Thailand tourism situation

[Bristolian]

Also sorry to go off topic. Please mods move to the appropriate thread.

[lomuamart]

The above is basically correct with regards to over 65s and O and OA visas.
If someone wants an annual extension, off either visa type, then savings or income or combination must be shown.

[oakdale160]

All this talk about visas etc, this is NOT a factor in the flow of TOURISTS. I know that it of interest to ex-pats who stay for long periods but has effect on tourist numbers.

[Korkenzieher]

The point about visas and tourists is that many people on long-stay visas have tourism as their declared reason for visiting. Certainly I do, because I am not married to a Thai, and I have so far not been enthusiastic about going for the retiree visa (though I may have to in the future).

Added to that, there are people who fill in entry cards and put 'tourism' after a visa run. That has inflated the numbers of apparent tourists. So the question of visa designation is central to how tourists are counted. None of us would doubt that there has been a drop in tourism to LOS - but that doesn't square with the TAT figures and pronouncements suggesting that tourist numbers are surging.

The 'powers that be' appear amongst other things, to be trying to separate genuine tourists out from the rest. The realignment of tourist and long-stay visa categories should make things clearer, and may help to reconcile the differences.

However, for some of us, it also makes life somewhat more complicated.

[Name Taken]

Richard:

I seem to remember sometime back statements were being made about moving Thailand's tourist business up-market. In other words discourage low spenders and beach party kids. With all that is going on at the moment perhaps we are going to see a clampdown on the sex industry and beach party goers.

The comment wasn't about upmarket - it was 'high value'. High Value tourism is essentially package tours and resort dwellers. In other words, those who put up a large sum before coming to the LOS. That is where the where the slump has hit most - European package /resort tourists. It is where the government *sees* impact, and jobs being lost. Drip-feeders, such as most of us and gap-years students and the like, don't register much in their planning. Obviously we sort out things for ourselves. It is an unfortunate irony in some ways, that the 'high value tourist' is actually likely to be the lowest spender, and least profitable - but once you have built all that infrastructure - well, you need someone to use it!

It is unfortunate that Thailand seems to always be focused on tourists/tourism and neglects so many other areas and people. I think most of the 'high value tourists' would probably not choose Thailand for a vacation anyways.

[Korkenzieher]

Certainly I agree a lot of high net worth people (which is how many seem to interpret the phrase 'high value'), wouldn't touch Thailand with a barge-pole.

[buksida]

Tourists down 10.28% over 9 months
The number of tourists arriving in Thailand dropped by 10.28% to 17.55 million in the first nine months of 2014 compared to the same period last year, according to the Tourism Department.

Department director-general Anuphap Kesornsuwan said tourism generated around 806 billion baht in revenue over the nine-month period, down 7.55% year-on-year.

Inbound tourist numbers in September were 1.85 million, down 7% from the same month in 2013. The situation had improved from August when arrivals dropped by 11.85% and was much improved from the largest drop in June at 24.37%.

He said the figure showed indications of a recovery moving into the high season, particularly in the Asian market that accounted to almost two-thirds of overall visitors.

The five main sources of tourists in September were China at 426,000 visitors (down 6.29%), Malaysia at 228,000 (down 1.37%), Japan 109,000 (down 18.96%), Korea 81,000 (down 13.13%) and Singapore 78,000 (up 3.04%).

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/social/ ... r-9-months

[oakdale160]

The Malaysian figure is a joke. That is mostly Malaysians coming across the southern border for cheap shopping and cheap sex.

[Chazz14]

Maybe the ongoing dodgy economic situation in the UK might work in Thailand's favour by making a few more people consider emigrating here. Also, with building continuing everywhere this must surely result in a buyers market situation sooner rather than later.

Getting here from London is now ridiculously expensive (a friend just paid £840 on Eva on December 29th). Once you are here to stay though, you can live happily for less...

[richard]

Sorry but I think that's total bullshit and a complete lack of knowledge of the situation here in Thailand. Before posting read some threads relating to things out here

[Ropes]

I think we can see the real situation with our own eyes. This past 6 weeks is the quietest I have known Hua Hin and Cha Am and while the restaurants have a few customers the bars are generally filled with local farangs.
Maybe it will pick up in November and December but even so I still don't think it will be as busy as before.

[adammike]

Maybe the ongoing dodgy economic situation in the UK might work in Thailand's favour by making a few more people consider emigrating here. Also, with building continuing everywhere this must surely result in a buyers market situation sooner rather than later.

Getting here from London is now ridiculously expensive (a friend just paid £840 on Eva on December 29th). Once you are here to stay though, you can live happily for less...

of course if you come over the Christmas new year period you will pay a premium,
I saw fares with aeroflot Amsterdam I Bangkok return 485euro leave Jan 29 return
feb26 via Moscow but what a fare.I have paid 630euro Amsterdam-Bangkok return
with Eva direct flight for those dates,one thing that is really gonna freak people out
is Ebola that has the possibility to keep us all at home,maybe scaremogerin but!

[Lev]

We have an entire section to discuss flight prices.

[adammike]

We have an entire section to discuss flight prices.

sorry but in a thread about "tourist slump". flight prices,bf prices,hotels,health issues
bus and taxis,attitudes, the price of a beer are all gonna get a mention.
My biggest change over the last 20 years is the drop in my disposable income that impacts on what I choose to do with my cash,(bars and girls lose out).
wages have not kept up with price rises,ironically that's why I am coming to cha ham
and hua him next year its easy and cheap to get to and the hotels are ok price wise
and the food options are good,for what its worth flight prices are as cheap as I have ever seen them,and the price of beer means nothing to me.

[buksida]

It seems that mostly Brits want to discuss flight prices in depth on many threads that come up here (hence the creation of the new sub-forum), the fact is that the majority of Thailand's tourists come from China and the rest of Asia where flight prices are not a factor.