Thai crackdown on budget tours hits Chinese New Year

[sjaak327]

4 minutes ago, trogers said:

 

The employees would probably be tang dao...as well...

 

Thai souvenirs are way overpriced and eat up tonnes of money from tour groups...

So thanks for confirming that zero baht tours are a fairy tale... plenty of money stays in Thailand.

[trogers]

8 minutes ago, sjaak327 said:

So thanks for confirming that zero baht tours are a fairy tale... plenty of money stays in Thailand.

 

You're welcome. Only needed simple effort for simple minds...

[sjaak327]

5 hours ago, trogers said:

 

You're welcome. Only needed simple effort for simple minds...

Simple minds belong to people who actually believe those 'zero baht' tours would not bring in any money into Thailand. It's quite amazing that people actually believe that..

 

It's evident Thailand did make money from those tours, in fact the VOA is the first money maker, or do you actually believe that money goes to China as well..

[Dave67]

I went on an "All Inclusive" Holiday to Margerita Island,about 96. The beer was local crap and the food was crap like a low end buffet, its for middle agged couples who think they are being exotic spending 2 weeks in a Venezualan shithole, I can tell you many 'zero baht' customers wont come back for more being trooped around local itk stores and factories, probably serve the up Leo beer as well

[trogers]

2 hours ago, sjaak327 said:

Simple minds belong to people who actually believe those 'zero baht' tours would not bring in any money into Thailand. It's quite amazing that people actually believe that..

 

It's evident Thailand did make money from those tours, in fact the VOA is the first money maker, or do you actually believe that money goes to China as well..

 

Of course zero-baht does not mean zero, Thailand gets to lick the frying pan.

 

Where those Chinese operators would

ultimately smuggle the money to, would definitely not be China, as China herself is facing a flight of capital...

[spidermike007]

The entire country is suffering from a declining tourism industry. And that will not change. It is a permanent declining trend. For a hundred valid reasons. As I stated previously:

 

I have a friend who recently stayed on Samui. He stayed at a resort that has 54 rooms. Normally, they are 100% booked, from about Dec. 20th, to about January 5th. This year, they only had 22 rooms filled. They are down 60% for the peak season. Many resorts are experiencing similarly alarming numbers. These hotels counted on the government to support them, when they spend millions on their properties, and the government has let them down, once again. They continue to drop the ball, at every opportunity. 

 

They trot out these projections, every time they get scared, and see the numbers dropping. Who was it that said, if you tell the people something often enough, eventually they will believe it? Well, not us. We are not buying your simpleton lies. Tourism is declining by the day. Perhaps 50 years from now, in a hospitality industry class at a university here, they will discuss how Thailand lost the golden egg of Western tourism. Those tourists, unlike most Chinese tourists, spent anywhere from $100 a day, to over $1,000 a day. They brought real money into the country, and in exchange, were treated with utter and complete disregard, scammed, disrespected, and abused. Eventually, most said no more. Thailand thought the country was something very special, and that nobody would ever say no, or find alternative places to visit. The fact is that there are countless other spots, that offer better service, more expertise in food and beverage (especially wine), reasonable import duties to sustain a luxury goods market, better training, and far better english skills. Thailand simply lost sight of the big picture, and had very little vision, with regard to big spending tourists, who need to be catered to, instead of scorned.  

 

The real solution is about encouraging tourists, and ex-pats, from countries that spend real money, to come here and visit. That message seems to have gotten lost, in the fervor to court the Chinese tourists, many of whom do not spend much money at all here. So, what happened? The Western tourists started to decline in number, and the genius minds at the TAT decided it was time to "lure" the Chinese. They came. But, they did not spend much money. Hotels, restaurants, gift shops, jewelers, galleries, spas, massage shops, bars, and countless other businesses suffered, and will continue to suffer from this extreme myopia, on the part of the officials in charge of tourism. Oh well. Can't say they were not warned. 

 

The neighbors are trying too hard, and making too much effort, and investing money. Thailand is not. Though this topic relates mostly to tourism, in a way it pertains to ex-pats living here too. And I too am considering other spots. Currently the top spot under consideration seems to be Spain. So much culture, great wine, alot of fascinating places to visit nearby, reasonable real estate, a language I speak, and a reasonable standard of living. The other spots in this region offer too much similar nonsense, and bad infrastructure. Too many "so called leaders" in this region too, who lack creative juice, nor do they care one iota for their people. And the really hot weather, which seems to be getting hotter, and drier, is not all that appealing, as I get older. Thailand is making no steps whatsoever, to improve upon itself. On alot of levels, it feels like it is either standing still, or more than likely going backwards. Frankly, the biggest draw at the moment is being close to my wife's family, the food, the relatively pleasant people, and the weakening of the baht. But, I dislike the government, and the level of ignorance being perpetrated by the fabulously inferior educational system here does not appear to bode well for the future of the place. I also despise the practice of face, and the staggering level of cowardice that accompanies that weak, pathetic quality. 

 

It is a real shame, as I find most Thai people to be quite lovely, friendly, warm, helpful and fun to be around. There are many aspects of life here, that I truly enjoy. I am sure many feel the same way. Just wish the country was not moving backwards, (and was instead moving forward under the leadership of progressive minds) due to a system of meritocracy, and a complete lack of forward looking vision. A nice dream indeed.

 

Moving the country forward? I think not. More like "Moving Thailand backwards at an alarming pace".

[Wilsonandson]

I think it could be the fact that the Chinese have spent all their Yen over the Christmas and New Year holiday's that they haven't got enough left in their family budget to travel for Chinese New Year. It's down the local market for apples and Chicken instead.

Maybe the ban on fireworks has put off the Chinese as well. Plus the Chinese are also probably as shocked as I am at the prices in MK restaurant. Last time I went for a Chinese there it cost an arm and a leg.

[JamJar]

In Hua Hin, I saw many Chinese looking at the prices on the menus in restaurants and walking out again. 

 

Thailand is pricing itself out of many markets, but simply doesn't not offer the standard required for higher spending tourists. The place is a mess.

It's been that way for a while and has been getting progressively worse.

Thailand.... a perfect example of how to abuse your natural resources.

It's simplicity was it's charm. Now it's trying to be something that it cannot.

 

 

 

[sjaak327]

8 hours ago, trogers said:

 

Of course zero-baht does not mean zero, Thailand gets to lick the frying pan.

 

Where those Chinese operators would

ultimately smuggle the money to, would definitely not be China, as China herself is facing a flight of capital...

It's utter stupidity on the part of the government. Now we know that almost one third of all tourist arrivals in the kingdom are from China, that's 8 million on a yearly basis. They reported a drop of 30%.

 

Now despite the TAT propaganda, it is fair to say that this number will not go down considerably. That means that on a yearly basis, Thailand misses out on 2,4 billion baht on visa fees alone (4,8 billion if the visa promotion ends). Now despite your remarks, hotels, restaurants and the like employ Thai people, they might be out of work. Tax revenue goes down.

 

And despite the notion that these people don.t go anywhere, the article already points out that they do shop, gone is that revenue. Thailand in it's infinite wisdom has shut the door on almost 3 million Chinese tourist, and no, they will not be replaced by wealthy Chinese tourist as they go elsewhere...