Thai tourism: Free visa is the answer for yet more Chinese and Indians in 2020, minister

[webfact]

Thai tourism: Free visa is the answer for yet more Chinese and Indians in 2020, minister

 

File photo

 

Thai media BEC TERO said that tourism and sports minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn was preparing to meet with a ministerial committee to propose free visas for Chinese and Indian tourists.

 

They said the minister sees this as a sure way to ensure that Chinese and Indians continue to visit Thailand in ever greater numbers. 

 

They will be able to come for a 14 day stay free of charge, just like Thais who visit Japan, said the media. 

 

In an upbeat report they said that 11 million Chinese visited Thailand last year, up 4% on the previous year. And their spending was up 6% too. 

 

Indians arrived in droves too - 1.9 million of them, up 22% and their spending was up 27%. 

 

The outlook for 2020 according to the minister is even rosier. He thinks that 11.5 to 12 million Chinese will come spending up to 600 billion baht - up from last year's 550 billion. 

 

Indian arrivals are expected to be 2.2 million and their total spend is expected to rise from 8.5 billion to 9.2 billion in 2020. 

 

BEC TERO made no mention of any other nationalities in their brief report. 

 

Thaivisa notes that this report compared starkly with one yesterday from the Thai hoteliers' association that predicted a tough 2020 for Thai tourism. 

 

Source: BEC TERO

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-01-14

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[GalaxyMan]

More pulling numbers out of their a.s.s.e.s.

[darksidedog]

After the report yesterday suggesting a very bleak year ahead for tourism, I knew we would see an alternative perspective on things very soon and here it is. Saying it is all rosy is all very well, but the fact that they are having to consider such measures in itself  suggests otherwise.

[unamazedloso]

Yes please encourage the bringing in of all the sick chinese....

[GalaxyMan]

Just now, unamazedloso said:

Yes please encourage the bringing in of all the sick chinese....

They can room with the British dementia patients. ????

[holy cow cm]

Pathetic. 

[worgeordie]

Free shrimp would be a sure winner.

But really it's how guests are treated here, that would

see a growth in numbers,so many bad reports taken

back to China,must be putting visitors off visiting

Thailand.

regards worgeordie

Edited January 14, 2020 by worgeordie
correction

[SteveK]

Devalue the baht by 25% and watch tourism and exports go back to normal almost overnight.

[ChipButty]

6 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Devalue the baht by 25% and watch tourism and exports go back to normal almost overnight.

Free Beer is a better idea

[Just1Voice]

Thailand tourist predictions - guaranteed to make you laugh. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

They will be able to come for a 14 day stay free of charge, just like Thais who visit Japan, said the media. 

 

What kind of "visa" are they talking about here that has a 14-day stay period.

 

Do they mean granting them visa-exempt status, or maybe no-cost visa on arrival (VOA) issues?

 

[Assurancetourix]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

They will be able to come for a 14 day stay free of charge,

 

What is strange is that the nationals of many European countries are entitled to 30 days "free of charge" for many years and curiously are less and less likely to come on vacation in Thailand.

Could the disastrous baht price have anything to do with it?

without forgetting to speak
the often harsh reception from Thai traders,
very many road accidents,
tourist boats which sink for lack of maintenance,
etc., etc ...?

[RotBenz8888]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

free visas for Chinese and Indian tourists.

Free hotel rooms as they're all empty anyway.

[legend49]

2 hours ago, darksidedog said:

After the report yesterday suggesting a very bleak year ahead for tourism, I knew we would see an alternative perspective on things very soon and here it is. Saying it is all rosy is all very well, but the fact that they are having to consider such measures in itself  proves otherwise.

Soon they will be paying these two countries to send tourists, desperate times ahead.

[TechnikaIII]

Kiss Chinese and Indian ass, ..

.. and to Hell with the rest of us.

 

[BobbyL]

Why do they need a new type of visa? Surely just put them on the list the same as EU, USA etc with a 30 day visa on arrival. 

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thaivisa notes that this report compared starkly with one yesterday from the Thai hoteliers' association that predicted a tough 2020 for Thai tourism. 

fiction vs reality

[Traubert]

3 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

fiction vs reality

Arrivals v hotel guests.

 

Two different dogs.

[chrisinth]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Free Beer is a better idea

Free beer is one way to be sure but not too practical for the establishments trying to sell it.

 

Why don't they think about lifting all their early closing times, get rid of the stupid rules on afternoon restrictions? This is what Thailand was famous for, (not visiting temples, not aligning with Thai culture) an awesome party atmosphere. This is what brings in the tourists like it or not.

 

IMO what has happened to Thailand, against popular belief, is that they have adopted traits from the rest of the world. With the expansion of their (still growing) middle class, the snowdrops have formed their committees and are destroying Thailand from within with their wishful hypothetical viewpoints by out-restricting the fun aspect.

 

If they had understood the adage "If it ain't broken, don't try to fix it" 10 years ago, IMO things would be a lot different on the tourism front today. Nobody wants to travel thousands of miles to any destination to be told what to do and what not to do.

 

Reap what you sow.

[mokwit]

The Thai authorities have decided what they think tourists "should" be interested in and don't get it that they are not.

[Redline]

I think for the price, everyone wants less trash everywhere, much less polluted air, and some semblance of safety and enforcement of rules and regulations.  Besides, It’s not nearly as fun as it used to be.

[Daveyh]

The numbers I'm seeing in town will not sustain the economy here in Pattaya City. If it's the same here as other venues in Thailand 2020 is heading for a major downturn in tourism. The main problem is definitely the "Baht" ........... too strong, making everything too expensive in Thailand. Most things here cost more now than in their own countries, so going elsewhere is a "no brainer". Thailand needs to stop trying to fudge the issues whilst the rich get richer & start thinking of Thailand's future for it's people, not the chosen few who are buying luxury goods at knock down prices due to the exchange rates around the world ...... a sad fact that's just ignored because the "elitists" in control can.

[ericdiam]

More Chinese groups. Who pay all in China and spent nothing here. 

And Indians, hahaha, I lived in India.  They sure not spent much. Saw them even bargain at sungthow because they where 5 so wanted discount Stupid remarks of minister just counting the people that arrive at airports. But most are cheap tourists. Devaluate the bath dam. Then the spending tourism will come back and spent. 

[overherebc]

3 hours ago, GalaxyMan said:

More pulling numbers out of their a.s.s.e.s.

A uthorized

S ection

S tating

E xaggerated

S hullbit.

[overherebc]

34 minutes ago, Daveyh said:

The numbers I'm seeing in town will not sustain the economy here in Pattaya City. If it's the same here as other venues in Thailand 2020 is heading for a major downturn in tourism. The main problem is definitely the "Baht" ........... too strong, making everything too expensive in Thailand. Most things here cost more now than in their own countries, so going elsewhere is a "no brainer". Thailand needs to stop trying to fudge the issues whilst the rich get richer & start thinking of Thailand's future for it's people, not the chosen few who are buying luxury goods at knock down prices due to the exchange rates around the world ...... a sad fact that's just ignored because the "elitists" in control can.

Even if the goes to 40/$ and 50/£ do you seriously think Thai services will not increase prices. It's the nature of the beast.

[Why Me]

Like they say location, location, location.

 

From the US, Thailand is a $1000+ whole day's flight away and figure a day on each side batting off jet lag before you get to the good bits. For an American on a limited budget Mexico and Central America vs. Thailand is no contest.

 

Pretty much the same for the UK and Europe. Lots of nice inexpensive spots in South and Eastern Europe that are a couple of hours budget flight away.

 

Now, from China and India to Thailand we're talking 2-5hrs., $200-300, almost no jet lag and package tour deals galore. From those two countries you can do a long weekend in Thailand. Try that from the US or UK.

 

Totally makes sense for Thais to focus on their big Asian neighbors.

[Christie Paul]

Observing the management of tourism is like watching a taxi being driven by a Kangaroo. 

[Traubert]

14 minutes ago, Why Me said:

Like they say location, location, location.

 

From the US, Thailand is a $1000+ whole day's flight away and figure a day on each side batting off jet lag before you get to the good bits. For an American on a limited budget Mexico and Central America vs. Thailand is no contest.

 

Pretty much the same for the UK and Europe. Lots of nice inexpensive spots in South and Eastern Europe that are a couple of hours budget flight away.

 

Now, from China and India to Thailand we're talking 2-5hrs., $200-300, almost no jet lag and package tour deals galore. From those two countries you can do a long weekend in Thailand. Try that from the US or UK.

 

Totally makes sense for Thais to focus on their big Asian neighbors.

Totally makes sense to everyone, except............. ????

Edited January 14, 2020 by Traubert
spelling

[Yinn]

1 hour ago, chrisinth said:

If they had understood the adage "If it ain't broken, don't try to fix it" 10 years ago, IMO things would be a lot different on the tourism front today.

Tourist x2 in that time. 

 

So boring these “TVF Tourist not come to thailand anymore” stories.

 

39 million last year. Most ever. More people are staying Airbnb/ private villa.

So the big rich hotel owner complain a lot.

But the “small” people with a villa or condo now take the business.

IMO i like it.

 

Some place, like Pattaya, in industry area will pollution is less popular. 

but beautiful Kao Lak etc more busy. 

 

 

 

 

[yokat]

If those tourists are so valuable why don't they get the same 30 days visa exempt entry as many other countries ?