The bellboy yawned as he stood sentry at the five-star hotel's doors. The hostess checked her long red nails and looked longingly at the empty driveway.
It was another quiet day at the luxury Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, thanks in part to the noisy political protests across town.
Tourism has been hit hard by Thailand's political crisis, which has seen the prime minister removed from office, a state of emergency imposed and lifted, key airports shut down by demonstrators and tenacious anti-government protesters occupying the grounds of the prime minister's office for three weeks.
Parliament's scheduled selection of a new prime minister Wednesday seems unlikely to put an end to tensions, as the protest alliance has already rejected the choice of Somchai Wongsawat, who currently holds the job in a caretaker capacity.
Many fear a prolonged crisis could further weaken the tourism sector, which brought in roughly $16 billion in revenue last year, about 6.5 percent of Thailand's gross domestic product.
Full Story: AP
Thought: This isn't going to improve anytime soon with the buffoon's running the government here and the global financial crisis. Those that can still afford to go on holiday simply won't come here.
Thailand's tourism takes a tumble
Thailand's tourism takes a tumble
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
An article a few days ago on the subject of cancellations in the tourist industry, due to the present unrest, did point out that the vast majority were for tourists from other Asian countries.
Apparently nearly all Chinese bookings had been cancelled whereas those from Europe were only down by a few percent.
Obviously the global financial crisis is another thing all together and could hit hard as people tighten their belts in the near future.
Apparently nearly all Chinese bookings had been cancelled whereas those from Europe were only down by a few percent.
Obviously the global financial crisis is another thing all together and could hit hard as people tighten their belts in the near future.
I think Steve is right on this one.STEVE G wrote:Obviously the global financial crisis is another thing all together and could hit hard as people tighten their belts in the near future.
Spending on luxuries such as travel has been fuelled by the European property boom, with people indulging in a debt-fest as they remortgage to release capital in their property on the basis that it has continued to rise in value for a decade. Well it's not rising now. I will be amazed if this doesn't have an impact on arrivals of the type of western package tourist that Thailand, since the Amazing Thailand campaign has been targeting - i.e. middle class families.
All you can hear in the UK at the moment is the sound of tightening belts....
I hear similar stories to the above from back home. Sounds like a mess.
On the tourist point, excluding the money factor, many tourists will cancel at the slightest hint of something because they think places like Thailand are 'exotic banana republics', which at times even I agree with when I'm having one of those days. The general(not all) tourist is for lack of a better word, 'paranoid', about safety, probably due to lack of experience/understanding and interest in things outside their home country. I hesitate to label them as 'cowards' as that might be a bit too strong.
Much more chance of getting into problems like that back home on a Friday/Saturday night. Never felt unsafe here. The chance of being a victim of crime is small. Only thing you're really in danger of is being over-charged.
As far as political unrest etc goes, well, it's Thai business and they never let it interfere too much with normal life outside the 'seats of power' places or with the 'cash cow' industries like hospitality/tourism.
Having said all that, it might just be as simple as the posters above have pointed out and the 'top and tail' of it is that everyone's skint.
On the tourist point, excluding the money factor, many tourists will cancel at the slightest hint of something because they think places like Thailand are 'exotic banana republics', which at times even I agree with when I'm having one of those days. The general(not all) tourist is for lack of a better word, 'paranoid', about safety, probably due to lack of experience/understanding and interest in things outside their home country. I hesitate to label them as 'cowards' as that might be a bit too strong.
Much more chance of getting into problems like that back home on a Friday/Saturday night. Never felt unsafe here. The chance of being a victim of crime is small. Only thing you're really in danger of is being over-charged.
As far as political unrest etc goes, well, it's Thai business and they never let it interfere too much with normal life outside the 'seats of power' places or with the 'cash cow' industries like hospitality/tourism.
Having said all that, it might just be as simple as the posters above have pointed out and the 'top and tail' of it is that everyone's skint.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
Spitfire wrote:
Reminds me of my first years in Thailand when I had a personal old hand expat tutor who learned me a lot about Thailand. I quote one of the first things he told me: "You will hear many people refer to Thailand as a banana republic, but it is not. Thailand is a banana kingdom!"they think places like Thailand are 'exotic banana republics'
We are all living in 'the good old days' of the future.
I wonder how much notice is taken about travel advisories supplied by Embassies? I've always thought not too much, but that could just be me.
I reckon it's more to do with the cumulative effect of repeated bad press. "Thailand is one of the most dangerous countries for Brits/other foreigners to visit. There are more murders, rapes, muggings, robberies etc etc per capita of tourist here than almost any other country in the world".
I've seen press reports like this on many occasions. Possibly The "Amazing Thailand" cliche starts to wear a bit thin or is too exact for the wrong reasons. The police "clear-up rate" of serious offences against tourists is also hardly something this country can be proud of and foreign media prey on stuff that that.
The financial aspect is another matter. I don't take holidays in the UK (other than the occasional visit back home), but I thought that a two week break in Devon, for example, costs about as much as the same in Thailand. Is that correct? It might cost more to get here, but once you are, the cost of living equalises everything. Is indigenous tourism down in the UK?
To come back to the appearance of Thailand, I'll never forget overhearing a conversation up north in Pai a few years ago. Young travelers were debating whether to head down south to Samui and the full moon parties. They were worried about the troubles down south. I pointed out that they were much further down the road than that, but they seemed oblivious to the geography. I've got no idea if they went.
I reckon it's more to do with the cumulative effect of repeated bad press. "Thailand is one of the most dangerous countries for Brits/other foreigners to visit. There are more murders, rapes, muggings, robberies etc etc per capita of tourist here than almost any other country in the world".
I've seen press reports like this on many occasions. Possibly The "Amazing Thailand" cliche starts to wear a bit thin or is too exact for the wrong reasons. The police "clear-up rate" of serious offences against tourists is also hardly something this country can be proud of and foreign media prey on stuff that that.
The financial aspect is another matter. I don't take holidays in the UK (other than the occasional visit back home), but I thought that a two week break in Devon, for example, costs about as much as the same in Thailand. Is that correct? It might cost more to get here, but once you are, the cost of living equalises everything. Is indigenous tourism down in the UK?
To come back to the appearance of Thailand, I'll never forget overhearing a conversation up north in Pai a few years ago. Young travelers were debating whether to head down south to Samui and the full moon parties. They were worried about the troubles down south. I pointed out that they were much further down the road than that, but they seemed oblivious to the geography. I've got no idea if they went.
I think it is mostly the families with children that cancel Thailand holidays at the moment. The adventurous backpackers and for instance the people who head straight for Pattaya's nightlife cannot be bothered with this small scale trouble in Bangkok.
If the Dutch authorities issue a negative travel advice (which they did not for Thailand so far) this may have consequences for travel insurance coverage and as a result eventually lead to stop sales by the travel agents. But this does not happen very easily.
If the Dutch authorities issue a negative travel advice (which they did not for Thailand so far) this may have consequences for travel insurance coverage and as a result eventually lead to stop sales by the travel agents. But this does not happen very easily.
We are all living in 'the good old days' of the future.
I think that most Europeans who specifically want to go to Thailand wouldn’t be easily put off, but for others who are thumbing through a catalogue deciding on a destination, it’s a different thing entirely.
There is such a huge choice of exotic destinations that some brochures are the thickness of telephone directories, and it is so easy to have a negative feeling about somewhere and simply turn the page.
I can understand this type of holidaymaker, it’s not necessarily a case of being scared to go to a place but if you’re in a stressful job and are planning a couple of weeks to get away from it all, why would you bother to chose somewhere that might cause problems?
Particularly when you might get a situation like the airport closures that happened in Thailand, nobody wants to risk spending their holiday in a departure lounge.
There is such a huge choice of exotic destinations that some brochures are the thickness of telephone directories, and it is so easy to have a negative feeling about somewhere and simply turn the page.
I can understand this type of holidaymaker, it’s not necessarily a case of being scared to go to a place but if you’re in a stressful job and are planning a couple of weeks to get away from it all, why would you bother to chose somewhere that might cause problems?
Particularly when you might get a situation like the airport closures that happened in Thailand, nobody wants to risk spending their holiday in a departure lounge.
To answer Lomus question about holidays in the UK, yes they are down! As are tourists to the UK for the first time in a decade (I believe).
I tried to get a late deal cottage holiday for the last week of the school hols - anywhere. I was amazed by the availability, just as much as I was by the prices (peak hols are a new experience for me), even if they were discounted, are these people serious!? So that was out.
I had previously read articles that lots were foregoing their deposit on cottages as since booking, the cost of living had risen so dramatically, not least the cost of petrol!
There was a new word to describe holidaying from home, but I can't think of it, and that's what we did. Days out to London, the Sth Coast, Chessington World of Adventures (all of 3 miles away) and so on.
I tried to get a late deal cottage holiday for the last week of the school hols - anywhere. I was amazed by the availability, just as much as I was by the prices (peak hols are a new experience for me), even if they were discounted, are these people serious!? So that was out.
I had previously read articles that lots were foregoing their deposit on cottages as since booking, the cost of living had risen so dramatically, not least the cost of petrol!
There was a new word to describe holidaying from home, but I can't think of it, and that's what we did. Days out to London, the Sth Coast, Chessington World of Adventures (all of 3 miles away) and so on.
Talk is cheap
BBC Asia is showing a piece about this subject periodically today, and probably all week. Filmed in Phuket and it doesn't look good for the coming high season from what they are reporting/saying. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Yep, I think it is that simple. Maybe won't affect the classic single male, repeat visitor but will affect package tourism.spitfire wrote:Having said all that, it might just be as simple as the posters above have pointed out and the 'top and tail' of it is that everyone's skint.
I think this is absolutely correct - the repeated bad press has a far greater impact than advice given by embassies.lomuamart wrote:I wonder how much notice is taken about travel advisories supplied by Embassies? I've always thought not too much, but that could just be me.
I reckon it's more to do with the cumulative effect of repeated bad press.
You are right Lomu - it is expensive to holiday in the UK but there are so many relatively inexpensive European holiday destinations closer to home than Thailand. Further afield, a holiday to Florida is still seen as the pinnacle by many Brits and excellent value for a long haul destination. Thailand has much competition.lomuamart wrote:The financial aspect is another matter. I don't take holidays in the UK (other than the occasional visit back home), but I thought that a two week break in Devon, for example, costs about as much as the same in Thailand. Is that correct? It might cost more to get here, but once you are, the cost of living equalises everything. Is indigenous tourism down in the UK?
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I agree but there must be people who are not put off easily and will get a second opinion from the travel agent who is obliged to give them the official Foreign Office statement.lomuamart wrote:I wonder how much notice is taken about travel advisories supplied by Embassies? I've always thought not too much, but that could just be me.
I reckon it's more to do with the cumulative effect of repeated bad press.
The link below has more depressing news on the economy. It is not a source I would normally use but a fairly good article nevertheless.
http://tinyurl.com/3nkuw5
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