webfact Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Rich Indians to the Rescue as Chinese Tourists Shun Thailand By Randy Thanthong-Knight Photographer: Tylor Weidman/Bloomberg -- Chinese arrivals weakened amid Phuket accident, slowing growth -- Thailand sees fivefold jump in Indian visitors between 2018-28 Thailand’s struggling tourism industry is finding support with visitors from the population colossus to its west, just as the years of bumper arrivals from the giant to its north are beginning to wane. At a beachfront hotel on the tropical island of Phuket, the occupancy rate from Chinese clientele has stalled, while bookings from India have begun to rise. The Vijitt Resort is one of many in Thailand that has more cause for optimism. “We’re starting to see new growth,” said Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, Vijitt’s general manager and vice president of the Thai Hotels Association. “Indians are now driving industry growth like the Chinese had previously done.” Full story: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-07/in-phuket-indian-juggernaut-rides-to-rescue-as-china-visits-ebb -- Bloomberg 2019-07-08 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbezoz Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Suppose they reached the Thai governments acceptable death rates for Chinese visitors, they will have a go at the Indians now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piewarmer Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 The Thai exchange rate gives poor value to tourists, once the rich Indians have had their one visit they will move on to greener pastures, just like the Chinese. I don't know any Thai who has nice things to say about Indian people, they will feel unwelcome, so I don't expect any long term boom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fforest1 Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Next.....Thailand solves Americas homeless problem by putting all the homeless on planes and increasing the tourist arrivals in Thailand.... Sorry but hells going to freeze over before we welcome or value any western expats who have been contributing to Thailand for decades.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinnieTheKhwai Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Good. However TAT needs to promote specific regions, it's not good enough if Indians only ever visit Pattaya and Phuket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LomSak27 Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Just now, fforest1 said: Sorry but hells going to freeze over before we welcome or value any western expats who have been contributing to Thailand for decades.... It's a race to the bottom and it looks like we are in the knock out stages of the contest. Indian tourists where? Pattaya, Phuket? Not up north and not in Bangkok as of three weeks ago when I was there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChipButty Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Just recently Ive seen groups of Indians around Rawai I can tell they are not rich Indians cheap charlie tour groups 1 coke and 4 straws Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeCross Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 last. chance. saloon. don't mess it up the barrel is empty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfalfa19 Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 I have seen extraordinary racism in thailand towards Indians. I don't know if it's justified or not, I have little experience with Indians in Thailand. The ones I meet here in the US seem alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkkbudddy Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Greetings, In Pattaya, 3 out of 5 tourists are middle class Indians! In other words, too many Indians, majority of my friends from USA will not be visiting Thailand this year due to strength of Thai bhat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveStevens Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 and an infestation of bed bugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deli Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Russians - Chinese - Indians - ??? Maybe Marsians coz nothing else left. I remember everybody complaining about the Russians in the glory days. Wait until the Indians come in numbers. Run Forrest, run... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveStevens Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 24 minutes ago, alfalfa19 said: I have seen extraordinary racism in thailand towards Indians. I don't know if it's justified or not, I have little experience with Indians in Thailand. The ones I meet here in the US seem alright. How would you feel if you're a Thai girl making a deal with a group of east Indians who want a 4 for 1 deal? ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neeray Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Maybe TAT will soon declare Thailand "The Hub of Indians". Former hub of Chinese. And Russians, and, and, and ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko123 Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Suggest extra prayers to Hindu God of Road Safety be made part of any trip plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arithai12 Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Beats me why Indians would come to Thailand, the rupee has been losing steadily against the baht (15% loss in 2 years and growing) like all western currencies. They have enough elephants, tuk-tuks, beaches (that they don't like anyway), tropical fruits, spicy food, cheating taxi drivers and unsafe roads in their country. Shopping? Nah. Wild nights? Perhaps, that would explain why they seem to be mostly in Pattaya and Phuket - although there is no prostitution there as we know. I think this Indian wave will be short-lived, even more than the Chinese. And those with real money aren't coming to Thailand anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soalbundy Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Why would middle class Indians come to Thailand ? because it's near, good enough for a weeks holiday maybe, the big holidays would be spent in Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexlowe Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 4 minutes ago, arithai12 said: And those with real money aren't coming to Thailand anyway. I think this is a good point. My somewhat casual observation of the Indian tourists in Pattaya is that they stand around in small groups, blocking footpaths and even roads. (They absolutely refuse to get out of the way, leading to accusations of arrogance.) While they seem to be infiltrating every corner of the city, what is noticeable is that there are few to be seen in the shops, not even the 7/11s. My old Indian colleagues tell me that most of their (well-off) friends prefer to go to major western places. Thailand is actually looked down upon. So it looks like the class of Indian tourist coming to Thailand is not going to save the local economy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcusarelus Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 9 minutes ago, Dexlowe said: I think this is a good point. My somewhat casual observation of the Indian tourists in Pattaya is that they stand around in small groups, blocking footpaths and even roads. (They absolutely refuse to get out of the way, leading to accusations of arrogance.) While they seem to be infiltrating every corner of the city, what is noticeable is that there are few to be seen in the shops, not even the 7/11s. My old Indian colleagues tell me that most of their (well-off) friends prefer to go to major western places. Thailand is actually looked down upon. So it looks like the class of Indian tourist coming to Thailand is not going to save the local economy. You have seen that Indian sect that neither eats or drinks they exist on air alone. Not much good for tourism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJBangkok Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 I dont know if Pattaya and Phuket are the same but Hua Hin gets huge business from the Indian wedding industry, its big money and centered on the 5 star hotels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howzat Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 1 hour ago, piewarmer said: The Thai exchange rate gives poor value to tourists, once the rich Indians have had their one visit they will move on to greener pastures, just like the Chinese. I don't know any Thai who has nice things to say about Indian people, they will feel unwelcome, so I don't expect any long term boom. Bad comment....Totally unacceptable.!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whaleboneman Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 1 hour ago, alfalfa19 said: I have seen extraordinary racism in thailand towards Indians. I don't know if it's justified or not, I have little experience with Indians in Thailand. The ones I meet here in the US seem alright. And what would justify extraordinary racism? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VocalNeal Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 2 minutes ago, howzat said: Bad comment....Totally unacceptable.!!! Unacceptable to whom? My wife doesn't like Indians or Indian food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owl sees all Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 19 minutes ago, soalbundy said: Why would middle class Indians come to Thailand ? because it's near, good enough for a weeks holiday maybe, the big holidays would be spent in Europe. Because the Thai ladies are so accommodating, cheap and will do anything for few baht. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Under the junta, the country has just gotten dull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabradelmar Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 The strength of the baht has and will continue to hurt tourism. Simple. The Chinese figured it out and so will everyone else if they have not alrwad5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpa Cool Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 1 hour ago, leeneeds said: Bring their money but leave their arrogance and rudeness at home, and wait in the queue like everyone else. It's not going to happen. I lived and traveled in India for 4 years. If one is polite and steps aside to allow someone on the bus before oneself you won't be able to break back into the queue. I've had to pay railway porters to lift and push me through the widow of the train in Agra...and the passengers inside the train were trying to push me out. It was very crowded! It's a dog eat dog world! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sahibji Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 indian do not seem to enjoy privileged tourists image. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sahibji Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 23 minutes ago, AJBangkok said: I dont know if Pattaya and Phuket are the same but Hua Hin gets huge business from the Indian wedding industry, its big money and centered on the 5 star hotels. that is a commercial decision, technically being tourism of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sahibji Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 4 minutes ago, Grandpa Cool said: It's not going to happen. I lived and traveled in India for 4 years. If one is polite and steps aside to allow someone on the bus before oneself you won't be able to break back into the queue. I've had to pay railway porters to lift and push me through the widow of the train in Agra...and the passengers inside the train were trying to push me out. It was very crowded! It's a dog eat dog world! this is a subject of RICH indian. what you are describing is the situation of the masses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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