webfact Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Deserted beaches, empty bars: Covid-19 devastates Thailand's tourist islands Visitor numbers expected to plummet by tens of millions in crisis that eclipses the 2004 tsunami, bird flu and Sars Rebecca Ratcliffe in Chaweng Koh Samui’s beaches are almost entirely devoid of people since the coronavirus pandemic began. Last year, 40 million tourists visited Thailand. Photograph: Marco Pompeo Photography/Alamy Stock Photo The streets of Koh Samui, one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations, are eerily quiet. Along Chaweng’s Beach Road, a usually raucous party area, shuttered shops stretch into the distance. Before the coronavirus pandemic, it was buzzing with traffic. Now, taxi drivers sit on the roadside, with little hope of finding customers. Where bikini-clad sunseekers once browsed souvenir shops and drank at neon-lit bars, a lone street dog stretches on the pavement. Elsewhere, swathes of Samui’s idyllic, sandy white beaches are almost entirely free of people. About 40 million tourists flocked to Thailand last year, drawn by its spectacular coastlines, ornate temples and famous cuisine. Yet in 2020, the country will struggle to attract even a quarter of that number, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/23/deserted-beaches-empty-bars-covid-19-devastates-thailands-tourist-islands -- The Guardian 2010-07-23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post GeorgeCross Posted July 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2020 not according to our business owning, island reclining, members.. "business is booming they say, Booooming!" ???? 1 2 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RichardColeman Posted July 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2020 (edited) 26 minutes ago, webfact said: Koh Samui’s beaches are almost entirely devoid of people since the coronavirus pandemic began. Yeah, but you can bet if 1 tourist sits down, 50 walking beach vendors will jump out of that greenery offering massages , Ice creams , fried sea food and a carved wooden elephant Edited July 23, 2020 by RichardColeman 3 1 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 is 1 Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Hmm... all like private beach Walk alone.... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post thequietman Posted July 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2020 and yet, these same business owners are not allowed to advertise the fact that they sell alcohol. They also can't offer any special offers on alcohol that might encourage their customers to buy more. It is beyond redonkulous! 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Surelynot Posted July 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2020 Hard not to adopt a very selfish attitude to this..........and enjoy the moment whilst it lasts. Currently living in and loving Bangkok......half the bars and restaurants are closed, the half that are open are offering extended happy hours, deals and discounted prices. Streets are 'empty', pavements walkable....what is not to like......I seem quite popular in every bar I walk into!! Sorry for the Thais though....tough, very tough time. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thequietman Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 9 minutes ago, Surelynot said: happy hours, deals and discounted prices But, but, but ............ this is against the law, and is punishable by a fine of 50,000 baht! (if ur Japanese) ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surelynot Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 2 minutes ago, thequietman said: But, but, but ............ this is against the law, and is punishable by a fine of 50,000 baht! (if ur Japanese) ???? Seriously? ....and what is the Japanese ref? Guess I have missed something. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mavideol Posted July 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2020 maybe this is the best way for them to appreciate our contribution to their business....in the past some of them took advantage of many of us, now they have nobody, they should start to think that after will the foreigners living in are not bad and should be treated with respect..... or maybe I am giving them too much credit 555 5 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thequietman Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 2 minutes ago, Surelynot said: Seriously? ....and what is the Japanese ref? Guess I have missed something. https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1174248-japanese-restaurant-fined-bt50000-for-promoting-alcohol/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-15642498 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surelynot Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Just now, thequietman said: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1174248-japanese-restaurant-fined-bt50000-for-promoting-alcohol/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-15642498 Cheers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surelynot Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 2 minutes ago, thequietman said: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1174248-japanese-restaurant-fined-bt50000-for-promoting-alcohol/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-15642498 Every bar around here would get done....but as you point out they are not Japanese and are probably paying their tea money on time. Scandalous . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post pokerface1 Posted July 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2020 Now we can find out who's really dropping all the rubbish????????????? 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post steven100 Posted July 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2020 Koh Samui is dead .... no tourists are coming and all the bars and shops are closed. So no tourists means no money for the business then no job. It's the same in most places around Thailand and probably won't change much even in the months ahead. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallGuyJohninBKK Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 15 hours ago, Mavideol said: they should start to think that after will the foreigners living in are not bad and should be treated with respect..... or maybe I am giving them too much credit 555 I think it's the latter, not the former.... Just wait until the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans return.... however many years that may be into the future. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post spiekerjozef Posted July 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2020 Good for the wildlife. Pristine beaches again. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammieuk1 Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Shocking who would have thought the ever continuing elongated draconian measures imposed by a sham government could have such an effect???? 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezzra Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 16 minutes ago, Mavideol said: maybe this is the best way for them to appreciate our contribution to their business....in the past some of them took advantage of many of us, now they have nobody, they should start to think that after will the foreigners living in are not bad and should be treated with respect..... or maybe I am giving them too much credit 555 Talk to walls, if you think for a moment that they care how they had it all and now nothing... 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Peterw42 Posted July 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2020 I think Koh Samui is suffering more than other destinations because its very much a foreigner only tourist destination. Other places in Thailand still have the domestic tourism component and its alive and well in some locations. I was out at Koh Larn (Pattaya) the other day and it was very busy, Thais doing domestic tourism. The same at Jomtien beach, more Thais than I have ever seen, eating drinking, banana boat rides. The places that are surviving, maybe even profiting, are the place s that cater for the Thai economy, Thai goods and services for Thais at Thai prices. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chivas Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 3-4 years (if we're lucky) before it remotely returns to normal so get used to it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post GwynBleidd Posted July 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2020 35 minutes ago, steven100 said: Koh Samui is dead .... no tourists are coming and all the bars and shops are closed. So no tourists means no money for the business then no job. It's the same in most places around Thailand and probably won't change much even in the months ahead. Another topic about Samui being dead and you again huh :-) No, not all the bars and shops are closed. The majority have reopened. 90% of the restaurants ive eaten at didn't even close, just switched to takeaway for a short period. Sure, there's much less activity along the beach roads, but if you look beyond the completely dead Chaweng, life goes on. I feel like ive said this a hundred times already. Samui is NOT just Chaweng, far from it. In fact, thank god that hellhole is dead now. At the Thai food restaurant where i order my takeaway food, there's rarely less than 5 tables occupied. I keep seeing this French guy called Thomas renting his jetski daily on different beaches. 2, 3, 4 jetskis for several hour trips and he doesn't seem to lack demand. Makro in the evenings is quite packed. Yesterday i was hard pressed to find a parking spot at HomePro. Life goes on, and yeah, empty beaches are so nice. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bodga Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 1 hour ago, Mavideol said: maybe this is the best way for them to appreciate our contribution to their business....in the past some of them took advantage of many of us, now they have nobody, they should start to think that after will the foreigners living in are not bad and should be treated with respect..... or maybe I am giving them too much credit 555 Way too much credit, never learn never will. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eppic Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 (edited) If Koh Samui is so dead why are so many hotel prices astronomically high? We have been looking into a few days excursion from BKK in August and rates at top-end hotels are through the roof! (Some are heavily discounted, but many no discount at all) Normally we would go to Bali (wedding anniversary, we were married there), but don't have that option now. I get that would normally be high season on Samui, but seriously? I guess trying to keep prices high to offset the low volume (reverse polish logic). Have also looked at BKK hotels and they ain't cheap either (I am talking about 5 star in both cases). Edited July 23, 2020 by eppic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benmart Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 2 hours ago, 2 is 1 said: Hmm... all like private beach Walk alone.... Selfie? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thequietman Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 35 minutes ago, eppic said: If Koh Samui is so dead why are so many hotel prices astronomically high? Thai economics 101 - When empty, put UP the prices. That way, we make the same money, but with less people. Unfortunately, they don't factor in the fact that people wont book in the first place cause prices are too high. ???? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tropicalevo Posted July 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2020 38 minutes ago, eppic said: If Koh Samui is so dead why are so many hotel prices astronomically high? We have been looking into a few days excursion from BKK in August and rates at top-end hotels are through the roof! (Some are heavily discounted, but many no discount at all) Normally we would go to Bali (wedding anniversary, we were married there), but don't have that option now. I get that would normally be high season on Samui, but seriously? I guess trying to keep prices high to offset the low volume (reverse polish logic). Have also looked at BKK hotels and they ain't cheap either (I am talking about 5 star in both cases). Most of the 5 star hotels are pretty full with domestic tourists. Same for a lot of Samui. Some trolls keep wanting Samui to be dead, but they are only looking at two villages that mostly cater for overseas visitors. Chaweng and maybe Lamai. The other villages where we all live, are doing Ok. My business is very busy (villa management) with lots of domestic tourists. Villa rental prices have dropped significantly so Samui is suddenly affordable to Thais. 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr mr Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 1 hour ago, steven100 said: Koh Samui is dead .... no tourists are coming and all the bars and shops are closed. So no tourists means no money for the business then no job. It's the same in most places around Thailand and probably won't change much even in the months ahead. do not fret steven. prayut will tackle this problem head on. i have the utmost faith that he will resolve this issue in no time. thai people know and appreciate the dedication he continues to show......... am i right ? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 9 minutes ago, mr mr said: do not fret steven. prayut will tackle this problem head on. i have the utmost faith that he will resolve this issue in no time. thai people know and appreciate the dedication he continues to show......... am i right ? yes .... 100% ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 1 hour ago, eppic said: If Koh Samui is so dead why are so many hotel prices astronomically high? We have been looking into a few days excursion from BKK in August and rates at top-end hotels are through the roof! (Some are heavily discounted, but many no discount at all) Normally we would go to Bali (wedding anniversary, we were married there), but don't have that option now. I get that would normally be high season on Samui, but seriously? I guess trying to keep prices high to offset the low volume (reverse polish logic). Have also looked at BKK hotels and they ain't cheap either (I am talking about 5 star in both cases). If you check resorts there are some discounts per night rooms available. We've just booked a nice resort hotel on the beach 4 star, 2 rooms for Saturday. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
american2 Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 On a positive note the Sealife has a chance to recover. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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