Thai govt offers free dinner, free visa too

[webfact]

Govt offers free dinner, free visa too 

By PHATARAWADEE PHATARANAWIK 
THE NATION

 

 

THE GOVERNMENT and the private sector are launching joint campaigns to bring back Chinese tourists during the peak festive season and hope that this will help Thailand reach this year’s tourism targets.

 

 Despite the drop in Chinese tourists over the last four months, a rise in non-Chinese tourists may actually help boost the overall economy, top officials said. 

 

A rare drop in tourist arrivals in October, caused by a sharp fall in the number of Chinese visitors, has cast a shadow over the country’s economic outlook.

 

“Overall arrivals in October totalled 2.7 million, down 0.5 percentage point from the previous year, due to a sharp drop in Chinese tourists,” permanent secretary for Tourism and Sport Ministry, Pongpanu Svetarundra, told a news briefing on November 21.

 

Since the Phuket boat tragedy in July, the number of Chinese tourists to Thailand dropped by 12 per cent in August, 15 per cent in September and nearly 20 per cent in October.

 

Around 646,000 Chinese tourists visited the Kingdom last month, registering a drop of 19.8 percentage points year on year. Tourism revenue from the Chinese market fell by 16.5 per cent to Bt34.6 billion.

 

However, he said, more than 37 million tourists had visited Thailand over the past 10 months, rising 7.8 per cent from the same period last year. Tourism revenue hit Bt1.6 trillion, up 9.9 per cent.

 

“But the numbers are still below target. We need to meet our target of Bt370-billion revenue in the last two months of this year, which would be a miracle. However, I don’t think we will miss our annual target of Bt2 trillion,” Panupong said.

 

The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) echoed his sentiments.

 

“The Chinese market got slightly better, but still has not recovered. The fall in the number of Chinese tourist arrivals is primarily due to a loss of confidence and the weakening of the Chinese currency and their purchasing power as a result of the [US-China] trade war,” Chairat Triratanajarasporn, newly appointed president of TCT, told The Nation.

 

So, in an effort to give tourism a boost, the government and private sectors have joined hands to woo tourists with various campaigns.

 

The government last Wednesday launched the quick-entry e-Visa on Arrival (E-VOA) system for 20 countries – including China – waiving the Bt2,000 visa fee for 60 days at two airports. Meanwhile, the government’s economic tsar, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, earlier this month made a deal in Shanghai with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba to help promote Thailand as a tourist destination.

 

Officials expect the waiver on visa-on-arrival fee will bring an additional 2 million Chinese tourists.

 

“With the E-VOA and Amazing Thailand Grand Sales: Passport Privilege campaigns, we hope to target Chinese tour groups who are sensitive to the weakening yuan,” Tourism and Sport Minister Weerasak Kosurat told The Nation.

 

He added that the government has taken the highest security measures for the just-salvaged “Phoenix” boat, which sank off Phuket province in July, taking with it the lives of 47 Chinese tourists in order to regain the confidence of Chinese tourists.

 

“The short-term drop of Chinese tourists hopefully ended by October. The number of tourists visiting Thailand over the past 10 months still showed a 10 per cent rise and revenue during that period was 12 per cent higher,” Weerasak revealed.

 

Tourists from Hong Kong and Taiwan showed a 25 per cent and 20 per cent increase respectively. Tourists from Asean countries rose 9 per cent, while domestic tourism also showed a 9 per cent increase. Also, some 1 million US citizens visited Thailand, showing a 5.6 per cent increase in arrivals and 12 per cent rise in revenue year on year.

 

“The Europeans were the biggest spenders, with higher revenue of over 30 per cent. Canadians and Russians were also big spenders, creating an increase in revenue of 22 per cent and 20 per cent respectively,” Weerasak added.

“We hope the rise in non-Chinese tourists will help us reach our target.” 

 

However both Weerasak and Chairat agreed that other positive factors like newly opened malls and tourist destinations plus expanding Michelin Guides to tourist destinations may boost spending.

 

The Riverside mega-mall Iconsiam aims to draw 150,000 tourists per day, while many Chinese tourists have also checked out Bangkok’s newest tourist attraction, the Mahanakhon Skywalk.

 

Thailand’s highest 360-degree observation deck and rooftop bar at 314 metres high offers a spectacular panoramic view of the city from the country’s tallest building – King Power Mahanakon.

 

Announced last Wednesday, Thailand’s second edition of Michelin Guide Bangkok has also expanded its eateries guide to cover Phuket and Phang Nga.

 

“We hope Chinese tourists who love eating and shopping will spend more money while staying here. In January, the private and government sectors will jointly host a free dinner for 10,000 Chinese tourists in Bangkok by serving 5 tonnes of sticky rice with 500 mangoes. This will be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records,” Chairat said. 

 

“We will also work to expand tourism to second-tier provinces. However, long-term security, fair pricing and good hospitality will bring back sustainable tourism to Thailand,” he concluded. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Tourism/30359396

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-28

[Thechook]

Prepare for the stampede

[Justgrazing]

51 minutes ago, webfact said:

We hope Chinese tourists who love eating and shopping will spend more money while staying here. In January, the private and government sectors will jointly host a free dinner for 10,000 Chinese tourists in Bangkok by serving 5 tonnes of sticky rice with 500 mangoes. This will be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records,” Chairat said.

Sticky rice and Mango .! Jeez' push the boat out won't you .. 

If they want 'em back we know what'll have 'em descending like a swarm of locust .. 

[lamyai3]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In January, the private and government sectors will jointly host a free dinner for 10,000 Chinese tourists in Bangkok by serving 5 tonnes of sticky rice with 500 mangoes. This will be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records

as the biggest food fight in history...

[Chang_paarp]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

THE GOVERNMENT and the private sector are launching joint campaigns to bring back Chinese tourists during the peak festive season and hope that this will help Thailand reach this year’s tourism targets.

Hint for writers and tourism folk, the Chinese have different festive seasons to the Christian based societies. Maybe targeting those would work better.

 

[Crossy]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

10,000 Chinese tourists in Bangkok by serving 5 tonnes of sticky rice with 500 mangoes.

Somehow the maths doesn't work here.

 

That's 500g of rice and 0.05 of a mango per guest. You could possibly smell the mango on the rice.

[Samui Bodoh]

"...Govt offers free dinner, free visa too..." 

 

'We'll even bend over and let you have a go if you come and give us money!'

 

 

 

 

[ezzra]

14 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Somehow the maths doesn't work here.

 

That's 500g of rice and 0.05 of a mango per guest. You could possibly smell the mango on the rice.

Math? what's that? next you be asking about logic and common sense... first, throw big and impressive numbers out there, second, if there's a second, we stop and think of what we just said....

[pattayadgw]

I simply can't believe that I'm reading this.... blows my mind!! what other country in the world goes to this degree to woo a specific country for tourism? they say they are opening the visa free bla bla to 20 countries... why not just open it for all countries and be done with it! You will then get your numbers that you seem to so desperately need.  'Chinese love to eat and go shopping'. No other nationality likes to do this... dahhh!!! GET A GRIP!!

[lamyai3]

37 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Somehow the maths doesn't work here.

Well spotted - maths has never been a strong suit with the tourist ministry. If there's that little mango to go round, there's going to be blood on the khao niao... 

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He added that the government has taken the highest security measures for the just-salvaged “Phoenix” boat, which sank off Phuket province in July, taking with it the lives of 47 Chinese tourists in order to regain the confidence of Chinese tourists

Quite right too. You don't want those tourists clambering over the wreck seeing how their compatriots died, they would lose confidence.

[mok199]

Stop inflating the Bhat,and build the Casinos...they all will come back..

[simoh1490]

9 minutes ago, mok199 said:

Stop inflating the Bhat,and build the Casinos...they all will come back..

That's right, stop all exports and stop tourism, that'll stop the Baht from inflating......er, remind me, why did we do that?

[PatOngo]

Throw in some medicinal weed and you might just be onto something!

[grumbleweed]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Around 646,000 Chinese tourists visited the Kingdom last month, registering a drop of 19.8 percentage points year on year. Tourism revenue from the Chinese market fell by 16.5 per cent to Bt34.6 billion.

 

However, he said, more than 37 million tourists had visited Thailand over the past 10 months, rising 7.8 per cent from the same period last year. Tourism revenue hit Bt1.6 trillion, up 9.9 per cent.

Chinese tourism drops and overall tourism and revenue rise - and they still don't get it

[simoh1490]

Just now, grumbleweed said:

Chinese tourism drops and overall tourism and revenue rise - and they still don't get it

Get what? The number of visitors increase and the revenue increases, what else is there to get?

[happy chappie]

When this whole kerfuffle first started I said as a joke they will be offering free prawn BBQs to get them back.this is truely pathetic.

[grumbleweed]

6 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

Get what? The number of visitors increase and the revenue increases, what else is there to get?

Less Chinese = more visitors from other countries

Want me to draw you a picture?

[simoh1490]

4 minutes ago, grumbleweed said:

Less Chinese = more visitors from other countries

Want me to draw you a picture?

Yes please, preferably in 3D and in colour!

 

Too funny that you think other countries will visit in greater numbers now that the Chinese visitors have reduced.....bigot much! 

[BEngBKK]

What about free visa to skilled foreingers that can help develope the country _

[happy chappie]

Apparently Tijuana in Mexico are giving out free meals to visitors too.might hop on a plane go get me a free bowl of chilli.

[wgdanson]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Math? what's that? next you be asking about logic and common sense... first, throw big and impressive numbers out there, second, if there's a second, we stop and think of what we just said....

Sorry ezzra, Crossy said MATHS, short for mathematicS.    lol

[mickymouse1]

Someone  is depicted  here as cheap git!!

[simoh1490]

4 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Sorry ezzra, Crossy said MATHS, short for mathematicS.    lol

The abbreviation is in fact Math since it is not plural.

[mikebell]

If you want an influx of foreign currency just ban all Embassy income confirmation letters and force all expats here to have 800,000 in a Thai bank....oh.

[yellowboat]

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...Govt offers free dinner, free visa too..." 

 

'We'll even bend over and let you have a go if you come and give us money!'

It does have that please come to Thailand, we're begging you sound. 

[ReMarKable]

I suppose the sticky rice will be handed out at the airport?  Imagine the trash it will create and the numbers of persons mopping up after the cups are thrown on the floor.  Or will they randomly hand them out to Asian people spitting and honking throughout Bangkok?

[iamariva1957]

Will they be doing this for other nationalities? I will bet you that the answer is no. Unless, of course, that other country is quietly taking over, being invited to do so, or Thailand is playing the 'be nice and maybe they will be nice back' card. Remember, it is what happened and how it was handled regarding the Japanese back in '41 (yes... there was fighting but it only lasted for 6 hours before the Thais sign an agreement with Japan).

 

China and the Long Game is alive and well and being pandered to by Thailand. Shame that as the rest of us have shown greater loyalty and respect and have a greater understanding of what is great about this country and its people. Besides we do not fight over shrimp, push our way through lines ... generally behave ourselves far better. 

 

But China is the big kid on this block right now. So, the Burma and Laos casinos need to rake it in (with a cut to Thailand by the way as usually they are jointly owned by folks from both side of the border) and China is the big player there and as Thailand is right next door with easy crossing points(if you are Chinese right now).

 

Oh hell.. bring on the crowds from China.

[Emster23]

"

36 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Sorry ezzra, Crossy said MATHS, short for mathematicS.    lol

The abbreviation is in fact Math since it is not plural."

Boys, boys.... okay Brits, Aussies and some other members of commonwealth say "maths". Americans say "math" (I'm a yank). If math/s is shortening of mathematics, should have that "s". Perhaps "plural" because their are various sorts of "maths": +,-, trig, etc rather than seeing it as one big tent containing it all. Excuse me, but my sheeps are calling.

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, Emster23 said:

"

The abbreviation is in fact Math since it is not plural."

Boys, boys.... okay Brits, Aussies and some other members of commonwealth say "maths". Americans say "math" (I'm a yank). If math/s is shortening of mathematics, should have that "s". Perhaps "plural" because their are various sorts of "maths": +,-, trig, etc rather than seeing it as one big tent containing it all. Excuse me, but my sheeps are calling.

Ewe can hear them from here?