Thai tourism in trouble: And competitor Vietnam is "scary" for Pattaya

[ukrules]

On 7/23/2019 at 9:21 PM, Matzzon said:

If that´s what you thought about it when you came here, why are you still talking about it? Or maybe it was your way of degrading the country and a big effort to be funny?

 

Thailand was a sleepy backwater

[chrissables]

On 7/23/2019 at 5:18 PM, marcusarelus said:

The reverse.  Rich people are hurt the most by the high baht because exports are down. 

The rich are buying abroad and very happy due to the exchange rates. Business people just in export may not be so happy.

[marcusarelus]

2 minutes ago, chrissables said:

The rich are buying abroad and very happy due to the exchange rates. Business people just in export may not be so happy.

The rich are rich because of exports so are unhappy too.  For example the family who owns Central are happy to buy cheap but sad because of drop in tourist customers.  

Edited July 25, 2019 by marcusarelus

[chrissables]

Just now, marcusarelus said:

The rich are rich because of exports so are unhappy too.  

Depending on how they make their money. If exporters yes, as i stated, if not they are very happy with the strength of the baht.

[AverageBloke]

6 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

Because Thailand is going to have 40 million tourists this year.

Please prove it beyond speculation.

[chrissables]

On 7/23/2019 at 5:38 PM, jingjai9 said:

I am not sure about now, but I know when I lived in Vietnam 10 years ago I met many tourists who swore they would never come back to VN after one visit. The reasons being that service providers and sellers overcharge foreigners so zealously. Often prices are double. The Siklo drivers don't really negotiate prices. If you are aggressive with them, they don't cower, they challenge. 

 

On another front I recall tourists paying money to attend private beaches because on public beaches aggressive vendors would try to make a sale and if you refused, they would not walk on; they stay and persist.

 

I heard even the VN citizens complaing about the high rate of theft of personal property, including child pickpockets.

 

Finally, tour goups can be treated like herds of sheep. The attitude being the tourists are here for us, not the other way around. 

 

I saw this behavior of overcharging and litle regard for tourists to be the rule rather than the exception.  Perhaps things are different in VN now. They are clever people. I am certain they will work it out.

 

Also, the last I knew, foreigners could not bring VN ladies within the confines of a private home or hotel room overnight without facing legal consequences.

 

Many people visit Thailand many times, not sure about VN.

Your whole statement is out of date, really!

[Oziex1]

On 7/23/2019 at 12:52 PM, soalbundy said:

Poor you mean

It's still poor for most. 

[Seligne2]

I am just back from Cambodia. I was stunned to learn that there are now 80k Chinese expats living in Sihanoukville and 200 flights from there every week to China. So that is where some of the Chinese are going. Cambodia starting to look like a Chinese province.

[marcusarelus]

6 minutes ago, Seligne2 said:

I am just back from Cambodia. I was stunned to learn that there are now 80k Chinese expats living in Sihanoukville and 200 flights from there every week to China. So that is where some of the Chinese are going. Cambodia starting to look like a Chinese province.

Perhaps Thai Immigration knew?  Naw.  

[Melbun]

8 hours ago, AverageBloke said:

Please prove it beyond speculation.

What are they going for ?? the temples ?? Thai food ??

[mike787]

Tanking is more like it....

[Odysseus123]

As we are talking about tourism I thought that I would conduct a bit of a straw poll amongst my friends and see where they are planning to go in the following year-bearing in mind that it is often the married Australian women who make the choices...

Single males are a different breed altogether..

 

1.Cruises in the Pacific

2.Bali.

3.Various island nations in the Pacific

4.New Zealand.

5.Vietnam

6.Europe.

 

Thailand did not really rate a mention and nor are the Thai seen to be of a particularly moral/ethical upright character-"rip-off merchants" being a common description.

Edited July 25, 2019 by Odysseus123

[sunnyboy2018]

On 7/23/2019 at 10:58 PM, hottrader77 said:

100% true , GBP is now 38.4 to pound and with brexit coming up expected once uk is out of EU the pound can drop within 5 years to 29 baht to pound as UK will have to have a low pound for exports to bring money in to UK so even fewer brits will be coming and EURO will go the same way down , thailand needs to devalue the thai baht to 70 baht to the GBP to get tourists back , i myself am not going back to pattaya or if i do it wont be for more than 2 months as i usually have 6 months off work at a time so i will be going to another cheaper place than thailand , put it this way if i pick up a girl in pattaya nightclub take her home she will want 2,000 baht almost 60 pounds for 1 squirt or 2 if your not too inibriated , its cheaper in england .

Its not cheaper in UK. An escort is 900 pounds. For 60 quid you may get a traficked/skank/ junkie...but in term of bang for your bucks and overall fun Thai girls are the best. 

[sunnyboy2018]

11 hours ago, sambum said:

"Long cues at the airport" Or maybe a sharp pointed sick might have the desired effect?

Point taken. Chalk it up to ignorance!

[whitemouse]

On 7/23/2019 at 7:31 AM, Metapod said:

Exchange rate is bad, costs are going up, visas are getting a lot harder to get, and more competitive alternatives are arising.

 

it isn't really surprising stuff. Thailand ain't that cheap anymore. Aussie dollar is like 21.7 thb these days. A lot of things are cheaper back in Aus now,

Exactly!

It's the visa, I used to spend winters in Thailand since 2003. No more, straight to Da Nang in October, and staying in Vietnam for my 6 months of Euro winter. 

 

Later, Thailand, with your TM30 and 25 and 6.

 

Enough!

[sunnyboy2018]

10 hours ago, chrissables said:

There is a lot more to Vietnam than those two cities, wonderful beaches and mountain ranges stretching along the whole country.

But mass tourism - Halong Bay - Ripp off tours- mekong - hanoi blighted by extinction rebellion style back packers .loads of museums...worthy but dull..night life closes at 10 30..Saigon OK...free spirited,  people openly smoke dope and take NO2..girlie scene....barely...local food about the same as thailand, western food nothing like Pattaya or COA....independent travelling...nowhere compared to travelling around Issan. Da nang deadly dull...But I like Vietnam. But Pattaya still rocks...some Thais don't arrive on WS untill 2am! Just like COA until 2008.

[sunnyboy2018]

4 minutes ago, whitemouse said:

Exactly!

It's the visa, I used to spend winters in Thailand since 2003. No more, straight to Da Nang in October, and staying in Vietnam for my 6 months of Euro winter. 

 

Later, Thailand, with your TM30 and 25 and 6.

 

Enough!

Its a tragedy less Australians are coming to Thailand. Their easy going, positive , open minded ways along with their vibrant culture will be sorely missed. But at least they have Bali.

[whitemouse]

On 7/23/2019 at 11:00 AM, remorhaz said:

I know a lot of people who basically lived in Thailand on back to back tourist visas for years.  They spent loads of money into the economy (true fact).  Most were Western pensioners or close to it and didn't get into trouble with the law.  Now is what they did legal?  No.  Did it help the economy?  Yes absolutely and that's gone now.  

 

You aren't going to replace this with Indians trying to put pencils into your hands then demanding money.  

 

Yes, I was one of them, 2 years straight back to back TR 2008 to 2010, I had a boyfriend in Pattaya, and I stayed here because at 34 there was no other option to stay here legally. Since then I just stay winters, retired, lazy Westerner, in Thailand to escape Europe winters.

 

I pity guys like me who are in Thailand today. They squeezed us out. And for what? What did we do!? What is the end game of current rulers, block everything Western? I sincerely do not get it, the only explanation is raging xenophobia w good dose of lack of education. 

[sunnyboy2018]

53 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

As we are talking about tourism I thought that I would conduct a bit of a straw poll amongst my friends and see where they are planning to go in the following year-bearing in mind that it is often the married Australian women who make the choices...

Single males are a different breed altogether..

 

1.Cruises in the Pacific

2.Bali.

3.Various island nations in the Pacific

4.New Zealand.

5.Vietnam

6.Europe.

 

Thailand did not really rate a mention and nor are the Thai seen to be of a particularly moral/ethical upright character-"rip-off merchants" being a common description.

Europe? Number 6? For us who live in one of the many 40 European countries this nomenclature indicates a rather culturally skewed and geographically deterministic view of Travel options. 40  quid return uk to Montenegro.  Sun sand beaches mountains etc etc...or Belgium the world centre of nosh etc etc etc. New Zealand, Bali, cruises..give us a break..tedious tame folly.  I envisage worthy but dull couples with out of control kids and wall to wall sports....At least you have provided some of us with a hit list of where not to go and what not to do. Thanks.

[sunnyboy2018]

31 minutes ago, whitemouse said:

 

Yes, I was one of them, 2 years straight back to back TR 2008 to 2010, I had a boyfriend in Pattaya, and I stayed here because at 34 there was no other option to stay here legally. Since then I just stay winters, retired, lazy Westerner, in Thailand to escape Europe winters.

 

I pity guys like me who are in Thailand today. They squeezed us out. And for what? What did we do!? What is the end game of current rulers, block everything Western? I sincerely do not get it, the only explanation is raging xenophobia w good dose of lack of education. 

Our ideas present a threat. 

[whitemouse]

5 minutes ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Our ideas present a threat. 

That's likely it. If the plan is to turn this nation into North Korea, and then it's the Westerners you want out, like runaway slaves, they bring the news of freedom, and need to be isolated.

 

This 'good guys in, bad guys out' garbage is so yesterday, it is now simply 'Get out!'.

 

I'm lucky I do not have family here. It must be heartbreaking for people with family ties here. 

[sunnyboy2018]

7 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

Perhaps Thai Immigration knew?  Naw.  

I suspect there is no such thing as a Chinese expat unless you are talking about expat workers not retirees. They are workers who take the jobs of locals at every level. Same in Africa. The locals hate them.

[lamyai3]

On 7/24/2019 at 5:00 AM, JamJar said:

Then to think about the frankly diabolical statement from their supposed leader;

 

Quote

“There are always problems with tourist safety. They think our country is beautiful and is safe so they can do whatever they want, they can wear bikinis and walk everywhere,” Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is also the army chief, told government officials. But “can they be safe in bikinis… unless they are not beautiful?” he said, addressing the issue of tourist safety in a speech broadcast live on television.

It's astonishing that he thought he was extolling the country's virtues with this statement, rather than condemning his countrymen as repressed and depraved neanderthals. Small wonder they wound up framing the Burmese for it. 

[lamyai3]

On 7/24/2019 at 12:34 AM, Steve80 said:

One that is rarely mentioned, but I have identified is Thai Airways now only offer 20KG of hold baggage on all its long haul flights:

This is certainly not a smart move by Thai Airways, but it's something that affects the airline's fortunes rather than tourism. I haven't used Thai since around 2002, as their prices haven't been competitive for so long. 

[Odysseus123]

1 hour ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Europe? Number 6? For us who live in one of the many 40 European countries this nomenclature indicates a rather culturally skewed and geographically deterministic view of Travel options. 40  quid return uk to Montenegro.  Sun sand beaches mountains etc etc...or Belgium the world centre of nosh etc etc etc. New Zealand, Bali, cruises..give us a break..tedious tame folly.  I envisage worthy but dull couples with out of control kids and wall to wall sports....At least you have provided some of us with a hit list of where not to go and what not to do. Thanks.

Whereas those staid couples (and I) would merely envisage a rather loquacious and tedious ThaiVisa bore in return,eh?

 

..and go to Vietnam.

 

Presumably Australians will go where they choose and If it is within their region than so be it.

Tho' I am very sure that TAT is pleased with it's latest manic mouthpiece.

Edited July 25, 2019 by Odysseus123

[chrissables]

2 hours ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

But mass tourism - Halong Bay - Ripp off tours- mekong - hanoi blighted by extinction rebellion style back packers .loads of museums...worthy but dull..night life closes at 10 30..Saigon OK...free spirited,  people openly smoke dope and take NO2..girlie scene....barely...local food about the same as thailand, western food nothing like Pattaya or COA....independent travelling...nowhere compared to travelling around Issan. Da nang deadly dull...But I like Vietnam. But Pattaya still rocks...some Thais don't arrive on WS untill 2am! Just like COA until 2008.

independent travelling...nowhere compared to travelling around Issan. Da nang deadly dull...But I like Vietnam. 

 

I suggest you have not done much independant travelling there,i have. Motorbike from Saigon to to the far north, north east and west and back....two times. The HCM road and the coast routes are both far better than anything thing i have seen in Issan, but maybe you can tell where i have missed? 

 

Cat Ba Island and into Ha Long Bay, wonderful, no rip off at all.

 

The girl scene is not comparable with Pattaya, where is? For sure if girl hunting is your aim Pattaya is the place ???? 

 

Food i agree too except in major tourist cities, there is a good choice there.

 

Does Issan have views like this?

[marcusarelus]

2 hours ago, whitemouse said:

 

Yes, I was one of them, 2 years straight back to back TR 2008 to 2010, I had a boyfriend in Pattaya, and I stayed here because at 34 there was no other option to stay here legally. Since then I just stay winters, retired, lazy Westerner, in Thailand to escape Europe winters.

 

I pity guys like me who are in Thailand today. They squeezed us out. And for what? What did we do!? What is the end game of current rulers, block everything Western? I sincerely do not get it, the only explanation is raging xenophobia w good dose of lack of education. 

80k Chinese moved to Cambodia and many to Laos - they don't want Chinese expats to move to Thailand en masse.  It's not hard to figure.  Chinese and Indian middle class young are getting enough cash to invade Thailand and Immigration wants to make it impossible for them. 

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, chrissables said:

independent travelling...nowhere compared to travelling around Issan. Da nang deadly dull...But I like Vietnam. 

 

I suggest you have not done much independant travelling there,i have. Motorbike from Saigon to to the far north, north east and west and back....two times. The HCM road and the coast routes are both far better than anything thing i have seen in Issan, but maybe you can tell where i have missed? 

 

Cat Ba Island and into Ha Long Bay, wonderful, no rip off at all.

 

The girl scene is not comparable with Pattaya, where is? For sure if girl hunting is your aim Pattaya is the place ???? 

 

Food i agree too except in major tourist cities, there is a good choice there.

 

Does Issan have views like this?

Yes. 

[brewsterbudgen]

That's likely it. If the plan is to turn this nation into North Korea, and then it's the Westerners you want out, like runaway slaves, they bring the news of freedom, and need to be isolated.
 
This 'good guys in, bad guys out' garbage is so yesterday, it is now simply 'Get out!'.
 
I'm lucky I do not have family here. It must be heartbreaking for people with family ties here. 

People with family ties here have other visa options.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[chrissables]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Yes. 

Please share photos or locations