Chinese tourists (and their habits) surge into Thailand

[huahin4ever]

I have now taken a trip to Bangkok, and OMG how many Chinese I see. I was in one of the big malls and I think nearly 50% were Chinese.

What Mall were you in? I go to Bkk on Friday for 9/10 days, be interesting to compare, it will be after the weekend.

This was Terminal 21. Soi 19. But currently it is 23:00 and I'm in Soi Nana. No Chinese here, but lots of farangs and Indians. PS! I'm not in Nana Plaza.

YNWA

[caller]

This was Terminal 21. Soi 19. But currently it is 23:00 and I'm in Soi Nana. No Chinese here, but lots of farangs and Indians.

Ah, okay thanks. Not normally a mall I bother with. I wonder what the big attraction was, as there's really not that much there.

[huahin4ever]

This was Terminal 21. Soi 19. But currently it is 23:00 and I'm in Soi Nana. No Chinese here, but lots of farangs and Indians.

Ah, okay thanks. Not normally a mall I bother with. I wonder what the big attraction was, as there's really not that much there.

I went there for the food, which isn't too bad. 2 floors of restaurants and food court.

YNWA

[caller]

]I went there for the food, which isn't too bad. 2 floors of restaurants and food court.

Yes, the food court is very popular, they don't charge the venders any or a 'full market ' rent, thus prices are very good. I think it's viewed as a draw for tourists whatever, to go into the mall. It's the same as at their other malls, certainly the case at their Korat mall. I believe, but stand to be corrected on this, that the same group own the Market Village malls.

[joelle]

Someone please keep eyes open in Hua Hin and post what you see during the next 10 days?

Many Chinese visitors at Makro this morning, mainly at the fruit and veg section, buying dragon fruit mostly.
Also by the cake fridge some table were set up to put ducks on it, the staff couldn't get them out of the boxes quick enough.
When I left nearly all the trolleys at the entrance had disappeared! Never seen that before!

[PeteC]

The Chinese importers are going to eat this country alive, before they even know what hit them here. They have no respect for laws of other countries, most likely as they know they won't be executed or jailed long term for criminality as they would be at home, only fined and deported.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... fied-goods

Officers from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) raided 12 Chinese supermarkets in Bangkok on Friday, discovering tonnes of made-in-China products lacking certification from Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The raids were prompted by complaints from consumers who noticed products without FDA labels in several Chinese supermarkets.

Authorities seized over 70 product lines, totalling 1,878 items, that were being sold illegally..........

[buksida]

This is what happens when you bend over backwards for, and have too much reliance on one particular nation ...

Complaints over illegal Chinese bus services
Thai bus operators face intense competition from Chinese bus operators using nominees and offering lower prices, while more foreigners are illegally working as van drivers serving tourists, according to the Thai Transportation Operators Association.

Wasuchet Sophonsathien, the association president, said illegal foreign operators continue to compete with licensed bus companies, which have not fully recovered from the pandemic.

As more independent tourists and high-end tour groups arrive, particularly Chinese tourists, illegal foreign firms have pivoted from operating big buses to vans or minivans catering to these groups, he said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... s-services

Kind of related:
Analyst wary of Chinese threat perception
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... perception

[buksida]

Chinese immigrant dominated part of Bangkok in spotlight again

Huay Kwang district of Bangkok seems to be in hot water again for overcrowding by Chinese immigrants and its shops are selling goods and services using cryptocurrency and bypassing the payment systems in Thailand and even the financial system in Thailand.

These businesses are using token/digital currency to make the payments and other transactions, so says Inside Thailand, an in-depth news analysis program.

Rattanamongkol Lertthavivat, the former candidate for Thai Saang Thai party in the 2023 General Elections and the founder of the ‘Thai Entrepreneur Protection Network’ has come out to say that he would hold a presser today to present the details of these allegations today.

His complaint is that all things in the area are now controlled by Chinese immigrants including the billboards, shop signage and even the menu in the restaurants. He added that the area’s people are asking questions on why the immigrants are allowed to open shops, sell good that do not have approval from the Food & Drug Administration.


Source: Thai Enquirer

Crypto payments are illegal in China also ... so they come to Thailand, where they're also illegal, to get away with it!

[wenshidi]

Not surprising IMO. The Chinese have never seemed too keen on Hua Hin. Perhaps not enough all you can eat buffets.

So who keeps opening all the new Hot Pot and Malatang restaurants?

They all seem to do far better than any of the other restaurants in the same area.

[PeteC]

Not surprising IMO. The Chinese have never seemed too keen on Hua Hin. Perhaps not enough all you can eat buffets.

So who keeps opening all the new Hot Pot and Malatang restaurants?

They all seem to do far better than any of the other restaurants in the same area.

Not sure as the quote is almost 2 years old.

Perhaps the same group of mainland Chinese hot pot shops who shut down in Bangkok for no licenses or work permits have moved south? Good idea if immigration also visits these new establishments to check on same.

[wenshidi]

The quote maybe old but the trend is not, especially now that they are collecting the passports of teachers and civil servants.

Sadly hot pot "cuisine" is so easy to set up, anybody can do it.

[PeteC]

......especially now that they are collecting the passports of teachers and civil servants......

What is that all about. Is mainland China restricting travel for teachers and civil servants?

[wenshidi]

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chi ... 023-10-17/

https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/wh ... 22813.html

[PeteC]

^ I had no idea. That won't sit well with several categories of people, but as usual they may just accept it for the normal reasons.

[wenshidi]

Chinese style restaurants still seem to be the only places in town that are regularly busy though, esp the hot pots and malatangs. In much of HH, they are the only places with any customers.