News Forum - Thai tourism industry wants 5 billion baht handout to draw tourists

[Thaiger]

The Thai tourism industry is asking for a five billion baht handout to boost tourism and draw 12 million foreign tourists to Thailand by the end of this year. The President of the Tourism Council of Thailand, Chamnarn Sisawat, revealed yesterday that the council and other 11 tourist associations organised by the private sector will meet PM Prayut Chan-o-cha tomorrow to discuss a handout for the Thai tourism industry. Chamnarn made known he will ask the government to support the Thai tourism industry in three ways. The first request regards investment source options to support local hotels when they face emergencies, […]

The story Thai tourism industry wants 5 billion baht handout to draw tourists as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

[Soidog]

This should be an easy decision to make. Seems like this 5 billion would attract an additional 2 million more tourists than the current TAT prediction. Each one spending around 60,000 baht, means a total revenue of 120 billion baht. That would be regarded as a sound investment apart from one problem. This is a TAT plan and even the Thai government don’t believe it. I’m sure I don’t. 

[Ramanathan.P]

TAT have been drawing their numbers from their crystal ball since the country has started opening for tourism. Even those local operators are yet to be reimbursed with the promotional discount that was promised to boost domestic tourism. Looks like TAT is again depending on their crystal ball. Hope this time it works with some positive results. 

[longwood50]

1 hour ago, Soidog said:

. Seems like this 5 billion would attract an additional 2 million more tourists than the current TAT prediction. Each one spending around 60,000 baht, means a total revenue of 120 billion baht.

Ok stop using common sense you are going to confuse the government officials. 

[Wanderer]

Advertising the benefits of Thai weather over domestic fuel bills seems to have plenty going for it. Relaxing some visa requirements could help, though sadly there's not much they can do about airfares. 

[Soidog]

1 hour ago, Wanderer said:

Advertising the benefits of Thai weather over domestic fuel bills seems to have plenty going for it. Relaxing some visa requirements could help, though sadly there's not much they can do about airfares. 

I can’t even start to see how the numbers work out for that. If you assume a 90 day visit from Northern Europe for a couple:

2 x direct flights from  =£2,000

90 x accommodation in a cheap hotel at 800 baht/night = £1,700

Miscellaneous such as visas, taxis and health insurance £400

Total for 3 months = £4,300

You may save a little on food but most likely spend more on entertainment

Even with the high fuel prices right now, your quarterly bill won’t be anywhere near £4,300

 

[Golfer]

3 hours ago, Wanderer said:

Advertising the benefits of Thai weather over domestic fuel bills seems to have plenty going for it. Relaxing some visa requirements could help, though sadly there's not much they can do about airfares. 

Agree completely re the visa. I just did my 90 day visa application, it took a couple of days to collect all the information, photo it, reduce image size, then upload. 14 days later I end up with a 60 day visa and no explanation or possibilty to correct to 90 days. Because of the absurd rule of having a confirmed and paid flight, I now have an air ticket that doesn't match my visa. According again to absurd rules the airline may reject me for the flight even if I explain that I will go get the extension in Thailand. Yes I could book an exit flight after 60 day then throw it away, but should that be necessary. The whole process of longer visa for the winter escape is way over the top and needs simplified. And yes the flight cost was expensive, even for the economy ticket. I won't even start on the need to register to stay in my own house within 24 hours, or the e version that never works. Hey ho, love Thailand, hate the unnecessary red tape. 

[Vigo]

Tourism profits are derived from short term tourists not long stay visitors. Short stay visitors are the profit makers because they stay in hotels and purchases multiple goods and services. Therefore, the complaints about long stay  visas are irrelevant. The majority of tourism visitors stay less than 60 days.

The money would be better spent on cleaning up the beaches and posting water quality. How many more reports in EU press does Thailand need before it responds to  complaints of raw sewage runoff at the beaches? if Thailand wants the short term tourists, it must  make it easier to travel in Thailand and that means finally dealing with the transport gangster cartels and the refusal of taxis to use meters etc. Advertising make believe fantasy won't bring the tourists back.  Safe and seamless travel to destination will.

 

 

 

[Marc26]

58 minutes ago, Golfer said:

Agree completely re the visa. I just did my 90 day visa application, it took a couple of days to collect all the information, photo it, reduce image size, then upload. 14 days later I end up with a 60 day visa and no explanation or possibilty to correct to 90 days. Because of the absurd rule of having a confirmed and paid flight, I now have an air ticket that doesn't match my visa. According again to absurd rules the airline may reject me for the flight even if I explain that I will go get the extension in Thailand. Yes I could book an exit flight after 60 day then throw it away, but should that be necessary. The whole process of longer visa for the winter escape is way over the top and needs simplified. And yes the flight cost was expensive, even for the economy ticket. I won't even start on the need to register to stay in my own house within 24 hours, or the e version that never works. Hey ho, love Thailand, hate the unnecessary red tape. 

Not many people with temporary visas to your country would be allowed entry without showing a return ticket............

 

Most countries have the same policy because it is only a temporary visa

 

We always make sure my wife has proof of her return ticket when she comes to Canada or US on a temporary visa

[Henry]

Hmm…

I’m not sure the savings in heating will put much of a dent into our 3 week trip to Thailand but I appreciate it’s a soundbite to attract publicity. To that end it’s succeeded.

The problem at the moment, certainly for British visitors is limited air choices. British Airways still hasn’t confirmed when they will resume direct Heathrow Bangkok flights and this in turn drives up the price of Eva and Thai Air flights. Virgin have also pulled their Hong Kong service - there was a nice little Thai Air flight linking Hong Kong to BKK if we did Upper class LHR HKG with Virgin.

To add to the misery Heathrow themselves have been limiting flight operations and ticket sales to try and counter staff shortages at the airport.

The usually cheap option of flying via the Middle East is currently not available, possibly on account of the football World cup or just because Middle East airlines have decided they are better than everyone else. 

Business class direct LHR BKK flights have cost us around £2,700 per person with Thai and that was a great deal, typically they were over £3,500 per person. Going via the Middle East took prices to over £5,000 per person, so a non event when compared to cheaper direct flights. Going via a European stop off saw prices of around £2,500 plus.

Thailand has no control really of international flights other than to try and ensure the Thai Air flights remain competitive. Business class prices are important because the up-spend on flights tends to carry on into accommodation, meals and other in country purchases. 

People will be returning to Thailand this season now that restrictions have eased but air fares will be a limiting factor.

 

[Soidog]

1 hour ago, Golfer said:

Agree completely re the visa. I just did my 90 day visa application, it took a couple of days to collect all the information, photo it, reduce image size, then upload. 14 days later I end up with a 60 day visa and no explanation or possibilty to correct to 90 days. Because of the absurd rule of having a confirmed and paid flight, I now have an air ticket that doesn't match my visa. According again to absurd rules the airline may reject me for the flight even if I explain that I will go get the extension in Thailand. Yes I could book an exit flight after 60 day then throw it away, but should that be necessary. The whole process of longer visa for the winter escape is way over the top and needs simplified. And yes the flight cost was expensive, even for the economy ticket. I won't even start on the need to register to stay in my own house within 24 hours, or the e version that never works. Hey ho, love Thailand, hate the unnecessary red tape. 

Spot on assessment there of the nonsense with the visa application. I had the same issue. Intend to stay for 87 days. Can’t get a 90 day visa anymore so got a 60 and will then extended it. In order to ensure the visa application correlated with the flight tickets so did as you suggest and paid £40 for a one way flight to Phnom Penh that I didn’t use. Remember also that you need to pay for your return flights (£750-£1,000) before you can even apply for the visa. What if it’s rejected some how? I really don’t know why TAT don’t sit down with real genuine visitors and gain an understanding of the issues. WTF is wrong with their brains? How can a body, established to champion and increase tourism revenues be so inadequate and incapable?
 

I can honestly say, that if I wasn’t as financially and to a degree emotionally invested in Thailand, I wouldn’t step foot in the place. It’s attitude to its customers; that’s what they are, not tourists but customers, is arrogant and contemptuous.  
 

People back home often ask me about Thailand and say how they would love to go. I tell them don’t bother. Go elsewhere. They simply don’t deserve your custom. 

[Wanderer]

4 hours ago, Soidog said:

I can’t even start to see how the numbers work out for that. If you assume a 90 day visit from Northern Europe for a couple:

2 x direct flights from  =£2,000

90 x accommodation in a cheap hotel at 800 baht/night = £1,700

Miscellaneous such as visas, taxis and health insurance £400

Total for 3 months = £4,300

You may save a little on food but most likely spend more on entertainment

Even with the high fuel prices right now, your quarterly bill won’t be anywhere near £4,300

Advertising it seems to have a bit going for it. Pity about the airfares. Unlikely to work out cheaper but worth the difference. Could sow seeds in some minds. If I had a quarterly fuel bill 10% of £4,300 I would be getting put in my box pretty quick. It's cheap here in Thailand

 

[Wanderer]

1 hour ago, Henry said:

 

I’m not sure the savings in heating will put much of a dent into our trip to Thailand but I appreciate it’s a soundbite to attract publicity. 

 

Doggo, that's pretty much what I was saying. 

[MrNovax]

2 hours ago, Vigo said:

Tourism profits are derived from short term tourists not long stay visitors. Short stay visitors are the profit makers because they stay in hotels and purchases multiple goods and services. Therefore, the complaints about long stay  visas are irrelevant. The majority of tourism visitors stay less than 60 days.

To a certain extent, but with the amount of remote work being done there are plenty of highly profitable long term individuals (like myself) they could do a better job with.  

There are plenty of people who would rent long term air bnb's and spend money like its water if given the chance.  

[Soidog]

39 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

Advertising it seems to have a bit going for it. Pity about the airfares. Unlikely to work out cheaper but worth the difference. Could sow seeds in some minds. If I had a quarterly fuel bill 10% of £4,300 I would be getting put in my box pretty quick. It's cheap here in Thailand

I wouldn’t call it advertising. You’d need to be fairly illiterate to fall for it. Many things are cheap out here in Thailand, but not all. It also depends where in Thailand you are. I certainly wouldn’t blow £4,300 to get away from a £500 energy bill. Why would you? 

[Soidog]

32 minutes ago, MrNovax said:

To a certain extent, but with the amount of remote work being done there are plenty of highly profitable long term individuals (like myself) they could do a better job with.  

There are plenty of people who would rent long term air bnb's and spend money like its water if given the chance.  

I’m afraid the TAT and Thai government have a very fixed and immovable view of tourism and foreigners in general. Nothing will change other than to make it more bureaucratic or difficult. If you think it’s tricky now, wait until the likes of Mr Anutin gets in to power. 

[Faz]

34 minutes ago, MrNovax said:

There are plenty of people who would rent long term air bnb's and spend money like its water if given the chance.  

There are plenty of people who have rented Airbnb's long term only to find out they can't file a TM30 or obtain an extension of stay because they can't supply a copy of the householders Tabien Baan and ID card.

[Marc26]

9 hours ago, Soidog said:

 

 

People back home often ask me about Thailand and say how they would love to go. I tell them don’t bother. Go elsewhere. They simply don’t deserve your custom. 

I think that's a bit salty SD

 

Any 1st time tourist would have the time of their life

Especially if they know you and you helped them with recommendations for their holiday 

 

All the complaints, some valid some not, come from being there a lot or living there 

[Soidog]

4 hours ago, Marc26 said:

I think that's a bit salty SD

Any 1st time tourist would have the time of their life

Especially if they know you and you helped them with recommendations for their holiday 

All the complaints, some valid some not, come from being there a lot or living there 

Yes I totally agree. But I’m not advising  them not to go based on if they would enjoy it or not. It’s based on ethics towards tourists and the fact the Thai authorities simply don’t deserve it. The attitude to tourism is so blatantly focused on grabbing as much as possible and the overall tone of being a commodity. Of course all tourism is a business aimed at maximising profit, but like in any business there are ethical and non-ethical means. Thailand is beyond “Sharp Practice”. I did think Covid and the shock it has done to the tourism industry may be the kick up the pants it needed. Early signs would indicate that it’s made it worse? 

When ministers, yes government minister use the kind of language they do towards foreigners and tourists, and they blatantly allow organised gangs to operate to fleece tourists, then I think some of my friends and colleagues would agree that their money should not be used to encourage such attitudes. 
 

I don’t go around criticising people who choose Thailand. It’s a beautiful country with some amazing experiences and amazing people and heaven knows there are far far worse ethical choices. But if I’m asked specifics about the country then I answer honestly and even caveat my answer with the fact that I’ve been hear many times and hence my views can become less than balanced etc. 

I just wish TAT would work with foreigners to understand the issues more. But let’s face it, large corporates like True and Thai Airways don’t even allows foreigners to record greetings and instructions on the call handling systems so what hope?…….

[Marc26]

8 hours ago, Soidog said:

Yes I totally agree. But I’m not advising  them not to go based on if they would enjoy it or not. It’s based on ethics towards tourists and the fact the Thai authorities simply don’t deserve it. The attitude to tourism is so blatantly focused on grabbing as much as possible and the overall tone of being a commodity. Of course all tourism is a business aimed at maximising profit, but like in any business there are ethical and non-ethical means. Thailand is beyond “Sharp Practice”. I did think Covid and the shock it has done to the tourism industry may be the kick up the pants it needed. Early signs would indicate that it’s made it worse? 

When ministers, yes government minister use the kind of language they do towards foreigners and tourists, and they blatantly allow organised gangs to operate to fleece tourists, then I think some of my friends and colleagues would agree that their money should not be used to encourage such attitudes. 
 

I don’t go around criticising people who choose Thailand. It’s a beautiful country with some amazing experiences and amazing people and heaven knows there are far far worse ethical choices. But if I’m asked specifics about the country then I answer honestly and even caveat my answer with the fact that I’ve been hear many times and hence my views can become less than balanced etc. 

I just wish TAT would work with foreigners to understand the issues more. But let’s face it, large corporates like True and Thai Airways don’t even allows foreigners to record greetings and instructions on the call handling systems so what hope?…….

Besides taxi "rip offs" in Phuket, which I never really experienced because I am not that price sensitive, I have never felt ripped off in Thailand, with the exception of one time in a bar in Hua Hin, where they were padding my bill.

 

And although I do agree with you on the overall attitude of the Govt agency, I just don't experience that much at all trickling down to my stays when I am there

 

But again, I am not one to worry if my Khao Soi is 90 baht in an expensive tourist area and not the 60 baht it is in some remote village

Or that a 40min ride from the airport costs me 25cad

 

I travel all around the world, and tourist places want your money!  :)

 

I

[Marc26]

9 hours ago, Soidog said:

Yes I totally agree. But I’m not advising  them not to go based on if they would enjoy it or not. It’s based on ethics towards tourists and the fact the Thai authorities simply don’t deserve it. The attitude to tourism is so blatantly focused on grabbing as much as possible and the overall tone of being a commodity. Of course all tourism is a business aimed at maximising profit, but like in any business there are ethical and non-ethical means. Thailand is beyond “Sharp Practice”. I did think Covid and the shock it has done to the tourism industry may be the kick up the pants it needed. Early signs would indicate that it’s made it worse? 

When ministers, yes government minister use the kind of language they do towards foreigners and tourists, and they blatantly allow organised gangs to operate to fleece tourists, then I think some of my friends and colleagues would agree that their money should not be used to encourage such attitudes. 
 

I don’t go around criticising people who choose Thailand. It’s a beautiful country with some amazing experiences and amazing people and heaven knows there are far far worse ethical choices. But if I’m asked specifics about the country then I answer honestly and even caveat my answer with the fact that I’ve been hear many times and hence my views can become less than balanced etc. 

I just wish TAT would work with foreigners to understand the issues more. But let’s face it, large corporates like True and Thai Airways don’t even allows foreigners to record greetings and instructions on the call handling systems so what hope?…….

I go to Kamala Beach in Phuket often

(Yes the evil and dreaded Phuket)

 

Hang out at the beach every day and drink 50 baht Heneikens 

 

My wife and I are headed back Jan 2nd, smack dab in the middle of high season and have a beautiful 800sq ft suite with a small private pool in a hotel 5mins from the beach for 150cad/nt

 

 

So I'm not going to quibble that the taxi costs 700 baht

Which by the way, is a very nice Camry in which the guy takes our bags right away and brings them to the car

 

 

 

[Soidog]

2 hours ago, Marc26 said:

Besides taxi "rip offs" in Phuket, which I never really experienced because I am not that price sensitive, I have never felt ripped off in Thailand, with the exception of one time in a bar in Hua Hin, where they were padding my bill.

And although I do agree with you on the overall attitude of the Govt agency, I just don't experience that much at all trickling down to my stays when I am there

But again, I am not one to worry if my Khao Soi is 90 baht in an expensive tourist area and not the 60 baht it is in some remote village

Or that a 40min ride from the airport costs me 25cad

I travel all around the world, and tourist places want your money!  :)

I

I’m the same. I’m not that price sensitive when it comes to day to day living. But I am sensitive when I pay more than a local for the same product. 

[Soidog]

53 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

I go to Kamala Beach in Phuket often

(Yes the evil and dreaded Phuket)

Hang out at the beach every day and drink 50 baht Heneikens 

My wife and I are headed back Jan 2nd, smack dab in the middle of high season and have a beautiful 800sq ft suite with a small private pool in a hotel 5mins from the beach for 150cad/nt

So I'm not going to quibble that the taxi costs 700 baht

Which by the way, is a very nice Camry in which the guy takes our bags right away and brings them to the car

I think you are misunderstanding what I’m saying. It’s not that Thailand is expensive, it’s far cheaper due to lower wages and lower standards of employment law including health & safety. It’s the opportunism to get every baht out of you and the fact they see you as that. That’s the issue I have with the way Thais view tourists.  I don’t mind paying 150-180 baht for a beer if I’m sat with a nice view. I do object to paying that while a local sitting next to me pays 60 baht. That’s just plain wrong and opportunistic.  

[Marc26]

26 minutes ago, Soidog said:

I think you are misunderstanding what I’m saying. It’s not that Thailand is expensive, it’s far cheaper due to lower wages and lower standards of employment law including health & safety. It’s the opportunism to get every baht out of you and the fact they see you as that. That’s the issue I have with the way Thais view tourists.  I don’t mind paying 150-180 baht for a beer if I’m sat with a nice view. I do object to paying that while a local sitting next to me pays 60 baht. That’s just plain wrong and opportunistic.  

I get and understand the broader view of how TAT/Agencies view of us

 

And believe me, I am not just a happy go lucky guy, far from it

 

I just don't worry about small things that many seem to do

 

I used to be an uptight traveler and would have some dust ups, guess I got older and now don't let many things bother me because I have far many more great interactions than bad ones in Thailand

 

 

Just a question out of curiousity, do you go to other countries that you feel treat tourists/expats better?

 

Me personally, I think a lot of the central American countries treat tourists well, Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico

Vietnam took me a couple visits to warm up to the place

 

But I have liked almost everywhere I have ever been

I guess I'd say Italy was one of my least favorite places but didn't hate it

[MrNovax]

On 10/18/2022 at 11:29 AM, Faz said:

There are plenty of people who have rented Airbnb's long term only to find out they can't file a TM30 or obtain an extension of stay because they can't supply a copy of the householders Tabien Baan and ID card.

True, my point is that if the laws allowed for easier long term stays Thailand would benefit from added revenue.