Thailand tourism situation

[PeteC]

Are these officials high on something?

Tourism minister mulls adding new tourist levies

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism ... ist-levies

The Ministry of Tourism and Sport is mulling the idea of collecting levies from international tourists for the “renovation of tourism attractions and natural resources”, as well as providing insurance benefits specifically for tourists. The Minister noted that the high numbers of tourists traipesing over the same well-worn paths and attractions, especially natural and historical treasures, also carried a high cost of maintenance.

The Tourism Ministry recently held its first workshop to gather opinions from government agencies and private companies working in tourism, as well as insurance companies and revolving funds. Most of the participants say the measure must be introduced at an appropriate time to minimise distruption of the national tourism scene.

They have also requested more details of the plan to use fees collected for attraction renovation and insurance benefits.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will be holding another session to gather more opinions, and will collate all suggestions and submit them to Thailand’s Tourism Fund’s board, the National Tourism Policy Committee, and ultimately to the Cabinet for consideration.

The proposals come at a time when Thailand’s previously ‘teflon-tourism’ has started to see massive drops in numbers following the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus and, more recently, the negative publicity of the Korat Massacre. The impact of both is still fluid and a longer-term downturn in tourist arrivals is expected.

[Big Boy]

Ministry of Silly Ideas at its best

[buksida]

Totally reinforces this notion: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=38975

Or maybe I'm being too cynical

[HHTel]

I read about this on A.N.Other forum. The quality of members of the government here never cease to amaze.

Minister of Tourism and Sports is Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. He should make friends with the Minister of Health who hands out unwrapped face masks with his bare hands and not wearing one himself. Get's very annoyed when a foreigner actually refused one of these non sterile masks possibly infected with his own bacteria.

Do none of these members of the government understand their job description?

Thailand's average IQ is well below 100 (base line norm). Now if all people in government were excluded, I'm sure the average would rise.

Thailand, rich in resource, strong currency and investment, one of the largest foreign reserves in this part of the world but unfortunately, the country is run by imbeciles.

[PeteC]

............He should make friends with the Minister of Health who hands out unwrapped face masks with his bare hands and not wearing one himself. Get's very annoyed when a foreigner actually refused one of these non sterile masks possibly infected with his own bacteria..........

It never dawned on him that Westerners (or anyone for that matter) wouldn't know who he is as they get on and off the MRT trains! Tourists are besieged here with a multitude of hawkers and vendors waving things in their faces, and he expects to be treated any differently than being totally ignored? A pompous ass to be sure.

As far as the ministry of silly ideas goes, they are all new and they have to do something to bring attention to themselves before they are totally forgotten by the general public. The great majority have no experience and are terribly underqualified for their positions.

[handdrummer]

Raising tourist fees when tourism is down, is the same mentality as raising prices when business is poor.
The land of everything backwards.

[stretch]

Yes but after you have paid the tax you will recieve a free mask and you must wear it by order of another idiot.

[buksida]

Chiang Mai reels under impact of new coronavirus as tourists stay away
On Wednesday (February 12), Thansettakij newspaper reported the results of its survey on tourist attractions in Chiang Mai since February 8, which was Makha Puja Day and the start of a three-day long holiday.

The survey found a sharp decline in tourists, especially those from China. “Chiang Mai used to be highly popular among Chinese tourists, but this year only a few of them can be seen at tourist attractions as well as at Chiang Mai International Airport,” said a source.

A van service provider in Chiang Mai said that during the 44th Chiang Mai Flower Festival from February 7-9, his company only saw Thai customers visiting the fair. “My vans usually pick up Chinese tourists from tourist attractions to Khaomao-Khaofang, a giant fusion restaurant in Chiang Mai, which was always packed with Chinese tourists, but this year I have yet to see a single Chinese tourist there.”

January and February mark the start of the high-season for Chiang Mai tourism that lasts until Songkran Festival in April. The tourism industry in Chiang Mai usually expects more than 2 million visitors from China alone. The main factor behind the huge drop in Chinese visitors is the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30382006


No fear, TAT will still claim there are 39.99 million tourists coming here this year.

[HHTel]

WuFlu is the root cause but the efforts of China to contain the outbreak has undoubtedly resulted in the lack of Chinese tourists. If China hadn't imposed drastic travel restrictions (a bit late I know), I guess the situation would be much worse, especially in Thailand.

There are a growing number of reports showing that the growth in new cases is declining.

[buksida]

I'd say the tourist slump had been going on long before the Kung Flu outbreak, which has only just hit their biggest slice of the tourism pie. Thailand is still welcoming them with open arms - aside from the cruise ship there has been no such travel restrictions here, which of course will put every other nationality off from coming to Thailand.

[HHTel]

there has been no such travel restrictions here, which of course will put every other nationality off from coming to Thailand.

Exactly, which is why I said that if China hadn't imposed heavy travel restrictions, the situation here would be much worse.
It's said that China is a hub of misinformation but Thailand is no better.

[PeteC]

“Tourist arrivals to plunge 50% in first half of year” – Thai Tourism Minister

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism ... m-minister

Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has painted a gloomy outlook for Thailand’s previously-robust tourism industry. He says he expects tourist arrivals to plunge by 50% in the first half of 2020 because of the coronavirus outbreak.

A drop of 50% in Thailand’s visitors would be catastrophic for millions who are either directly or indirectly employed by the Kingdom’s hospitality industry, let alone the businesses and investors in the vast tourism and hotel infrastructure.

The Minister announced his gloomy prediction at a government-private sector meeting yesterday where measures were discussed to counteract the slump.

A Phuket hotelier, who asked not to be named, painted a similarly dramatic picture of the slump being felt in one of the country’s favourite tourist destinations.

“Dramatic overnight drop in new bookings with cancellations piling up until the end of February, and not much movement in March. Continuation of cancellations including guests traveling via China or other so called ‘affected’ countries. MICE market (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences Exhibitions) came to a complete stop and weddings postponed until mid-year for the time being. Inquiries completely dried up.”

“Resorts and hotels are looking at cutting costs as much as they can immediately. Complete stop on new recruitment unless absolutely necessary, and close entire resort buildings to reduce operating costs.”

Another operator of a five star resort in Chiang Mai reported that the situation in the north was also very tight.

“The last month has been desperately quiet and that was on top of a major slump for the last six months. Our forward bookings situation is looking very sick and many of our peer businesses are making quick changes and even putting off staff to try and minimise the impact on the bottomline.”

Minister Phiphat reported that tourist numbers from February 1 – 9 were down 43.5%, and among Chinese visitors 86.6 %.

“We expect the situation to pick up in April and will be discussing with Airports of Thailand ways to manage flight schedules for Chinese tourists to reduce airport congestion. There’s also been the news about the speedboat collision in Phuket in which several tourists were killed, so we want to put the priority on tourist safety.”

“A 50% reduction in tourist numbers in the first half means cutting the prediction from 40 million people to 20 million.

“The Tourism Authority of Thailand will need to work harder in the second half to compensate for the first.”

[Ratsima]

We flew from Don Mueang to Phuket last week to get on a dive boat. It was truly shocking. Normally, the Air Asia international checkin area is jammed. It was quiet. Our Nok Air flight was full, but the Phuket airport seemed like a ghost town. We had to wait a while to get picked up so we decamped to the Bill Bently Pub. We were the only customers. The other restaurants were also empty.

Our boat departed from the Asia Marina near Rassada Pier. In the mornings that area is normally a beehive of activity as crews get ferries and speedboats ready for a busy day. When we returned in the morning after a few days of diving, the harbor was pretty much dead. Lots of fishing boats, but almost no activity on the tourist boats.

rassada.jpg (78.82 KiB) Viewed 592 times

[buksida]

Covid-19 inflicts severe blow on Phuket hotel industry
The novel coronavirus outbreak, now known as Covid-19, has seriously impacted hotel occupancy in Phuket province, and some hotel owners have asked their employees to go on leave without pay to reduce their cost, Suksit Suvunditkul, chief executive officer of Deevana Hotels & Resorts, said recently.

To prevent the virus from spreading, China’s government has prohibited Chinese tour companies from taking their tourists out of the country since January 24.“The government’s prohibition has led to a fall in the number of guests booking rooms in hotels and resorts in Phuket province,” Suksit said.

He said that large hotels in Phuket city, with around 200 or 300 rooms and targeting Chinese, presently have occupancy of less than five rooms.“Those hotels have urged their employees to go on leave without pay in order to cut cost,” he added.

Meanwhile, the number of tourists occupying hotels and resorts situated along the province’s beach had also fallen by 10 to 20 per cent. More room cancellations were expected.This February, the occupancy rate of those accommodations along the beach dropped from 80 to 90 per cent to 65 to 75 per cent.

For March, the present booking rate is around 40 to 50 per cent occupancy, compared with the normal occupancy rate of 70 to 80 per cent.“The current situation is sensitive, and those hotels with other Asian target groups were impacted as well, since the tourists were afraid to travel to Asia,” Suksit added.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30382018

[buksida]

Frightened Asian tourists cancel flights, stay home
The South Korean government’s advisory to its citizens to delay trips to countries and territories where the Covid-19 coronavirus has been found has resulted in numerous flight cancellations to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

South Korea has remained relatively free of the contagion, although one of its citizens was found to be infected after returning from Thailand.

Its news media have also reported that the virus is rampant in North Korea, which shares a porous border with China.

Thai Airways this week reported a 30-per-cent plunge in its bookings for round-trip flights between Bangkok and Seoul and said it was dropping four weekly flights as a result from February 26-March 28.

Twenty-one THAI flights a week will remain on the schedule, however.The national carrier said it might also cancel some flights to Japan because people there are similarly showing reluctance to travel to Thailand.

Seoul-based carriers Eastar Jet, Jeju Air, Asiana Airlines and Korean Air have also reduced the number of flights to Thailand.Wing Commander Suthirawat Suwanawat, Airports of Thailand’s general manager at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, said Thailand’s premier air hub is seeing far fewer foreign tourists because of the virus outbreak.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30382152