Pandemic is a "golden opportunity" to reintroduce "premium" tourists to the wonders of Thai culture

[webfact 78,385]

Pandemic is a "golden opportunity" to reintroduce "premium" tourists to the wonders of Thai culture

 

Picture: Bangkok Biz News

 

A leader in the development of tourism in Thailand's communities has said that the pandemic represents a "golden opportunity" to redirect tourists in the area of communities, culture and handicrafts.

 

Achiraya Thammaparipatana of Hivesters thinks it is time to reconnect with what every tourist wants - to understand more about the real Thailand. 

 

She acknowledged that at present foreign tourists were completely absent and that her company needed to focus its efforts on the Thai domestic market.

 

Picture: Bangkok Biz News

 

But the model of increasing knowledge of the way of life of local communities could be easily applied to foreigners once they return.

 

She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like. 

 

The "new normal" should be an opportunity to attract what she called "premium tourists" (explained as quality tourists in the Bangkok Biz News article). 

 

Wanwipha Panumat who develops community projects agreed saying that quality tourism was better than cheap tourism. 

 

Tourists wanted valuable experiences and directing them to the heart of the real Thailand would be better for them and help to revive local economies that have been devastated by the pandemic. 

 

Picture: Bangkok Biz News

 

The article quoted figures from the United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) who said that international tourism was down 97% in April as the pandemic struck. 

 

Picture: Bangkok Biz News

 

There has been little recovery in Thailand with the previous top three markets - the Chinese, Russians and Malaysians - all absent along with the money they used to bring. 

 

Source: Bangkok Biz News

 

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[Rmac442 174]

Nice fairytale wish and story ..reality is Thai culture is quickly disappearing since the mid '90s. Definition of a 'premium tourist' means different thinks to different people ..

[tonray 13,264]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

Achiraya Thammaparipatana of Hivesters thinks it is time to reconnect with what every tourist wants - to understand more about the real Thailand. 

...don't forget a good soapy massage too

[Sametboy2019 915]

Achiraya Thammaparipatana of Hivesters thinks it is time to reconnect with what every tourist wants - to understand more about the real Thailand. 

She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like.

 

How deluded! When Thais visit Holland do they want to know how windmills work, how to make cheese and grow tulips and wear wooden shoes?

People travel to see new things, enjoy architecture, mountains, beaches, good food and relax. Now Thailand can offer these things. What it needs to do is improve what they already have and implement changes to some of their stupid rules.

1.Not being able to buy alcohol between 2-5pm. 

2. Reduce import tax on alcohol. The decent beer or wine prices here are crazy.

3.Clean up the streets and sort out the dog and cat problems.

4. Improve service and English.

With the Baht being so high tourists will not accept the low standards like they did 10-15 years ago.

People will also mention the roads but i cant see that improving unless the roads are policed because Thais just do as they please in general and dont worry about the consequences of their actions.

 

[Kadilo 12,381]

 

“She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like. “

Course they do luv. I’ll have one of whatever she’s smoking. 

[Captain Monday 1,746]

Totally true. Great opportunity,  Manage disease or zero tolerance, but large scale  tourism is not possible with 14 day hotel quarantine. Up to you.

 

[GeorgeCross 6,636]

47 minutes ago, webfact said:

She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like. 

 

yeah of course they do

 

maybe offer some classes on soi 6 - and see how they get on eh?

 

[djayz 6,483]

I can't help but feel that those horses have bolted many years ago and they're not coming back. 

 

Although the country does have some breathtaking scenery, interesting arts and crafts, delicious and exotic food, etc., to offer, the mounting rubbish, endless traffic congestion, environmental problems, conartists, etc. simply outweigh the positive side of the place. 

 

 

[RotBenz8888 17,863]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

all absent along with the money they used to bring. 

 

The money is all absent, along with the tourists it used to bring. 

[quake 1,129]

I was thinking, what about the real Thailand. 

 

[anchadian 1,920]

She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like. 

_________________________________________________________

Although these so called 'foreign quality tourists' would still be subject to two-tiered pricing.

[nausea 4,591]

Yeah, Thai culture - bad artists copy, good artists steal (Picasso). Japan is a good example of the latter, where Thailand stands on the spectrum I'll leave to your own judgement. Personally, I don't find Thai culture particularly unique, certainly not enough to justify a visit purely on that ground, the amalgam of influences does make a nice backdrop though, if you're here for other reasons, and is certainly part of the attraction, but not a primary one.

[yellowboat 16,075]

Look for lottery winners and trust fund kids.   Anyone who has earned their money are not interested in spending that much time in Thailand.  If there is not business to be had, they will get bored quickly.

[Virt 930]

Even if it sounds like a good idea to get more knowledge about old Thai culture and craftmanship I don't think that's what most visit Thailand for. 

 

For me and gf it's the weather, sun, beaches, food, excursions and the kind Thai people plus the general laid back style they have.

Love how most Thais don't stress around like we do in the West. 

 

We just want to relax while there, and then we walk around in the local neighborhood where ever we stay. 

[Misterwhisper 15,694]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like. 

 

EVERYONE, really???

 

Hm... better go tell my friends and acquaintances back home that they're now classified as "non-premium" tourists because they don't enjoy weaving baskets and mats or want to paint handicrafts before setting out to go catch some fish in the nearby almost dried-up brook.

 

All THEY want to do during their vacations is to relax on a beach, visit some historic sites (if need be), do some knick-knack shopping, and enjoy a good meal and a few glasses of beer or wine during dinner.

 

Meanwhile, I am sure EVERY Thai tourist visiting Munich only goes there to learn how to make sausages, brew beer, and assemble BMWs. You know, the typical vacation stuff.