Thailand tourism situation

[usual suspect]

I'm with Richard a bit on this one...
...So much for the hoops we all jump thru' to get a visa to stay here.
...So much for the Thai Immigrations compulsive need to see/know of our earnings..(both on everyones arrival-form, & most visas.)
Do we all assume if you throw a stone in anger & it hits a taxi, the driver will keep driving slowly onward & think 'mai-pen-rai'..?
Did the ever-so-nice girlie in the vid after befriending James save the "papa's buffalo velly sick" line till 'off-camera'..?
Personally I think in this vid our James is just about stereotypical of what the Thai powers-that-be do NOT want here..
...unless of course once he got his bag back he could exercise his ATM card
on a daily basis.. all locals happy, & even papa's beast-of-burden is well again

[pdm3547]

The video was presumably made shortly before he was arrested for overstaying and working without a work permit...

Haha. My first thought exactly!

[Big Boy]

I arrived at Suvarnabumi just after 11:30 today booked on the 13:30 bus to Hua Hin. The sign at the counter was stating the next bus to Hua Hin was 19:30 (for people who hadn't pre-booked). I guess things are getting busy.

[Spitfire]

It'll always bounce back as long as there are freely available women and cheap booze....but they will never get their upmarket, big spending and quality tourist they keep banging on about wanting.

[Big Boy]

Of course it will, but I was shocked that so many were travelling to Hua Hin today. It was only a last minute decision to pre-book - a lucky change of heart. Maybe 1 Dec' marks the start of the Christmas rush.

[migrant]

Maybe 1 Dec' marks the start of the Christmas rush.

I think that's a good part of it. Airfares from the states go up due to higher demand, many Thais here head back for the holidays

[Big Boy]

Isn't it strange how trends change?

I remember back in the early 90's when cheap airfares were between 5 and 6 hundred pounds, you could get a week in Thailand, flight and hotel for £199 if you started your journey on 8 December. That was always a flat week.

[Terry]

When I came back from HCMC last Wednesday, I had pre-booked the 1.30pm bus from Swampy to Hua Hin, knowing that I might be able to make it back to get on the earlier 11.30 bus if my flight was good.

The flight WAS good and I was at the Bus counter at gate 8 by 10.40 - plenty of time to catch the earlier bus.

Bummer - it was already full, as was my pre-booked 1.30 and the 4.00pm.

So I had to wait until 1.30. Meanwhile I noticed processions of tour groups (Seemingly mostly Russian and Chinese), boarding buses to all destinations.

At the Lodge, we have picked up and taking bookings for high season, with the website 'hits' jumping.

Now - I'm not going to get too exited yet, but for sure things are picking up.

[richard]

Condo Chain now heaving. Mostly Fins this year with the usual Dutch, Swedish and Germans. Short stay bookings also purportedly full too. The corner shop seats with a view is a mass of Finnish imbibers from 11am till 10pm. It's kicked off IMO.

Seem to be a few soi 80 ladies lurking around too this year

Those visitors I've spoken to know and frequent soi 80 but shun Binta as being too quiet and expensive. The shift is taking effect it seems. In addition there seem many who are now seeking eateries in the 80/88/94 sois so news has travelled.

No news though of the 'high end hotel' occupancy figures. Anybody any idea?

[Name Taken]

It'll always bounce back as long as there are freely available women and cheap booze....but they will never get their upmarket, big spending and quality tourist they keep banging on about wanting.

[buksida]

From what I've seen and heard, higher end hotel bookings are down around 40%, those that usually book in April/May/June time didn't or cancelled.

IMO what has happened is that repeat Thailand visitors have returned knowing that there really isn't much different going on with a junta running the place ... and new visitors have selected an alternative holiday destination following all the bad press and difficulty getting travel insurance.

[NOKYAI]

I did notice when driving past that the Condo shop was the busiest ' bar' I'd seen in HH !!!
There also seem to be more people sitting outside 7/11 type shops having a drink with mates, perhaps that's why Binta in particular is quiet, especially in daylight.

[richard]

^^ Agree. In effect they are akin to mom and pop shops where many money conscious expats hang out. I also know that many mom and pop shop imbibers descend on to soi 80 for the special happy hour bar offerings and then go back to their mom and pop shops. Guess these guys are long term expats, feeling the pinch and have grown out of the bg scene. Let's face it, you can have it 'in your face' only for so long before it becomes boring

[NOKYAI]

I know 3 beers for B99 in one bar at the moment takes some beating :-)

[Dr Mike]

The 5star hotels are very reticent to reveal bookings. I do not remember any person in management in a HH 5star hotel posting on the forum. But talk to the staff at these hotels and they will tell you that the numbers are well down.
The observation that Thai thrives on repeat visitors is so true --the golfers, the sexpats, the beachers know that outside BKK nothing much has changed (or changed for the better)