Tourism: Indians "last hope" for Pattaya as Thai media reports massive high season decline

[webfact 66,692]

Tourism: Indians "last hope" for Pattaya as Thai media reports massive high season decline 

 

File photo

 

Tourism in Pattaya is much worse than even the pessimists were saying. 

 

That is the conclusion after the Thai business media published damning statistics that showed a dramatic drop off in hotel bookings and tourists at Thailand's premier seaside resort. 

 

But it is not just Pattaya; the resort is a clear window on current trends that might indicate a far wider problem for the whole of Thailand's tourism industry, noted the media. 

 

The Chinese and South Koreans are increasingly going to Vietnam instead of Thailand. Now the last hope is seen as big spending Indian tourists whose daily expenditure is twice as much as the Chinese. 

 

Quoting figures from deputy mayor Manote Nongyai the media reported that hotel bookings in Pattaya since the middle of October - the start of the High Season - have dropped dramatically by 20%. 

 

It is a time when occupancy rates would normally be 100%. 

 

A direct correlation in the drop off in hotel bookings is that there are 20% less tourists visiting Pattaya, said the media. 

 

In 2018 a total of 14,259,261 tourists visited Pattaya, Thailand's leading resort. 

 

Of these 4,939,657 were Thai and 9,319,604 were foreign tourists. 

 

Top three nationalities visiting were Chinese, South Koreans and in third Russians. 

 

But now Chinese and South Korean visitors are down 2%, said the deputy mayor. 

 

Many reports on the ground have indicated that Pattaya is much quieter than usual, notes Thaivisa. Though the exact extent of the problem may even have the pessimists worried further. 

 

Many tourists are choosing to get better value for their money in Vietnam. Group dynamics are changing from solo travellers and small groups away from the large tour groups. 

 

The world economy in general is making people more cautious as to how and where tourists spend their money. 

 

In contrast the Indian tourism sector is showing an increase - one media outlet said that Indians were the "last hope" for tourism in Pattaya. 

 

Indians tend to travel in groups of 20-30 and many are persuaded by relaxed visa payment and rules and other incentives. 

 

Many come to Thailand to hold their lavish weddings.

 

But in a statement that will surprise many the media said that Indians spend on average a whopping 10,000 baht per person per day. 

 

This is twice as much as the Chinese who average out at just 5,000 baht a day in comparison. 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-11-27

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[keith101 11,402]

Your problem is Indians aren't big spenders , they would much rather share and save and the baht is still to high for them to spend up just like most tourists . The only hope is that the economy crashes sooner rather than later and tourists can afford to come back but until then this is what to expect .

Edited November 27, 2019 by keith101

[taichiplanet 3,615]

hate to say to it, but shouldn't have mucked around with natural growth of Pattaya businesses that took decades to evolve.

[NCC1701A 50,425]

i know what i am going to say is a stereotypical comment about Indian people, but I saw it with my own eyes. I could not believe how they were grinding the massage ladies on price in Pattaya. I stood there and watched for a while outside a large shop. The one lady was holding her ground but it was brutal. 

Edited November 27, 2019 by NCC1701A

[balo 12,504]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

Now the last hope is seen as big spending Indian tourists whose daily expenditure is twice as much as the Chinese. 

Yes , they spend 200 baht daily instead of 100 baht.  

[Sticky Wicket 5,547]

Som nam na !!

The Thai apathy has allowed the current situation and they are going to have to lump it

The army are entrenched now and it's another 20+ years of misery!

[Ron jeremy 1,884]

Better value in Vietnam, tourists are voting with their feet, the greedy Thais made their own bed. They thought it would never end!

[thequietman 11,071]

Som Nom Na Mother<deleted>.

[JonnyF 10,904]

I don't see Indians as a good fit for Thai tourism. 

 

Thais love to overcharge foreigners as we all know, especially in tourist zones - it's like a sport to them. I think they enjoy getting one over on the foreigner as much as they love the extra cash. Indians equally love to get a bargain and will spend hours haggling over relatively small amounts of money. Their style of negotiation isn't always to smile and joke either.

 

I see resentment quickly building up on both sides (Thais aren't huge fans of Indians to start with). I certainly don't believe this is a long term solution for the problems that Thai tourism has created for itself.

 

[thequietman 11,071]

8 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

i know what i am going to say is a stereotypical comment about Indian people, but I saw it with my own eyes. I could not believe how they were grinding the massage ladies on price in Pattaya. I stood there and watched for a while outside a large shop. The one lady was holding her ground but it was brutal. 

It's actually a cultural thing. There are no suggested retail prices in India. Nothing is labeled, so it pays to talk with several vendors before making a significant purchase and so they do it here as a matter of routine. 

 

Frustrating for the vendor, yes, but it's quite normal for them.

[soalbundy 19,074]

6 minutes ago, balo said:

Yes , they spend 200 baht daily instead of 100 baht.  

The article says 10,000 per day

[canuckamuck 30,056]

Have no fear Pattaya, the Indians will save your city.

Edited November 27, 2019 by canuckamuck

[PatOngo 38,580]

You can only milk a cash cow for so much.....eventually the milk runs out!

[GeorgeCross 5,486]

4 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I don't see Indians as a good fit for Thai tourism. 

 

Thais love to overcharge foreigners as we all know, especially in tourist zones - it's like a sport to them. I think they enjoy getting one over on the foreigner as much as they love the extra cash. Indians equally love to get a bargain and will spend hours haggling over relatively small amounts of money. Their style of negotiation isn't always to smile and joke either.

 

I see resentment quickly building up on both sides (Thais aren't huge fans of Indians to start with). I certainly don't believe this is a long term solution for the problems that Thai tourism has created for itself.

 

 

unfortunately for thailand, until africa turns into a developing world continent (LOL!), it's the last barrel they have to scrape

 

 

[mok199 11,299]

RIP old friend.....