Thread: Foreign tourists have declined by 50 per cent in 2008

it happened to me the first time i was in bkk about 7 years ago.i didnt know you had to stand during the anthem.i was at the cinema and luckily the girl i was with dragged me out of my seat and saved me from a kicking.it was close though a bit like that scene in 1984

Tourist authorities once acted under the principle that if you give tourists reasons to come...they WILL. There is ample room for argument that Thai attitudes hinge on xenophobia and lack of education. This is a quick way of getting votes but not easily undone when you are trying to attract the foreigners that you revile.

anyway if there are so few tourists why havent prices started falling.i havent noticed any reductions everything just keeps going up.bring on the recession!

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

A Thai woman arrested for refusing to stand as the royal anthem played in a Bangkok cinema faces up to 15 years in prison, police said Tuesday. Ratchapin Chancharoen, 28, was arrested Sunday [june 15] evening and charged with insulting Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej by not standing during the anthem, which plays to a montage of royal portraits before the screening of every film.[/url]

Can only hope, but awareness and acknowledgment is beginning to trickle to the lower and middle classes that Thai politics and other repressive institutions are transparently corrupt. Those at the bottom may be more concerned with not missing the harvest than whether or not the airports are open, because it does not directly affect them, but more are less afraid to voice uncomplimentary opinions than they were just a few years ago. This is also coming at a time of change, away from what most Thais have been weaned on and know nothing else.

Also, more people than before seem prepared to register anger and discontent, which can be a good sign or ominous, depending on many variables...won't be sweet, major shifts never are, but fingers, eyes and legs crossed that it turns out better for the next generation than it has been for the last several.

Lese majesty must be first or very early to go, as observed by HM and echoed by his representatives, to demonstrate his wise and forward thinking approach. It is a graven image that should be worshipped by choice, and HM got that bit right. Good, because as long it remains about the only law in this country that is ruthlessly enforced, many will be torn between their perception of freedom and the horrible consequences of saying or doing or not saying or doing the right or wrong thing, so removal is a catalyst for openness and truth for the people, albeit with the wisdom of their elders.


Should qualify, though it's a fairly common opinion, still can't see more than a continuing pretence at democracy here, at very best, but a move in that direction is better than nothing and quite frankly, the current generation of unconscionable leaders well deserve to be punished for selfishly failing to consider that people with nothing have little to lose.

It is too useful a law to rid of quickly as it sever the ones in power. But thanks to the PAD it's vile existence is now being challenged by some.

Originally Posted by Repubblicano

Until they get rid of the lese majeste law I don't see how could tourism possibly recover.

oh yeah, because the first thing tourists check when they go to a country for the sun and beaches, is to check the local laws

Originally Posted by donmeurett

If some of the farangs you say they hate acted like human beings instead of total ass holes maybe things would be different.

Most of the long timer and expats living in Thailand act like respectuous people and have learned the way to live a happy life here, when the 2 weeks tourists act like porks left alone in a vegetable field. Don't pack all the foreigners in the same bag plz.

Originally Posted by brixtonbwoy

anyway if there are so few tourists why havent prices started falling.i havent noticed any reductions everything just keeps going up.bring on the recession!

Prices are falling. Most hotels are giving discounts left and right according to many websites. I'm heading there in February. A good time to go, as there will probably less tourists, and lower airfare compared to now.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by Repubblicano

Until they get rid of the lese majeste law I don't see how could tourism possibly recover.

oh yeah, because the first thing tourists check when they go to a country for the sun and beaches, is to check the local laws

Now that the whole world has seen the threat they pose , they surely do.
300,000 tourists stranded are something difficult to forget.

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

^ he's right though Tel.

That Thai boy that did it not so long ago has had threats of legal action, death threats and been assaulted in the street.

Shite, first time Ive ever heard of that, I wonder if it only applies to Thais and not farang ?

Foking hope so or Bkkandrew will be in jail forever.


Alright then I apologize to the other dude that I abused, very foking unusual for myself to make a shocking mistake like that innit ?

Originally Posted by DrB0b

In five years of running a tourist business here in Chiang Mai I'd say that about 1% of our customers have been sex tourists.

is it written on there forehead?

^

Yo Bobby boy,

Now your talking me old mucker. I'll give you the good oil, if you give me the inside info on the lovely little brown bomb shells I'll split your commission with you.


Urm, thanks bobby.

DrBob: Is that 'small town' representative of Thailand? - have you ever been outside that 'small town' to check if sex tourists do indeed exist beyond the 1% you've managed to identify? Is there life beyond that horizon?

Originally Posted by keda

DrBob: Is that 'small town' representative of Thailand? - have you ever been outside that 'small town' to check if sex tourists do indeed exist beyond the 1% you've managed to identify? Is there life beyond that horizon?

I said 1% of OUR customer's, not Thailand's customers, MY business's customers. I'm not making any claims for anybody else. It's bloody obvious that lots of people come to Thailand for sex, I'm not stupid enough to think otherwise.

Originally Posted by terry57

^

Yo Bobby boy,

Now your talking me old mucker. I'll give you the good oil, if you give me the inside info on the lovely little brown bomb shells I'll split your commission with you.


Urm, thanks bobby.

Nett price for you Tezza. Shane's still available if you want him again this year

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

But these figures are pure fiction in any case. According to their statistics I am in actual fact 13 tourists in 2008 thus far and will magically be another one when I land tomorrow.

Amongst my circle of friends, most appear as a similar number of tourists in their crude figures. I suspect it is this underlying number that makes up the bulk of the 50% number.

No information whether they're counting real people or just the number of bodies who enter so you could be correct.

This may explain the reason for the change in the visa free entry rules back to 14 days only for those entering overland. These people will now have to enter the country 50% more often than when the alowance was 30 days and hence push the tourists arrivals back up.

Originally Posted by gjbkk

Now you see, you can't believe a word of the military/PAD proxy PM Abhisit Vejjajiva Government

Originally Posted by DrB0b

There's more to Thailand than Pattaya or Nana Plaza. In five years of running a tourist business here in Chiang Mai I'd say that about 1% of our customers have been sex tourists.

Try explaining that to EmperorTurd, who seems to believe that all he needs to know about tourism, he can learn from his one bar he goes to...

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

Try explaining that to EmperorTurd, who seems to believe that all he needs to know about tourism, he can learn from his one bar he goes to...

Erm, no. Nice try at revisionism there though, sure you're not related to Ant?

Not many sex-tourists head to Chiang Mai anyway, you'd get a different demographic on Sukhumvit in Bangkok and Pattaya.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

The ones who do want sex are not shy about asking where to get it and I'm quite happy to tell them as I get a commission.

Thailand cannot survive on rice alone.

Originally Posted by phuketbound

Originally Posted by brixtonbwoy

anyway if there are so few tourists why havent prices started falling.i havent noticed any reductions everything just keeps going up.bring on the recession!

Prices are falling. Most hotels are giving discounts left and right according to many websites. I'm heading there in February. A good time to go, as there will probably less tourists, and lower airfare compared to now.

plus 49.00-50.00 baht to the pound,prices are at there high season level in most of the bars, even though the pattaya is empty.airlines are still putting up there prices for the easter hollidays,fuel surcharges are still high,trouble brewing in bangkok as the red shirts start to cause problems at the parliment building.
personally i cant see much good news on the horizon,will there be anyone who wants to come here on holliday?

Still have crumpet, yes they'll come, though those I've spoken with the past couple of days have been feeling the pinch, and they're usually loose with the dosh.

Originally Posted by 3737ipod

Originally Posted by phuketbound

Originally Posted by brixtonbwoy

anyway if there are so few tourists why havent prices started falling.i havent noticed any reductions everything just keeps going up.bring on the recession!

Prices are falling. Most hotels are giving discounts left and right according to many websites. I'm heading there in February. A good time to go, as there will probably less tourists, and lower airfare compared to now.

personally i cant see much good news on the horizon,will there be anyone who wants to come here on holliday?

Well maybe you should just change your attitude, and look for good news. Surely, there has to be some. Yes, people still will go there on a holiday. Maybe not as many this year, but come on, Amazing Thailand. (where's that Thai flag).