Tourism on the Rebound?

[PeteC]

Grand plans announced spending untold millions of Baht to attract tourists back to the Kingdom now that the violence is apparently over. Most of it involves roadshows, tax credits, throwing money at companies who have been affected badly during the crisis, and large retailer discounts.

However, I see nothing mentioned or being done at the level where tourist or resident directly interacts with a service provider.

What irks you the most about what you experience when out and about and using the facilities or services provided by Thai companies in the tourist sector? What should they change? What should they do better? Which providers are the worst offenders? Pete

[richard]

From what I've seen in HH in the last couple of weeks, there are more tourists in Khon Kaen

From what I have heard from friends overseas, there is no chance of coming until the exchange rate becomes more favourable AND the government and people show more signs of stability. Almost all of us who live here or visit frequently are able to cope as it's localised but many who are influenced by the media hype see Thailand as an unstable country and unpredictable

The unrest has not gone away. It's gone to ground to reform and resurface. We are living in a political volcanic area. The last eruption was quenched but the seismic fault is still there and will erupt again

[richard]

As an add on

A thought from a friends friend. If an election is called for November and the Reds win what happens next? Yellows on the rampage?

Next high season I fear is a gonna already

[HuntingTigers]

From what I've seen in HH in the last couple of weeks, there are more tourists in Khon Kaen

From what I have heard from friends overseas, there is no chance of coming until the exchange rate becomes more favourable...

The Sunday Times, [p.3, Section 6, 30 May 2010], shows the exchange rate as 43.32 THB to 1GBP. It also, [helpfully], shows last years rate for the same date as 50.32 THB to 1GBP. I know this is not the rate you can get in Thailand but potential tourists reading this would assume this was the rate for their British pounds.

Let me also add Thailand in the tourist areas is not cheap. A small Leo costs 60THB [GBP1.33] in a HH bar whilst I can get a pint of excellent draft ale where I live for 82THB, and that is in a city centre bar, [Manchester].

If an election is called for November and the Reds win what happens next? Yellows on the rampage?

- This is another concern. I am planning on visiting HH in November. Currently the Foreign Office advice is to "exercise caution at all times" - hardly an inviting prospect. Whilst this means I can get travel insurance any upgrading of threat due to political unrest automatically cancels my insurance - when's the election planned again?

HT

[PeteC]

.... - when's the election planned again? HT

Current news is not until sometime in 2011. Pete

[hhfarang]

From what I've seen in HH in the last couple of weeks, there are more tourists in Khon Kaen

Duh! Richard, almost any place that has a beach has more tourists than a place without a beach!

[richard]

Khon Kaen has a beach

[Big Boy]

And here it is:

Castle Howchow.jpg (65.31 KiB) Viewed 1350 times

[richard]

Thanks BB

[Spitfire]

If it's possible, they should do something about the exchange rate. As mentioned above, it's a big put-off, Thailand is not cheap no matter where you are, period. For a country that relies on tourism and attracting companies to build factories plus exporting rice etc, then having a stupidly over valued currency appears to be a blunder to me. Fix this and tourists and companies will flood back in, simple.

[kendo]

Surin has a beach,
It is the Kap Choeng beach 4 km's from my house, its a man made beach on the side of the reservoir, the reservoir was a gift from Japan built in the early 90's its a cool place with little retaraunts and beach day shacks.
I am sure there will be more of these dotted all over Thailand.

I dont think that is un reasonable to say there could be more farangs up in Isaan i know my money will go a lot further up there than Hua Hin.

Kendo.

[richard]

Spitfire

The tourist trade is a minute portion of the Thai economy

Heavy machinery and electrical components is top
Agricultural products are in second place
Tourism is way way down the ladder

OK The impact of a reduction in tourism is catastrophic for local communities. Vendors, bar girls, property guys, car rental firms etc but it is not the driving power of the Thai economy

Exports are reported to be up 30% so the country is not really going to worry about tourism dropping apart from a face losing situation

I am all for it as I prefer Thailand in the off season to the high season

[STEVE G]

I think tourism is only about 6% of the economy, but it does employ about 15% of the workforce which is a bit more significant.
Obviously it's still not enough to devalue your currency for.

[sargeant]

Steve i agree
but as rice and agricultural goods are sold based on spot prices in US$ a drop in the dollar baht exchange rate must significantly hit the agricultural sector thus the farmers recieve less baht per tonne
and that sector is a very major part of GDP

i am open to learn if that is wrong though

[Spitfire]

Maybe Richard, but I wouldn't under estimate how many people are employed in it or the businesses conected to it, everything from airport tax to hookers. Your 6 per cent seems a little low when you factor in everything that's connected to it too. BTW, don't the profits from from all the vehical and construction equipment manufacturing end up in Japan or elsewhere?