Tourism industry needs to adapt quickly to ‘Thailand 4.0’, TAT says

[fruitman]

just teach the elephants a new trick and tourists will all flock to see it.

 

 

[lvr181]

What happened to Thailand 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0? 

[mtls2005]

Everything has to be done quickly.

 

It's always a bad a idea to have any long-term plans.

[elgordo38]

7 hours ago, Anythingleft? said:

 

Reinvesting revenues does not seem to be high on any of the main service providers "to do" list, just keep on with the highly profitable option of taking what you can when you can

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
 

 

Definitely living in a takers world today not much give. The powers that "be" keep eyeing our pension checks and trying to figure out how they can slice a bit off to help for their mismanagement over the years. Small enough as it is. Better duck before the "nanny/nutters" come out of the woodwork. 

[mikebell]

I too am trapped; house/wife/step-daughters.  My UK state pension frozen for the last 9 years whilst Thailand gets ever more expensive.  I went shopping for toiletries (shaving cream/deodorant) and walked out of a number of places in protest at their rip-off prices.  These goods were not Western but Thai brands.

 

Eventually I will be starved back to UK where I, and many others, will plunder the social services coffers.

[spidermike007]

I think the general quality of tourist is declining. In the future, perhaps they will discuss how Thailand lost the golden egg of Western tourism too. 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.  

 

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 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".

 

 

 

 

 

[garyk]

On 5/27/2017 at 2:29 PM, wakeupplease said:

Just need to add lying to themselves which is ok, but lying to others shows what they are really like and expect not welcome back in their own country.

Anyone reading this thinking of selling all, and moving to Thailand or S.E. Asia needs to STOP. Move over here for a few years and see if it suits your lifestyle.

I am sure some really love it, but you need to live over here for a while to really see if it is for you IMO.

 

 

 

[spidermike007]

12 hours ago, garyk said:

Anyone reading this thinking of selling all, and moving to Thailand or S.E. Asia needs to STOP. Move over here for a few years and see if it suits your lifestyle.

I am sure some really love it, but you need to live over here for a while to really see if it is for you IMO.

 

 

 

 

True that. For some of us, we just like how foreign, bizarre, difficult to understand, and incomprehensible the place and the people are. I like mystery. I get plenty of that here! I tell people who are visiting for the first time, to realize that Thailand is not a foreign country. It is a distant planet. 

 

I really like most of the people here. Most are lighthearted, fun loving, and kind. Most. But, I live in a small town. Was not that way when I lived on Samui. Most there were jaded, and did not like being around foreigners. I think the trick here is to NOT live in a tourist area. If you like things to be predictable, and familiar you will probably not like living here. I like it weird, foreign and exotic! I get plenty of that here.

[spidermike007]

On 5/27/2017 at 11:48 PM, garyk said:

After about 10 years in Thailand I am coming back home to the U.S. more and more. I only stayed a few months the last hop. I own a home here, and it is not any more expensive to live here than in Thailand. And it is clean. The park fees are the same after the 10 fold increase for Thai parks. Government censorship, I personally do not see why anybody would want to live there full time. It was ok for the first few years exploring the country and country around Thailand.

IMO it ain't what it is cracked up to be.

 

There is no question that the little man is bringing down the quality of life for most Thais, and some foreigners. He is doing nothing constructive, and moving the country backwards at an alarming pace. The censorship if downright oppressive, and incredibly distasteful. Talk about insecure. But, some of us still love it here. I also go back to the US often, but for the most part, I find the place relatively joyless. People there really seem disenchanted, the quality of life there is really slipping, and though we have culture, a spectacularly beautiful natural environment, some of the most amazing National Parks, Monuments, and forests I have ever seen, some freedom of the press, and a so called democracy, most people seem unfulfilled with their lives, and especially their relationships. I prefer it here. I am fortunate to have a wonderful Thai woman, who really knows what it is like being a real women, and embracing all those amazing qualities. None of my friends back in the states enjoy that. NONE. Most are at least partially emasculated. That is no fun!