Thailand tourism situation

[buksida]

Despite the here claimed or repeated rumours there is no strong evidence to suggest widespread, blatant dishonesty in Thailand's tourist arrival figures, the potential for some level of inflation or misrepresentation for economic and political reasons however cannot be entirely ruled out.

The official data is primarily managed by government agencies, and while internal checks likely exist, truly independent and real-time fact-checking that is fully transparent to the public may be limited. However, media scrutiny, international comparisons, and a growing focus on revenue provide some level of oversight and can highlight significant inconsistencies if they arise.

That sounds like TAT and ChatGPT wrote it.

If the govt claims 6.7 million Chinese arrivals last year, and they're the largest demographic by far ... who the hell are the other 28 million "tourists"? I'm still waving the bullshit flag on their figures and how they derive them unless they provide some transparency. I'd estimate real figures for real foreign tourists (not expats, residents, students, weekend warriors, border runners, or citizens of neighboring countries) arriving are about half what they claim.

Though I can't prove this, just like they can't prove their numbers are genuine.

[STEVE G]

^Yes, I'm just having a late breakfast/early lunch overlooking Hua Hin beach and there is a Thai family who look like weekenders and a few older westerners who look like residents but I can't see anyone who you would describe as a tourist.

[Big Boy]

Despite the here claimed or repeated rumours there is no strong evidence to suggest widespread, blatant dishonesty in Thailand's tourist arrival figures, the potential for some level of inflation or misrepresentation for economic and political reasons however cannot be entirely ruled out.

OK, the propaganda we've been hearing about ever rising tourist numbers this year has been a typo

As for inflation figures, I read yesterday or the day before that Thailand's inflation figures had gone negative. My weekly shopping bill must be a regular typo at the till as well.

[PeteC]

Any tourists east of Bangkok this holiday weekend have already washed out to sea never to be seen again. Or, they are in various malls to get out of the drenching weather.

[STEVE G]

Any tourists east of Bangkok this holiday weekend have already washed out to sea never to be seen again. Or, they are in various malls to get out of the drenching weather.

It's a bit dark in the distance but not actually raining here:

[buksida]

^Yes, I'm just having a late breakfast/early lunch overlooking Hua Hin beach and there is a Thai family who look like weekenders and a few older westerners who look like residents but I can't see anyone who you would describe as a tourist.

Right, TAT is claiming around 100,000 tourist arrivals EVERY DAY of the year on average (35 million per year) ... that's 500 to 600 full planes of only "tourists" landing in Thailand every single day. Its pie in the sky ... WTF are they all?

[caller]

Despite the here claimed or repeated rumours there is no strong evidence to suggest widespread, blatant dishonesty in Thailand's tourist arrival figures, the potential for some level of inflation or misrepresentation for economic and political reasons however cannot be entirely ruled out.

The official data is primarily managed by government agencies, and while internal checks likely exist, truly independent and real-time fact-checking that is fully transparent to the public may be limited. However, media scrutiny, international comparisons, and a growing focus on revenue provide some level of oversight and can highlight significant inconsistencies if they arise.

Is there any chance you can write some stuff using your own brain, finger and thumb, and not a machines?

[fft100]

It is unlikely that casual "border hoppers" from Malaysia, who may cross for very short periods without formal immigration processes, are included in the official tourist arrival statistics. Tourist arrivals typically refer to those who officially enter the country with a recorded purpose of tourism and go through immigration procedures. However, individuals from Malaysia who do enter Thailand through official checkpoints for tourism purposes would be included in the arrival figures.  

Thailand's tourism authorities, such as the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), focus on arrivals where the primary purpose of the visit is leisure, holidays, visiting friends and relatives (if the stay is of a tourist nature), and other tourism-related activities.  
Immigration Forms and Records: Upon arrival, visitors typically fill out immigration forms where they declare their purpose of visit and intended length of stay. This information is a key component in compiling arrival statistics.  
Categorization: Immigration data is usually categorized into different types of visitors, such as tourists, business travelers, students, workers, etc. Only those classified as tourists are included in the tourist arrival numbers.

I will call you out as using chatgpt. There have been no immigration forms in Thailand for over a year. They actually have no idea what the purpose of visit is, unless someone actually gets a business visa. Many people with retirement visas are here for less than 6 months a year. And as someone who flies in and out regularly, i am probably counted multiple times a year. And why wouldn't border hoppers from Malaysia count as tourists ? Are they any different from someone flying in from Singapore or KL for only a night or 2 ?

[Big Boy]

Confused? You will be.

Which version of the truth do we believe? I've just been reading a publication that collates snippets of news into one place. Here are 2 contradictory articles from the same publication:

Picture1.png (63.74 KiB) Viewed 1656 times

Picture2.png (102.5 KiB) Viewed 1656 times

Credit: Expat News

[Dannie Boy]

I don’t think you need to be Einstein to guess the correct answer.

[STEVE G]

^I've no idea what the truth is but AOT operates regional airports, so it would be possible for their passenger numbers to be up due to internal flights but international arrivals to be down at the same time.

[GroveHillWanderer]

This ^^

[pharvey]

I have my own reasons for not visiting HH and Thailand for several years (not by choice), but a very good friend who has religiously visited HH, Thailand and Asia for the past 15 years seems to have given up on Thailand. His reasoning? Immigration and checks at the airport (long delays), a massive influx of Chinese and Tour Parties (the LHG understands and has forgiven him ), price increases (despite loving "Rural Thailand") and basically a big change in attitudes to tourists/foreigners. He's now loving Vietnam...

I'd certainly like to go back to Thailand, but has it changed that much for the worse? Must admit, my next "Asian Visit" will be Japan, but I'd love to revisit Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Unfortunately, HK has changed for the worse and China has done me (sorry BG, I don't share your love of the place).

[Big Boy]

When did your friend give up on Thailand? Immigration and airport checks haven't really changed. Thailand is suffering because the Chinese aren't coming.

Price increases, yes, but aren't they increasing everywhere?

Attitudes to tourists/foreigners - maybe/probably.

[pharvey]

When did your friend give up on Thailand? Immigration and airport checks haven't really changed. Thailand is suffering because the Chinese aren't coming.

Price increases, yes, but aren't they increasing everywhere?

Attitudes to tourists/foreigners - maybe/probably.

Well, to be fair he generally visited over Christmas, so gave up December '24, but I believe '23 was a turning point. As you know, I've not visited for a while, but would love to get back.