Thailand Wants Rich Chinese Tourists, Not Budget Groups

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Thailand Wants Rich Chinese Tourists, Not Budget Groups

by Suttinee Yuvejwattana

 

- Arrivals from China slid after crackdown on low-budget tours

- Tourism accounts for 11% of economy that’s facing challenges

 

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is nursing a slide in Chinese holidaymakers after cracking down on low-budget tours from the world’s most-populous country, muddying the Southeast Asian nation’s economic growth outlook.

 

Arrivals fell about 30 percent in November from a year ago, extending a slide that began in September after Thailand clamped down on operators bringing in large groups from China on cut-price holidays. Some of the impact could linger in the early part of 2017, according to Kasikorn Research Center Co. 

 

Thailand’s military government is seeking to focus on smaller groups of higher-spending visitors to bolster the tourism industry longer term. The unknown is the severity of the short-term pain. Chinese visitors last year were the most by headcount and tourism accounts for about 11 percent of Thailand’s $395 billion gross domestic product.

 

Full story: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-17/chinese-tourists-become-a-wildcard-for-thailand-s-growth-outlook

 

-- Bloomberg 2017-01-18

[smedly]

maybe Thailand needs to realise that these budget tourists are actually getting what they pay for and all the dangers that come with it - seems they were willing to risk it if the price was right

 

I posted some time ago that for every one Chinese tourist that came to Thailand they would go home and share the experience with at least 30 people who had never been before - it was either going to be an endorsement or a - don't bother with a few comments about their experience, I wonder what most of them say

[chiang mai]

This constant story about Thailand wanting a better class of tourist does get old does it not, perhaps the ladyboys and gold chain snatchers on Beach Road are complaining about poor takings! Why not just weed them out at the airport and if they don't appear well heeled, send them straight home again, how dare the peasants come to upmarket Thailand, what nerve. Why, they could even have separate queue lanes at Immigration in Swampy, "Well Heeled", "Loafers and Slip-Ons" and "Sandals", problem solved.

[smedly]

10 minutes ago, chiang mai said:

This constant story about Thailand wanting a better class of tourist does get old does it not, perhaps the ladyboys and gold chain snatchers on Beach Road are complaining about poor takings! Why not just weed them out at the airport and if they don't appear well heeled, send them straight home again, how dare the peasants come to upmarket Thailand, what nerve. Why, they could even have separate queue lanes at Immigration in Swampy, "Well Heeled", "Loafers and Slip-Ons" and "Sandals", problem solved.

That brightened my morning - if it wasn't so serious it would be funny.........................LMAO  it was funny

[ffaarraanngg]

12 minutes ago, chiang mai said:

This constant story about Thailand wanting a better class of tourist does get old does it not, perhaps the ladyboys and gold chain snatchers on Beach Road are complaining about poor takings! Why not just weed them out at the airport and if they don't appear well heeled, send them straight home again, how dare the peasants come to upmarket Thailand, what nerve. Why, they could even have separate queue lanes at Immigration in Swampy, "Well Heeled", "Loafers and Slip-Ons" and "Sandals", problem solved.

As someone from Brid you'll be ok, straight on the red carpet line and into the limo driven by virgin princesses!

 

 

 

[chiang mai]

3 minutes ago, ffaarraanngg said:

As someone from Brid you'll be ok, straight on the red carpet line and into the limo driven by virgin princesses!

 

 

 

 

I'll be using the "Wellies and Ferrets" line at Swampy.

[Ricardo]

What one might want and what the country actually gets, are two different things, I wish the authorities would come-to-terms with that !

 

Thailand has built lots of fairly-average accomodation, and a Chinese charter-flight can leave home late-evening with its load of passengers, drop them here & load-up to go home, getting there in time for a full day's flying at home again. This creates some jobs for Thai, and turnover for the economy.

 

  This country is ideal as a budget-destination for the waves of new tourists, and can be making (limited amounts of) money from them for decades to come, unless it blows the trade ! In which case an awful lot of 2/3-star accomodation is going to be very empty !

 

There are lots of other countries, which will be more appealing for the richest Chinese, meanwhile there is a business which can be built & continued, but they're not the poo-yais with whom the Thai elite would care to mix.  So what !

 

Thailand is in the same position as Spain or Greece or Mexico, in the 1960s & 1970s, learn to live with it !

[ffaarraanngg]

Just now, chiang mai said:

 

I'll be using the "Wellies and Ferrets" line at Swampy.

Shouldn't mock Brid, its the only town in England Quasimodo visits and feels good looking!

[ffaarraanngg]

Surely they are better off with 1000 Chinamen spending 1000 dollars then 1 HISO Chinaman spending a million.

 

Spread the wealth and all that.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2017 by ffaarraanngg

[Panda13]

Cause what Thailand needs is 30% more morons walking along the streets staring mindlessly at their mobiles instead of looking where they're going !

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

[fruitman]

Rich chinese love to go to Europe, where there are nice cities to explore without a scammer on every corner of the street.

 

When will we get nice smokingrooms on Swampy airport Thailand? Or do quality tourists have to go in that dirty doghouse for a smoke?

[trogers]

Think of Thailand as the stove and frying pan with regards to these low budget tours. The ingredients come from elsewhere, and the cooked dishes end outside the frying pan...

 

And the stove and frying pan end up with only the soot and oily residues...

[daveAustin]

Quote

Thailand Wants Rich Chinese Tourists

 

Well ya ain't gonna get them with alright attractions, indifferent service and crazy roads. I'm afraid. Thailand has always been a 'budget' destination and is currently an overpriced one. 

[Thailand]

They should be reading the Chinese media, they are likely to be finding the 30% down jumping to 60%, all problems created by themselves.

 

There was nothing wrong with zero dollar tours, granted only a thin slice of bread, the butter comes from the next level of tourists up.

 

Recovery soon is not on the horizon.

[simon43]

The push for high-end tourists is IMHO, a direct attack upon millions of low and middle class Thais who are not the owners of luxury hotels, resorts and '5-star' restaurants.

 

The tourist locations are packed with small guesthouses, restaurants, massage and souvenir shops, so many small Thai businesses trying to earn a living from the 'average' non-heeled tourist.  Does the government expect them all to shut up shop and go back to farming in Issan?

[Sphere]

39 minutes ago, fruitman said:

Rich chinese love to go to Europe, where there are nice cities to explore without a scammer on every corner of the street.

 

Yes, TAT's longterm plan is to move Thailand to the Swiss Alps.

[Oziex1]

6 minutes ago, simon43 said:

The push for high-end tourists is IMHO, a direct attack upon millions of low and middle class Thais who are not the owners of luxury hotels, resorts and '5-star' restaurants.

 

The tourist locations are packed with small guesthouses, restaurants, massage and souvenir shops, so many small Thai businesses trying to earn a living from the 'average' non-heeled tourist.  Does the government expect them all to shut up shop and go back to farming in Issan?

 

Yes, and leave all, repeat "ALL" of the money to those who already have most of it!

[Oziex1]

What is is it that the truly well heeled want when they travel, do the Thai's know?

[trogers]

1 minute ago, Oziex1 said:

What is is it that the truly well heeled want when they travel, do the Thai's know?

 

The ladyboys know better...

[trogers]

13 minutes ago, simon43 said:

The push for high-end tourists is IMHO, a direct attack upon millions of low and middle class Thais who are not the owners of luxury hotels, resorts and '5-star' restaurants.

 

The tourist locations are packed with small guesthouses, restaurants, massage and souvenir shops, so many small Thai businesses trying to earn a living from the 'average' non-heeled tourist.  Does the government expect them all to shut up shop and go back to farming in Issan?

 

The clampdown is on zero-baht tours...not backpackers...

[mikebell]

Why don't they concentrate on attracting European pensioners who have to have a minimum spend of 65K to qualify for a long term 'visa'? Enable home ownership.  Each pensioner has 'well-heeled' family/friends who will visit numerous times if the pensioner has a house/spouse to make it a comfortable holiday without numerous form filling.

We contribute to Thailand's Education by teaching or paying for wife's extended family through University.

The more welcome we are made to feel; the more pensioners will come.

[ezflip]

To quote Mick..."You can't always get what you want" comes to mind.

[mok199]

build another mall ,thailands idea of attracting high end tourists....TAKE CARE OF THE F%^ING BEACH...

[chiang mai]

44 minutes ago, simon43 said:

The push for high-end tourists is IMHO, a direct attack upon millions of low and middle class Thais who are not the owners of luxury hotels, resorts and '5-star' restaurants.

 

The tourist locations are packed with small guesthouses, restaurants, massage and souvenir shops, so many small Thai businesses trying to earn a living from the 'average' non-heeled tourist.  Does the government expect them all to shut up shop and go back to farming in Issan?

 

On the other hand, that strategy might just encourage those lowly types to up their game.

[upena]

Thank TAT for paying $2 million of the $3 million it cost to make the movie "Lost in Thailand" - that is why you have the class of Chinese tourists you have.

[pumpuy]

Money makes the world go round ...the stimulating sound ...

FLYING_LIZARDS___MONEY__THAT S WHAT I WANT.MP3

[IMA_FARANG]

[doggie1955]

GREED!

[Reigntax]

53 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Why don't they concentrate on attracting European pensioners who have to have a minimum spend of 65K to qualify for a long term 'visa'? Enable home ownership.  Each pensioner has 'well-heeled' family/friends who will visit numerous times if the pensioner has a house/spouse to make it a comfortable holiday without numerous form filling.

We contribute to Thailand's Education by teaching or paying for wife's extended family through University.

The more welcome we are made to feel; the more pensioners will come.

 

Like the European Bridge Clubs? Whoops, too soon.

Edited January 18, 2017 by Reigntax
Typo

[fruitman]

55 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Why don't they concentrate on attracting European pensioners who have to have a minimum spend of 65K to qualify for a long term 'visa'? Enable home ownership.  Each pensioner has 'well-heeled' family/friends who will visit numerous times if the pensioner has a house/spouse to make it a comfortable holiday without numerous form filling.

We contribute to Thailand's Education by teaching or paying for wife's extended family through University.

The more welcome we are made to feel; the more pensioners will come.

 

Old europeans demand flat floors without holes or other obstacles.  Also they want to be able to speak good english to others. They are not used to look around them all the time for any dangers.

 

If Thailand can build nice resorts with flat floors, loads of parks and benches, animals/wildlife, nurses, maids and the European can own a property there they might get interested. They will stay in the resort all day since it's too dangerous/filthy/hectic outside of it.