]

Planes from China are full of holidaymakers on cut rate flights, but they to contribute to increasing arrivals figures. They help maintain hotel occupancy rates throughout the year, albeit at low margin tariffs. The transport business does nicely out of trucking them to huge eateries to be fed and watered before being deposited at the entrance of the duty-free emporiums and jewellery shops that Burmese labourers construct apace at diverse locations. There they are left at leisure to walk the convoluted route past every brand name outlet represented….. opportunity at last to spent the cash they have saved for their holiday. Throw in a ladyboy cabaret, a dolphin show and the like for a bit of entertainment. One way or another the money rolls in for the well connected big shot investors into the connected businesses.

Meanwhile, the travellers from traditional markets, on whom the tourism industry was built over the past 3 or 4 decades, find Thailand less than welcoming these days, and have moved on to more hospitable places. The small business that depended upon this patronage are struggling now. A good few near the beaches have been bulldozed.

The best summary of the current state of tourism in Thailand I've read.

Yes. "The money runs in for the well connected....". Well that's OK, because the country is being run for the well connected.

[waza]

How very peculiar, Kobkarn Wattanavarangkul on Monday said "The ministry has estimated that the combined tourism revenue of the first and second quarter will stand at 2.4 trillion baht"

However, the bureau of budget published.....

Edited May 24, 2016 by waza

[marcofunny]

there is indeed a reason why Thailand is popular among the Chinese and Russian, it s because it s one of the few destinations that offers them either visa exempt or visa on arrival, Russians living in Siberia will find it totally inconvenient to fly 6 hours to Moscow to apply for euro or US visas, the same goes for the Chinese, once other countries relaxes visa policy for the Chinese tourists I am sure that they will reconsider their destination.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Chinese_citizens

Edited May 24, 2016 by marcofunny

[losworld]

I just got back from a SETV run to Vietnam with a two week look around taking advantage

of the UK passport holders not requiring a visa for 2 week visits that is currently allowed.

I was very surprised and impressed. I was only in Saigon(HCMC) and Nha Trang and traveled

between the two by train. Both cities were cleaner than the places I have visited in Thailand.

The beach and water was cleaner that the popular tourist beaches in Thailand. (I know there

are special places in Thailand that are excellent as well). The number1 tourist group according

to hotel and restaurant staff was Russian 40%, followed closely by Chinese 35% and all other

countries combined making up 25%. The food was great, the people were very friendly and

helpful and prices were 30-40% lower than Thailand. No visible sex industry (although I am

sure it exists as it does everywhere in the world). A much better choice for couples, families,

backpackers. Thailand really needs to look over its shoulder. I really enjoy Thailand but

there are other options.

Couldn't wait to get out of Saigon. It must have the loudest noise pollution on the planet, no adult entertainment and the street hawkers will send you round the bend. Tons of backpackers though.... Another reason to get out.

Sent from my SC-01D using Tapatalk

No adult entertainment where were you? 24 hour beer bars with gals and huge mixed drinks for a dollar as well as weed if you wanted it.

[kannot]

Rather like Syphilis,that also the gift that keeps on giving.

As a note,have had some info about there being cases of syph on the dark side on a rather large scale.

This is not a troll post,i still have friends in that area that keep in touch.

Rain coats on boys!

I think this woman has syphilis and it has affected her brain

AND As for your post - I am a Doctor and have been with 4 people in Chiang Mai with this serious disease.

There is a VERY VERY big outbreak and the response here? Oh well if they come we give medicine if not come up to them

And UP TO THEM means a serious disease that will spiral out of control and affect them for the rest of their lives and YOURS too if unprotected

That "never mind" attitude really sucks imo

[kannot]

Minister Kobkarn is not brainless, nor is she well qualified for the position. But she is exceptionally well connected and loyal.

The tourism numbers are suspect, in my view, for several reasons:

- the underlying data are not readily available, thus not easily subject to validation.

- the numbers are reported too quickly, suggesting they lack quality assurance

- the local and international tourism numbers are most often combined, which impedes understanding, and that may be deliberate.

Beyond that, there is the obvious quality vs quantity argument.

Nevertheless, it does appear that tourism is one aspect of the Thai economy that can be spun positively. Low petrol prices might be another.

Lord knows, the Junta needs a life ring.

a "neck wring" might be better though..............eeeeeeeek wait theers a knock at my door, time for A A

[cumgranosalum]

All these tourists, and yet every tourist dependent business I know of is hurting.

Spot On.

All i hear from a couple of friends who have a small restaurant / bar is ' where are all these supposed tourists then ? "

There is little doubt that tourism is on the increase, but as the Thai authorities seem incapable of executing an overall plan or any consistent policies from infrastructure through health and safety to visas, the resulting effects are random and uneven....it means that small businesses in particular suffer as unplanned and unsupported businesses rise and fall with alarming frequency.

This means that the only people to make any real money are those at the top, who cream off all the profits through corruption and property rather than ensuring Thailand offers an internationally acceptable standard of tourism.

[streetsweeper]

Unfortunately, 55555555555555555555555555555555 goes to the lady and her ministry!

The next thing we will read about is how Disney Productions, Lucas Films, MGM and Sony have sent their marketing VP's to Thailand to learn a few new tricks from the above mentioned!

[spidermike007]

These numbers that the TAT continue to throw around, are about as relevant, and about as truthful and factual as the Obama unemployment figures. The parameters for counting those numbers change on a weekly basis. They mean nothing. And the ministry even admits most of these tourists are Chinese. Which means regardless of the income generated, alot of that income is being repatriated to China. And the quality of tourist continues to decline. Those tourists are not spending much money, they are staying in hotels where the rooms are being purchased at huge discounts, and the same goes for the massive restaurants they are eating in. And they are purchasing very little when it comes to gifts, etc.

Just another example of a disingenuous government agency, trying to put on a pretty face, and disguise the boils, and disfiguring scars.

[Plutojames88]

The Chinese will eventually bring in bird flu and other strains .

The tourism numbers reflects a colonisation of Thaiand for the poorer Chinese the wealthy ones go to America and UK , along with Australia their most popular .

Those not at New York or Over in Hollywood or Disney , visiting Paris or London , Sydney Harbour or outback , well they have Pattaya ...maybe Chiang Mai ...

But they are poor and uncouth and make bad Farangs seem desirable