I came back from the UK yesterday and the flight from Dubai to BKK was full with a lot of Chinese travelers as well.
Having said that, Swampy was pretty quiet or at least that was my impression but I had had about a crate of red wine on the way so my impression might be a bit clouded. Imm and customs seemed pretty quick for once but then again I could hardly stand up and just smiled/floated through all that kerfuffle so time wasn't of the essence.
Thailand tourism situation
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Finally TAT are telling the truth ...
Virus shaving tourism in half, minister says
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn expects tourist arrivals to plunge by 50 per cent in the first half of this year because of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
He dropped the bomb at a government-private sector meeting on Thursday (February 13) where mitigation measures were discussed.
Tourist numbers from February 1-9 were down 43.47 per cent, he said, and among Chinese visitors 86.55 per cent.“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,”
Phiphat said.“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.”
He plans to propose to the Cabinet a visa fee exemption for Chinese and Indian visitors as a way to stimulate tourism and asked the private sector for its support.
“We might also propose that the Cabinet allow entrepreneurs who run businesses in the entertainment area to stay open until 4am, but we must first survey the operators and tourists to get their opinions.”
A 50-per-cent reduction in tourist numbers in the first half means cutting the prediction from 40 million people to 20 million.
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30382091
Virus shaving tourism in half, minister says
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn expects tourist arrivals to plunge by 50 per cent in the first half of this year because of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
He dropped the bomb at a government-private sector meeting on Thursday (February 13) where mitigation measures were discussed.
Tourist numbers from February 1-9 were down 43.47 per cent, he said, and among Chinese visitors 86.55 per cent.“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,”
Phiphat said.“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.”
He plans to propose to the Cabinet a visa fee exemption for Chinese and Indian visitors as a way to stimulate tourism and asked the private sector for its support.
“We might also propose that the Cabinet allow entrepreneurs who run businesses in the entertainment area to stay open until 4am, but we must first survey the operators and tourists to get their opinions.”
A 50-per-cent reduction in tourist numbers in the first half means cutting the prediction from 40 million people to 20 million.
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30382091
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
-
handdrummer
- Addict
- Posts: 5389
- Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:58 am
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Get rid of visa fees for everyone. Westerners spend much more money in Thailand than Asians. Do they think that staying open until 4 am is an attraction? Yah, right, I want to come to Thailand because bars stay open till 4 am.
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Westerners spend much more money in Thailand than Asians.
Can you evidence that or is it just your opinion?
This article kinda debunks your theory.
Why the Chinese are more important than Western tourists to Thailand
We need to wake up and smell the roses, us Westerners are no longer an important group for the Thailand tourism industry – in fact, we are what you would call ‘niche’ – and with good reason.
The Chinese are here in numbers and not only will this continue to grow but they also outspend Europeans per capita by 53% when in Thailand.
follow us in feedly
OPINION by Dan Cheeseman – Dan About Thailand
We need to wake up and smell the roses, us Westerners are no longer an important group for the Thailand tourism industry – in fact, we are what you would call ‘niche’ – and with good reason.
The Chinese are here in numbers and not only will this continue to grow but they also outspend Europeans per capita by 53% when in Thailand.
There are more Chinese…
The Chinese now account for 57.48% of all tourists in Thailand and what makes this even more staggering is only 8.7% currently have passports (120 million).
According to Jing Travel this could double by 2020 – that means 240 million Chinese able to travel (363% of the UK population – 66 million). They also go on to state that first time Chinese travellers are more likely to travel more close to home to begin with, so places like Vietnam and, you guessed it, Thailand.
Why the Chinese are more important than Western tourists to Thailand | News by The Thaiger
And the Chinese share of the pie will only grow.
No wonder Thailand are forecasting tourism to grow from the 38 million now to over 79 million by 2030.
Why the Chinese are more important than Western tourists to Thailand | News by The Thaiger
The Chinese Spend More…
Quite often I hear the European retaliation that they would like to see the spend levels per capita of Chinese, suggesting it to be low. This could not be further from the truth as shopping is an important factor for when they go on holiday.
The Chinese expenditure into Thailand is US$15,342,000,000 each year, which is more than any other nation. The average spend per day for a Chinese tourist in Thailand is US$192 – which is 53% more than the average Europeans US$125 daily spend.
https://thethaiger.com/news/opinion/why ... o-thailand
Can you evidence that or is it just your opinion?
This article kinda debunks your theory.
Why the Chinese are more important than Western tourists to Thailand
We need to wake up and smell the roses, us Westerners are no longer an important group for the Thailand tourism industry – in fact, we are what you would call ‘niche’ – and with good reason.
The Chinese are here in numbers and not only will this continue to grow but they also outspend Europeans per capita by 53% when in Thailand.
follow us in feedly
OPINION by Dan Cheeseman – Dan About Thailand
We need to wake up and smell the roses, us Westerners are no longer an important group for the Thailand tourism industry – in fact, we are what you would call ‘niche’ – and with good reason.
The Chinese are here in numbers and not only will this continue to grow but they also outspend Europeans per capita by 53% when in Thailand.
There are more Chinese…
The Chinese now account for 57.48% of all tourists in Thailand and what makes this even more staggering is only 8.7% currently have passports (120 million).
According to Jing Travel this could double by 2020 – that means 240 million Chinese able to travel (363% of the UK population – 66 million). They also go on to state that first time Chinese travellers are more likely to travel more close to home to begin with, so places like Vietnam and, you guessed it, Thailand.
Why the Chinese are more important than Western tourists to Thailand | News by The Thaiger
And the Chinese share of the pie will only grow.
No wonder Thailand are forecasting tourism to grow from the 38 million now to over 79 million by 2030.
Why the Chinese are more important than Western tourists to Thailand | News by The Thaiger
The Chinese Spend More…
Quite often I hear the European retaliation that they would like to see the spend levels per capita of Chinese, suggesting it to be low. This could not be further from the truth as shopping is an important factor for when they go on holiday.
The Chinese expenditure into Thailand is US$15,342,000,000 each year, which is more than any other nation. The average spend per day for a Chinese tourist in Thailand is US$192 – which is 53% more than the average Europeans US$125 daily spend.
https://thethaiger.com/news/opinion/why ... o-thailand
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
It's just another knee jerk reaction. Most people will be happy with opening closing times. The only feedback given is from the minority who are not happy. So the officials work their way through the feedback looking for what would encourage more visitors. What do they find? I can't drink enough beer in the hours the bars are open. FFS, start earlier.
OK, I'm old and don't drink much, but regardless, I'm normally home by 11 and in bed by 12. Even when I did drink a lot, that was still the case. Is there any special attraction about sitting in a bar at 3am with a bunch of drunks? Or is midnight until 4am when the Chinese drink? Surely those are the demographic they're trying to attract.
OK, I'm old and don't drink much, but regardless, I'm normally home by 11 and in bed by 12. Even when I did drink a lot, that was still the case. Is there any special attraction about sitting in a bar at 3am with a bunch of drunks? Or is midnight until 4am when the Chinese drink? Surely those are the demographic they're trying to attract.
Championship Plymouth Argyle 1 - 2 Leeds Utd 
Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED
Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Years ago the nightlife industry was a big draw for tourism, it basically funded Pattaya, Phuket, Samui, Koh Phangan and large swathes of Bangkok. Today the demographic has changed, the Chinese hoards don't go to bars, they hang out in shopping malls. Its all about the numbers, a hundred Chinese spending 100 dollars each is worth more on paper than ten westerners spending a thousand each even though the output is the same.
Don't even try to make sense of the thought processes of Thai politicians and lawmakers - they're all just trying to justify jobs that they don't deserve.
Don't even try to make sense of the thought processes of Thai politicians and lawmakers - they're all just trying to justify jobs that they don't deserve.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
The Chinese expenditure into Thailand is US$15,342,000,000 each year, which is more than any other nation. The average spend per day for a Chinese tourist in Thailand is US$192 – which is 53% more than the average Europeans US$125 daily spend.
https://thethaiger.com/news/opinion/why ... o-thailand
[/quote]
I would like to know on what each Chinese tourist spends just under 6000 baht per day ???? Even on holiday in expensive countries my husband and I don't spend that much each per day !!!
https://thethaiger.com/news/opinion/why ... o-thailand
[/quote]
I would like to know on what each Chinese tourist spends just under 6000 baht per day ???? Even on holiday in expensive countries my husband and I don't spend that much each per day !!!
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Take any stats coming from the Thai govt with a HUGE bag of salt!
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
I have no idea on what the Chinese tourist spends their cash on.
I was merely quoting a source, with a link, rather than expressing an uninformed opinion
I was merely quoting a source, with a link, rather than expressing an uninformed opinion
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Where is your link and research for the expenditure data? I notice it is not included in the article which makes it ... well ... an uninformed opinion by a bloke called Dan with a blog. 
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
FYI the Thaiger is not a govt. source
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Thaiger is not the original source of the article, they lifted it from a blog which lifted his charts from another blog citing figures from TAT three years ago.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
That's right pal you keep bangin' yer head against a brick wall thinking that the Western tourist is the golden egg goose laying visitor. 
BTW not sure where south of sanity is but here in Hua Hin have you actually noticed how many new housing developments are are aimed at the Chinese buyer
BTW not sure where south of sanity is but here in Hua Hin have you actually noticed how many new housing developments are are aimed at the Chinese buyer
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
I never said Westerners were the golden geese - they're dead ducks now in terms of tourism. But you can keep banging your head believing what TAT says.
Sure there are plenty of Chinese targeted developments but they certainly aint selling at the moment! Thailand would sell its soul to the devil if it made a quick baht.
Sure there are plenty of Chinese targeted developments but they certainly aint selling at the moment! Thailand would sell its soul to the devil if it made a quick baht.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thailand tourist slump continues
Thailand would sell its soul to the devil if it made a quick baht.
That different to any other Govt.? 
That different to any other Govt.?
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.