Khaosan road never quieter as business takes a hit

By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

 

 

BANGKOK — While most bars and restaurants around backpacker destination Khaosan Road have reopened one week after His Majesty the Late King died, its usual loud scene has gone quiet as the supply of tourists has dried up.

 

Numbers of Thai and foreign guests have dropped up to 70 percent since one week ago, hotel bookings have fallen and some foreign travelers have checked out earlier than planned, Sa-nga Ruangwattanakul of the local business association said Thursday. He estimates the potential losses at over 100 million baht.

 

Full Story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/nightlife/2016/10/20/khaosan-road-never-quieter-business-takes-hit-photos/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2016-10-20

A big slice of humble pie for the aggressive tuk tuk and taxi drivers who loiter around there. 

Figures as expected by most !

Well, is this taking place all over thailand? It would be interesting to take a poll and get some ground reports of business.... High season is right around the corner.

Where's this lot gone to? These photo's were taken about 4 days ago.

Was there yesterday and it was quite busy as usual and actually quite nice without 10 different styles of music blasting over the place

To add, some places had music but is was played at a modest volume back ground music

 

haha depends when the photos are taken, still plenty of tourists in the banglampu area

14 minutes ago, Wilsonandson said:

Where's this lot gone to? These photo's were taken about 4 days ago.

Judging by the look of the girls with the buckets, they couldn't wait to be elsewhere. 4 days ago, there were probably many that had already paid for hotels, but K S Rd. has always been a transit place as young people arrive in LOS on the first stop to elsewhere. Once they move on, and more fail to come I'm not surprised it is getting empty.

I don't know that I feel much sympathy for those that sell alcohol by the bucket. Just one reason why many want the F M P closed down.

24 minutes ago, 4evermaat said:

Well, is this taking place all over thailand? It would be interesting to take a poll and get some ground reports of business.... High season is right around the corner.

Depends on what sort of tourist usually goes to which area. Young people that like parties and drinking alcohol by the bucket will likely go to other countries, while older tourists coming for the temples and culture will likely still arrive. I don't expect much difference in Chiang Mai when I head up there soon, but if I were going to Phangan, I'd expect no problem finding accommodation.

These photos were taken 6 hours ago. That would be about midday to 1pm time today. W o w ! ! !

Image source :-
https://netz.id/news/2016/10/20/00516-01616/1003201016/sepinya-tempat-hiburan-di-thailand-setelah-raja-wafat

42 minutes ago, Suttisan said:

A big slice of humble pie for the aggressive tuk tuk and taxi drivers who loiter around there. 

 

They are all in Chinatown now where it's very busy with people dressed in black.

 

But you even can't change money in chinatown, the banks refused my euro's and said exchange office is closed while it was 4pm.

20 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Depends on what sort of tourist usually goes to which area. Young people that like parties and drinking alcohol by the bucket will likely go to other countries, while older tourists coming for the temples and culture will likely still arrive. I don't expect much difference in Chiang Mai when I head up there soon, but if I were going to Phangan, I'd expect no problem finding accommodation.

 

If you just want to get loaded really cheaply go to Laos or Cambodia.

10 minutes ago, anotheruser said:

 

If you just want to get loaded really cheaply go to Laos or Cambodia.

I expect they will gain most of Thailand's lost backpackers.

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

I expect they will gain most of Thailand's lost backpackers.

 

I had to run a place that depended on those filthy animals. Thailand isn't losing anything. They spend more a day on weed than a room and food.

100 millions Baht losses sounds rather exaggerated!
That would be a lot backpackers spending 500 baht a room, and another 500 baht on food and drinks.
Khao San road businesses shouldn't complain, they have had it good for decades. Most businesses have ups and downs, if smart they plan ahead to stay afloat in the very occasional downturns. Compare beach resorts which have 5 months of high season followed by 7 in low season, they either have contingency plans or go to the wall - most survive.


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5 minutes ago, laban said:

100 millions Baht losses sounds rather exaggerated!
That would be a lot backpackers spending 500 baht a room, and another 500 baht on food and drinks.
Khao San road businesses shouldn't complain, they have had it good for decades. Most businesses have ups and downs, if smart they plan ahead to stay afloat in the very occasional downturns. Compare beach resorts which have 5 months of high season followed by 7 in low season, they either have contingency plans or go to the wall - most survive.


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The other thing about Khao San is if somebody likes your place you are going to catch them on the way in and on the way out. So you have a pretty good chance of guaranteed repeat business. Backpackers tend to stick in packs and gravitate towards where they are comfortable/tolerated. 

42 minutes ago, anotheruser said:

 

I had to run a place that depended on those filthy animals. Thailand isn't losing anything. They spend more a day on weed than a room and food.

 

7 minutes ago, anotheruser said:

 

The other thing about Khao San is if somebody likes your place you are going to catch them on the way in and on the way out. So you have a pretty good chance of guaranteed repeat business. Backpackers tend to stick in packs and gravitate towards where they are comfortable/tolerated. 

 

You must have been successful making a great place for backpackers 55555

  Fawlty Towers comes to mind 

1 minute ago, bokningar said:

 

 

You must have been successful making a great place for backpackers 55555

  Fawlty Towers comes to mind 

 

In the early days I bent over backwards for them. Over time they just grind on you. But yeah towards the end I really didnt even try to hide my disdain. Luckily I made a place that is just slightly above their budget and that pretty much eliminates your problem if you can manage to get that far.

 

We used to call them fried vegetables. Because they are fried, they do absolutely nothing but sit in a hammock all day and they only ever eat fried vegetables. Those were the days... good times. It was sort of funny when they would ask me my plans for the days and I would in a round about way explain I wanted to improve the standards so I would no longer depend on them. lol 

 

"I hope in 5 years we can still afford to come back" LOL Not if things go according to plan kemosabe.

 
If you just want to get loaded really cheaply go to Laos or Cambodia.

Or any mom and pop shop down every street in Thailand. Which usually has a table and chairs outside. Why go all that way just to get drunk.

35 minutes ago, Wilsonandson said:

Or any mom and pop shop down every street in Thailand. Which usually has a table and chairs outside. Why go all that way just to get drunk.

 

Because the weed is way cheaper and easy to get along with all the other party drugs like MDMA. The booze is also substantially cheaper as are cigarettes. Thailand isn't a cheap place to get blitzed anymore. 

 

I am not promoting it. lol Just trying to explain why for the most part Thailand has tried to appeal to other tourists. Unfortunately they have no clue what they are doing. This is a problem with any place... how do you replace backpackers? 

Edited October 20, 20169 yr by anotheruser

This was Khao San Road last night.

Nothing to do with Kho san but a pal arrived from Brisbane yesterday on TG, whatever the planes was it was nearly empty so was immigration when he arrived

3 hours ago, fruitman said:

But you even can't change money in chinatown, the banks refused my euro's and said exchange office is closed while it was 4pm.

 

Yes, you can, you'll find that if you go to the bank/exchange during their opening hours you will be able to exchange your Euros without problems.

35 minutes ago, gdgbb said:

 

Yes, you can, you'll find that if you go to the bank/exchange during their opening hours you will be able to exchange your Euros without problems.

 

those hours were printed on the door, open untill 4-30 but it was closed at 4...welcome to thailand

Maybe the travel guru's of social media should be posting what's open and not just what's closed. Just sayin.

15 hours ago, Suttisan said:

A big slice of humble pie for the aggressive tuk tuk and taxi drivers who loiter around there. 

expect fares to rise, fewer passengers equals a higher charge for them....

Depends on what sort of tourist usually goes to which area. Young people that like parties and drinking alcohol by the bucket will likely go to other countries, while older tourists coming for the temples and culture will likely still arrive. I don't expect much difference in Chiang Mai when I head up there soon, but if I were going to Phangan, I'd expect no problem finding accommodation.

I'm in Chiang Mai now and it's quite. As somebody mentioned already the mayor stuffed up by saying all events were canceled for the month so a lot of tourists cancelled their trips

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15 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Figures as expected by most !

except  TAT

Personally I prefer Khao San road quieter. I won't miss the rude tailors or the rude staff who have taken the worse out of the western service industry.

Yes the announcement next week will be that more money was spent and  more visitors than ever at Khao San.