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Originally Posted by thegent I can't see how the bona fide tourist will be inconvenienced as a consequence. |
The bona fide tourist that is spending several months in the region backpacking or just travelling overland will just need to plan ahead and possibly spend more time in Cambodia, Viet Nam and other surrounding countries.
Thailand's loss will be the others' gain, and as the central and most popular backpacking country in the region it has the most to lose.
It will still be the region's jumping off point, which is unfortunate with the current political climate and the risk of more protests closing the airports again.
Thailand seems to be forgetting it was the backpackers that sustained tourism and opened it up for everyone else.
Where all of these rich tourists who stay in spas and spend money with gay abandon are going to come from I certainly don't know. The global economic crisis has put the kibosh on that market.
Thailand's problem is it thinks its shit doesn't stink and is arrogant enough to assume tourists will come regardless of what is happening internationally and domestically.
I believe they are wrong and they will come to regret marginalising what used to be their bread and butter longer term travellers.