Thailand Under Strain from Tourism Surge

[mok199]

1 hour ago, Thechook said:

Yes very common in Chiangmai, convoys of up to 15 double decker buses under police escorts with lights flashing.  The Chinese really are treated like VIP's in Thailand.  

living downtown always has its + and -,but the widening of beach rd ,it is now just an extension of sukumvit freeway, as the buses scream down in the ''fast lane'' ....flashing lights at slower moving traffic..and this is all  about moving tour groups to and from the seafood buffet ,to the hotel etc....this is not even a downtown beach,envirment any longer..beach rd is a freeway/boat launch service dock/ashtray/parking lot....everything pattaya was built around is almost lost,but I still have hope someday this will reverse and the environment will be paramount again...

[Castadiva]

1 hour ago, Destiny1990 said:

About these Chinese tourist  girls i notice they do not have any flirting skills.They completely ignore u to say the least.

Maybe you're just not their type. The 'Chinese tourist girl' you refer to is probably a university graduate from a respectable middle class background, with no interest in flirting with some farang geezer her father's age while she is holidaying in Thailand.

[AGareth2]

32 minutes ago, Castadiva said:

Maybe you're just not their type. The 'Chinese tourist girl' you refer to is probably a university graduate from a respectable middle class background, with no interest in flirting with some farang geezer her father's age while she is holidaying in Thailand.

Drat!

[Destiny1990]

29 minutes ago, Castadiva said:

Maybe you're just not their type. The 'Chinese tourist girl' you refer to is probably a university graduate from a respectable middle class background, with no interest in flirting with some farang geezer her father's age while she is holidaying in Thailand.

Hmmm nahh it most be their limited English skills that is holding them back?

[humqdpf]

Fake News Alert: The headline makes it look like that Thailand is currently under strain due to current surge in tourist numbers. This is NOT true - there has been a drop in tourist numbers apart from short-term visits from China.

 

The headline should use the future subjunctive - that if there were to be a surge in tourism numbers, Thailand would be under strain.

 

Of course, the article makes no case for basis for expecting any surge in tourist numbers beyond what is happening today.

[Lupatria]

Is this an attempt of a canonization for the sports & tourism lady? 

[jimstar1]

What can you say another tall tale Lovey day today In Chiang Mai A few Thais a Few farangs  and Bus loads of those Loud Rude Chinese

[Mickmouse1]

Dreadfulwelcome to the young Brazil an who was raped minutes after landing in LOS....WHAT WILL THAT DO TO THE IMAGE OF THAILAND? 

[Bluespunk]

3 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

I live in the North and we see those same parades of tour buses, often under police escort. We also see the convoys of blue plated Chinese SUV's, twenty or more at a time, again with a police escort, all headed to the golf course for a golfing weekend having just driven from China.

 

But from the sound of things your gripe is not the Chinese tour groups but instead is local police enforcement of traffic regulations!

I'd say they are complaining about the stress on the local infrastructure [if you count roads as such, I do] and is bang on topic with the point they make.

[Bluespunk]

2 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:

About these Chinese tourist  girls i notice they do not have any flirting skills.They completely ignore u to say the least.

Hmm, now why would that be...

[Ulic]

Maybe they should invest in tourism infrastructure instead of submarines.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

4 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

In spite of clogging up the infrastructure, I don't think the "newly wealthy Chinese" are contributing much at all to the local economy. 

 

Then you'd think wrong.  

 

(Very very wrong, actually.)

 

They're an absolute godsend. 

[PatOngo]

4 hours ago, mok199 said:

mabey im a dreamer ,but a healthy mix ..instead of this invasion...

They'll take any colored money!

[Gold Star]

12 minutes ago, Ulic said:

Maybe they should invest in tourism infrastructure instead of submarines.

Being submerged might be the only place to experience Thailand in peace and quiet, free from the busloads of Chinese hordes.

[PatOngo]

24 minutes ago, Mickmouse1 said:

Dreadfulwelcome to the young Brazil an who was raped minutes after landing in LOS....WHAT WILL THAT DO TO THE IMAGE OF THAILAND? 

In the eyes of a local....NOTHING!

[Thechook]

31 minutes ago, Ulic said:

Maybe they should invest in tourism infrastructure instead of submarines.

But they need the subs to take tourists on rides

[Destiny1990]

43 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Hmm, now why would that be...

Lack of English skills?

[Bluespunk]

1 minute ago, Destiny1990 said:

Lack of English skills?

Could be,

Could be,

Could be other things as well of course

 

 

[worgeordie]

2030, there's no way Thailand could look that far into the future,

they announce a policy  and a day later they do a u-turn.

regards worgeordie

[dageurreotype]

5 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Somehow, being a magnet for a bunch of retirees stuck in the "I miss the old days, but I can't afford to retire (or I hate everything about) back home" doesn't seem like a very viable way to move forward.

As in certain locales on Phuket, a sea of grey.

 

[freethinker]

Just 15 years ago Thailand was still beautiful and not overcrowded. It was a pleasure to visit. 

 

[dageurreotype]

1 hour ago, Ulic said:

Maybe they should invest in tourism infrastructure instead of submarines.

Maybe they should invest in ALL infrastructure, not just yet more new roads to accommodate Chinese tour busses. Anyway, from that which I've noticed on Phuket, the Chinese are already becoming bored with Thailand so they can file that figure along with all their stats.

[dageurreotype]

3 hours ago, mok199 said:

living downtown always has its + and -,but the widening of beach rd ,it is now just an extension of sukumvit freeway, as the buses scream down in the ''fast lane'' ....flashing lights at slower moving traffic..and this is all  about moving tour groups to and from the seafood buffet ,to the hotel etc....this is not even a downtown beach,envirment any longer..beach rd is a freeway/boat launch service dock/ashtray/parking lot....everything pattaya was built around is almost lost,but I still have hope someday this will reverse and the environment will be paramount again...

Exactly the same on Phuket. Thank Christ most of them have gone.

[Geordie59]

The Chinese will put in whatever infrastructure they need.
They can use some of the excess already here from the dwindling numbers of other tourists, although at Chinese prices and conditions.

[elgordo38]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

The rush has delivered the ruling military junta in Bangkok a much-needed financial boost but left airports and other choke points buckling under the strain.

 

Incoming OK outgoing NO NO 

[vento]

6 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

In spite of clogging up the infrastructure, I don't think the "newly wealthy Chinese" are contributing much at all to the local economy. 

people seem to say this all the time, in my reason couple of months around many pleaces in Thailand, i saw hotels full of Chinese (1500-2500 baht range hotels, and didn't look like they where on a free package tours), Chinese eating at the local restaurants and so on.

 

Now they most likely have a different budget than some of the one week billionaires that come here to blow up a lot in a few weeks on booze and gils, but that doesn't mean they don't sleep, eat and drink.

 

maybe some don't like it, but as for foreigners, farang is soon (if not already) a minority, at least in the usual places like bkk, cm etc etc

[seancbk]

5 hours ago, mok199 said:

.....Thailand has now become a travel destination for the budget tour groups,i always hoped the  falang retirement population would increase,and bring with them a bright future for this country...but, Thailand wanted quantity not quality...and now they have it with clogged roads dirty beaches filthy tour buses ,and angry stressed out locals...I miss the old days...

 

 

The absolute last thing I want to see is an increase in the retired Farang population.



 

[CantSpell]

6 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

I live in the North and we see those same parades of tour buses, often under police escort. We also see the convoys of blue plated Chinese SUV's, twenty or more at a time, again with a police escort, all headed to the golf course for a golfing weekend having just driven from China.

 

But from the sound of things your gripe is not the Chinese tour groups but instead is local police enforcement of traffic regulations!

Interesting, so they are still coming by car but must still be prohibited to change province as started early last year...

 

Haven't seen a blue plated car in Chiang Mai since March 2016...

 

[Hereinthailand]

Hmm chinese are not farangs ? I feel they are being cheated by some of you posters.

[Jonmarleesco]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s tourist industry faces “trouble” without urgent investment to cope with an expected near-doubling of visitors to 60 million by 2030, a top official has warned.

A prudent government would wait and see how likely the ever optimistic TAT's predictions look to be accurate.