Why the Chinese are infinitely more important than Western tourists to Thailand

[DLock]

The Chinese are TAT dream tourists.

 

They come for 1 or 2 weeks, spend more than western tourists, they don't make trouble, and they go home again, all orderly and well dressed.

 

Compare that to the image of western tourists, and you can see why we have become somewhat less desirable.

 

...and the tourist migration has only just begun. Tourism and hospitality sector can clearly see the writing on the wall. If I was in that sector I'd either cater for Chinese, or I'd cater exclusively for western tourism...but trying to cater to all tourists will fail. Pick a side.

[ThomasThBKK]

4 minutes ago, DLock said:

The Chinese are TAT dream tourists.

 

They come for 1 or 2 weeks, spend more than western tourists, they don't make trouble, and they go home again, all orderly and well dressed.

 

Compare that to the image of western tourists, and you can see why we have become somewhat less desirable.

 

...and the tourist migration has only just begun. Tourism and hospitality sector can clearly see the writing on the wall. If I was in that sector I'd either cater for Chinese, or I'd cater exclusively for western tourism...but trying to cater to all tourists will fail. Pick a side.

 

According to the TAT, they don't.

[mokwit]

6 minutes ago, DLock said:

If I was in that sector I'd either cater for Chinese, or I'd cater exclusively for western tourism...but trying to cater to all tourists will fail. Pick a side.

I believe some are trying to straddle the two by offering separate areas for the Chinese to eat in. Presumably they find our eating habits overly refined.

[DLock]

2 minutes ago, ThomasThBKK said:

 

According to the TAT, they don't.

 

Did you read the article?

[Destiny1990]

5 minutes ago, Benroon said:

I can honestly say in all the years I've either been visiting or living here I have never had a Chinese gawp at me ? - Bizarre !

Hmmmm before i reply this i first need see ur real profile picture.

[Destiny1990]

9 minutes ago, Benroon said:

Leo drinkers eh ? Deodorant ? You sure ?

Yes Leo beer purchases am sure about but deodorant purchases by farangs am not completely sure.

[Kieran00001]

38 million tourists, really?  Anyone noticed them around their way?

[ThomasThBKK]

6 minutes ago, DLock said:

 

Did you read the article?

yes, i did? Did you? No mention of TAT sources in there.

 

According to TAT and Mastercard: Russia, USA, UK, AUSTRALIA, GERMANY account for 29% of spendings in there alone, and that excludes Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, France and co

 

Source: https://www.tatnews.org/2018/11/thailand-leads-asia-in-international-visitors-spending-unwto-report/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Thailand

 

You can calculate the spending per visitor urself using these 2 sources.

 

[Bang Bang]

Not to mention the India tourist numbers which are going up by 500k to 1mil per year.

 

This includes the three guys who share one Chang in Rainbow 2 to the family that charters a flight to fly in guests to a hotel in Samui they book all up plus a troupe of elephants for a daughter's wedding, and about 5 mil more in between.

[JAG]

11 minutes ago, Kieran00001 said:

38 million tourists, really?  Anyone noticed them around their way?

I was at "The White Temple" in Chiang Rai the other day, a major tourist attraction. There was a steady stream of busses arriving, and disgorging Chinese tour groups. They all moved together through the temple complex, threw a coin in the wishing well, rang the bells, walked through the buildings, and back onto the bus, curtains drawn and off to the next venue.

 

There may well be 38 million of them, but they don't have anything to do with normal society here.

 

As an aside, I have never seen so much garish sweaty polyester!

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed. 

[moe666]

1 hour ago, Justgrazing said:

Yea but how much of that went on fixing up sick Buffalo ..

0 I would think never see any of them on Soi 4 except passing by in the bus. A friend who works Soi4  says the farang tourist are down every year.

[overherebc]

2 hours ago, NotYourBusiness said:

Another humbling graphic (only 20 years away):

 

As the chinese get richer ( graph ) will they want to travel further, EU, USA etc and will that change the numbers coming to Thailand? Or will there still be lots of first timers to come here.

An interesting point, to me anyway, is what % of chinese tourists are repeat visitors?

[Traubert]

46 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

T

 

However i do think Chinese like visiting Thailand because they can see many farangs here but if we are all getting forced out of Thailand then Thailand looses its farang feature thus dissatisfied Chinese????

Wrong, we whiteys lost our star status amongst the Chinese about eight years ago.

[wgdanson]

2 hours ago, otherstuff1957 said:

So, what do they buy?  They go to the high-end stores on Suk and buy brand-name stuff.

Most of it made in China, either genuine or fake.

[Bang Bang]

2 minutes ago, overherebc said:

An interesting point, to me anyway, is what % of chinese tourists are repeat visitors?

Good point. A statistic I saw some time ago showed that Thailand does in fact beat out its neighbors in getting repeats.

 

Heck, some people repeat so often that they then figure it's just not worth going home anymore and turn into expats (cough, cough, trying not to look in the mirror).

[madmen]

2 minutes ago, moe666 said:

0 I would think never see any of them on Soi 4 except passing by in the bus. A friend who works Soi4  says the farang tourist are down every year.

I think i know her. Is that porn the beer bar girl? every time I see her she always complaining not enough boom boom and then I cave in  and bar fine her. Im starting to think its a scam

[Just Weird]

2 hours ago, seajae said:

looks like this doesnt take in the zero dollar tours, all that money is spent in chinese shops/businesses

 

So what, those Chinese shops and businesses are here in Thailand.

[amexpat]

1 hour ago, ratcatcher said:

some of their women are majorly bang-bangable. 

I believe the term is bang-worthy.  Bangable is yet to be determined until you try. 

 

[Traubert]

5 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Most of it made in China, either genuine or fake.

What do they buy? The girls buy cosmetics, the blokes buy electronics. You may say it's all made in China and you would be right, but the quality control for exports far surpasses the domestic QC and all those gadgets although made here are taxed as imports in China because they are foreign brands. Import tax is brutally high, over 100% in some product lines and so they are far cheaper in Thailand.

 

Look in the departure lounges at the airports. The Chinese all have a pile of boxes each as well as their luggage.

 

It's quite sad to see so many people in denial about the Chinese tourist revenue.

[Just Weird]

2 hours ago, otherstuff1957 said:

Unlike Western tourists, they don't usually patronize small, local shops, smaller guesthouses or local restaurants.  Consequently, even though they spend more money, much, if not most of their money goes to foreign companies and their wealthy Thai partners. 

Those shops are all part of the Thai economy!

[the guest]

Thais will always stick to their break and butter. 

[Youlike]

If another disaster like the Phoenix happens again it might change overnight..The Chinese are like sheep who all follow eachother.

 

I wouldn't dare to invest in an extra airport terminal for the chinese...

[Just Weird]

1 hour ago, KittenKong said:

As mentioned, tourist arrival figures are largely meaningless as a retired expat who lives here permanently and supports a house and car and family counts for exactly the same as a Chinaman who is just here for a weekend on a zero-dollar tour.

 

What is really important is the total spend per tourist, and what they spend it on. But I wonder how many Thais understand that?

Weren't zero-dollar tours banned a long time ago?

 

"Chinaman"?

[amexpat]

1 hour ago, Bang Bang said:

Isaan women, those that not like Thai man because too much butterfly, I only give money my bluther, him good heart take care me when you not here?

 

Cute.  May I assume you speak Thai fluently? 

[Just Weird]

1 hour ago, Destiny1990 said:

That’s true Look around at the 7/11 or at the big c..

White guys with only  2 Leo beer cans and some deodorant. Chinese usually with  2 or 3 baskets totally full with stuff.

However i do think Chinese like visiting Thailand because they can see many farangs here but if we are all getting forced out of Thailand then Thailand looses its farang feature thus dissatisfied Chinese????

"White guys with only  2 Leo beer cans and some deodorant".

Deodorant? 

 

Edit: Just seen that you beat me to it, Benroom.

[ratcatcher]

43 minutes ago, amexpat said:

I believe the term is bang-worthy.  Bangable is yet to be determined until you try. 

 

You ought to have replied to Bang Bang Post #10, the originator of the term you reference.

As an aside, I suggest that with a name like Bang Bang, he is probably able to determine bangability / bang worthiness  from a distance of 30 feet.. 

[madmitch]

1 hour ago, Benroon said:

I'm struggling to understand the significance of that ? Whether they stay here a month or a day, whether they tour extensively or stay in their room, they are outspending westerners on a presumably pro rata basis ?

 

It's just confirmation that western sex pests with less money than the wealthier and less sex pesty Chinese are going to be asked to jump through a few more hoops or go home.

I understand why you are questioning the validity of this when it comes to spending, but the short stays are a bit of a dream for the Government and its tourists associations who love to quote arrival numbers (though I'm not quite sure where Dan the blogger got his figures from). Hotel nights by nationality would see a distinct difference, though Chinese would still be top.

 

I've seen the hoardes of cheaper tourists that seem to typify the Chinese tourists, but I've also encountered the high spenders. I reckon 20% of Chinese tourists account for 80% of the expenditure (nothing to back this up, by the way, just a guess).

 

One other interesting point made by Dan is stating that the Chinese pay more for hotel rooms. Well, I have no idea where he's got this informnation from as the Chinese tour agents are known to negotiate very low prices for their group tours, the consolation for the hotel being that they get year-round trade. Independent travellers mainly use CTrip, where prices would be similar to Agoda or Booking.com. Again, perhaps it's that higher spending lower percentage he's referring to.

 

[DrTuner]

2 hours ago, Benroon said:

The vest industry could be in trouble ?

I don't think so, once Thais stoop down to bringing in proper mainlander peasant level tourists sales should go up. Also new business opportunities for manufacturers of spit cups.

[Jonathan Fairfield]

2 hours ago, madmitch said:

These articles always fail to mention that the average stay of a Chinese visitor is significantly shorter tha the average stay of Western tourists and, in particular, Russians, who generally tend to stay in one place for their entire two to three week stay.

 I've not got it to hand but we were told at a meeting with hoteliers last year that average stay of Chinese tourists in Thailand is 9 days compared to 17 days from those travelling from Europe. But that could just be down down to the distance of travel. You're less likely to come to Thailand for say 9 days if you have to travel all the way from UK, Europe etc