Thailand tourism situation

[Big Boy]

I've been in the Kanchanaburi area for a few days - plenty of tourists, but no English speakers. Russian was the main language amongst tourists.

[buksida]

Russian economic crisis hits Pattaya, Phuket
Russia's economic crisis is expected to squeeze the hotel and tourism business in Thailand - especially in Pattaya and Phuket - through the current high season and first quarter of next year.
"Pattaya has been like a second home for Russian tourists and long-stay guests for many years. They have been contributing huge income to the country's economy. But average hotel occupancy in the seaside resort today is falling to 70 per cent from more than 90 per cent last year," Supawan Tanomkieatipume, vice president for marketing at the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said last week.

Pattaya, which is said to be the most popular destination for Russians, has been suffering from a drop-off in arrivals since early this year due to the country's economic problems and the recent plunge in the value of the ruble.

Pattaya is expected to continue feeling the pinch at least until the end of March.

Two years ago, Russian visitors began to flock to Phuket as their new destination, but the famous island is experiencing a similar slump this year.

Russian tourists reached 1.4 million from January-November. But December looms as a tragedy as hotel operators in Pattaya have reported that Russian guests are down 50 per cent from last year.

The country welcomed 1.7 million Russians last year. For years, the Russian market has ranked as the third largest source of tourists after China and Malaysia.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busines ... 50841.html

[Big Boy]

That is strange. We had 4 friends travel to Pattaya 2 days ago. When they got there, they were very unhappy with their hotel. They reckoned they were stuck with it because Pattaya was running at 100% capacity.

Maybe they were told that by the 'not so good hotel'; or maybe 100% capacity in their price range

[StevePIraq]

I have also found that hotels seem to be 100% booked up, we planned to go to Patts for a few days and all the hotels we had stayed in the past were full. We looked at some other areas and also full so I do not really see a down turn in tourism at the moment, after all it is Christmas

[STEVE G]

Don't forget that many Thais book hotels for the New Years holiday and it's always very busy for that period. Even people living in an area sometimes will have a room for the gala dinner celebrations over the New Year if they can afford it.

[Stan_]

Actually Russian rouble is falling for more than a year already. And so the Russian tourism - to Thailand and generally abroad. The slump is about 50% now, more or less, all directions. And looks like it's not going anywhere for another two or three years. System crisis, incomes down.

[Stargeezer]

I just heard from my friend in HH, that even though there were lots of visitors
to many places during the Christmas time and for the first few days of 12015,
over all the number of visitors to HH and other areas are down.
My buddy stated that there were lots of Chinese visitors at Pattaya when they were
there for a couple of days, but everyone of them packed cameras and not much else.
They did not appear to be buying many trinkets or items to help out the local
economy. I will only believe that the tourists are coming back in big numbers,
when I have lived there for a while and see it for myself.
I believe that there will be more tourists going to Vietnam and even to Burma if it
becomes more open for tourist travel. Unless the TAT of Thailand and the government
make it easier for tourists and travellers to come to Thailand and stay a
reasonable time without having to pay lots for visas that are too time restricted and
for too little time period, Thailand will become yesterdays tourist destination, and
places like Vietnam and Burma, etc., will be the new places that tourists and travellers flock to.
Just my opinion of course.

[JamesWest]

I just heard from my friend in HH, that even though there were lots of visitors
to many places during the Christmas time and for the first few days of 12015,
over all the number of visitors to HH and other areas are down.
My buddy stated that there were lots of Chinese visitors at Pattaya when they were
there for a couple of days, but everyone of them packed cameras and not much else.
They did not appear to be buying many trinkets or items to help out the local
economy. I will only believe that the tourists are coming back in big numbers,
when I have lived there for a while and see it for myself.
I believe that there will be more tourists going to Vietnam and even to Burma if it
becomes more open for tourist travel. Unless the TAT of Thailand and the government
make it easier for tourists and travellers to come to Thailand and stay a
reasonable time without having to pay lots for visas that are too time restricted and
for too little time period, Thailand will become yesterdays tourist destination, and
places like Vietnam and Burma, etc., will be the new places that tourists and travellers flock to.
Just my opinion of course.

It cost me nothing to come to Thailand on a tourist "visa", good for one month.
Other than a slight line at the airport at immigration, I just walked into the country, nothing needed but my passport. No problems at all.

It cost my friend $100 USD in the USA to get a tourist "visa" for Vietnam. He had to mail his passport with photos to the Vietnamese embassy in Washington, D.C. Good for one month.

It cost me $45 USD at the airport plus photos and a extra hour of my time dealing with the commies and their rubber stamps to get a tourist "visa" for Vietnam. Good for one month.

As a tourist how long do you want to stay in the country?
And I for one could not wait to get back to Thailand from Vietnam.

[Big Boy]

I agree with your comments James. I'm hoping to travel to Cambodia soon, I am expecting that to cost me and be a paperwork intensive nausea again. As you say, getting into Thailand for up to 30 days, which is enough for most people on holiday is a breeze.

[BOZ]

I just heard from my friend in HH, that even though there were lots of visitors
to many places during the Christmas time and for the first few days of 12015,
over all the number of visitors to HH and other areas are down.
My buddy stated that there were lots of Chinese visitors at Pattaya when they were
there for a couple of days, but everyone of them packed cameras and not much else.
They did not appear to be buying many trinkets or items to help out the local
economy. I will only believe that the tourists are coming back in big numbers,
when I have lived there for a while and see it for myself.
I believe that there will be more tourists going to Vietnam and even to Burma if it
becomes more open for tourist travel. Unless the TAT of Thailand and the government
make it easier for tourists and travellers to come to Thailand and stay a
reasonable time without having to pay lots for visas that are too time restricted and
for too little time period, Thailand will become yesterdays tourist destination, and
places like Vietnam and Burma, etc., will be the new places that tourists and travellers flock to.



Just my opinion of course.

It cost me nothing to come to Thailand on a tourist "visa", good for one month.
Other than a slight line at the airport at immigration, I just walked into the country, nothing needed but my passport. No problems at all.

It cost my friend $100 USD in the USA to get a tourist "visa" for Vietnam. He had to mail his passport with photos to the Vietnamese embassy in Washington, D.C. Good for one month.

It cost me $45 USD at the airport plus photos and a extra hour of my time dealing with the commies and their rubber stamps to get a tourist "visa" for Vietnam. Good for one month.

As a tourist how long do you want to stay in the country?
And I for one could not wait to get back to Thailand from Vietnam.

[lomuamart]

I don't think that visas, either the cost or the red tape, deter most travelers to most countries.
However, what does deter them is maybe the reports of murders, rip offs etc that are now getting more press coverage outside of Thailand.
A for instance from today's Bangkok Post- http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... d-tourists
And there's also the fact that the world's still in economic turmoil and Thailand just isn't the same value for money as it once was.

[pharvey]

And I for one could not wait to get back to Thailand from Vietnam.

Personally, I've thoroughly enjoyed my trips to Vietnam - the first was work and out in the sticks and whilst I didn't enjoy working with my Japanese colleagues, the Vietnamese were superb.

Wonderful beaches, great beer, great coffee, great bread, great people.....,. what else do you need??

As for a visa, a few bucks and a photo - really not much of a hassle. Try a few African counties and an AK47 shoved in your face.......

[Big Boy]

Yes lomu, you are right - if it sounds dangerous, I wouldn't dream of visiting a country. The foreign press did Thailand no favours whatsoever during last year's problems. I had to write daily to friends and relatives to assure them, and tell them what was really going on from my perspective. The press was putting it across that I was a dead man walking. It was certainly a case of the truth not selling newspapers.

However, my next consideration is the red tape involved. I've only left Thailand once since moving here - to Vietnam for a week. The red tape seriously changed my mind at one stage, and it was only encouragement from members of this forum that persuaded me to make the trip.

Firstly I had to buy a letter saying that I could get a visa on arrival, which had to be done from an online travel agent. That was the first obstacle - warnings about scams all over the Internet, and a list of web sites that had to be avoided. From memory, that cost me £15 or $15, can't remember which.

On arrival in Vietnam, I had to go through 3 queues to get my visa on arrival - another £45 or $45 (numbers may be wrong, it was a year ago).

Currency needed to be crisp $ bills, so it couldn't be folded in my folding wallet.

I intend going to Cambodia this year, but similar crap could put me off.

Therefore, when people say the likes of Vietnam are simpler options, I just snigger. They may be more lenient for long stayers, but for the average tourist Thailand has it right.

[usual suspect]

Would the current exchange rate have any real impact on tourist numbers?
It seems that as well as Russia's ruble tumbling..the Swedish Krona has taken a big hit in the last month or so.
I've also noticed that the UK pound has dropped 2B in 2 days..

[barrys]

I agree with your comments James. I'm hoping to travel to Cambodia soon, I am expecting that to cost me and be a paperwork intensive nausea again. As you say, getting into Thailand for up to 30 days, which is enough for most people on holiday is a breeze.

And let's not forget that, under the new rules, the 30 days can now be extended to 60 days through a single visit to the local immigration office