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

Originally Posted by Milkman

Originally Posted by davearn

phuket is well dead

And I assume the others venues are dead, too.

I good time to go or be there.

Pattaya isn't dead. It's choka.......

People still go to England for holidays, and it's bloody expensive there and the women are ugly, so I think the punters will be back here soon regardless of the exchange rates. Unless there's a civil war.

Originally Posted by pickel

People still go to England for holidays

This is true and the very weak pound will help draw a few visitors there when the frost thaws and "summertime" kicks in.

Originally Posted by pickel

People still go to England for holidays, and it's bloody expensive there

Incorrect, at the current exchange rate it is cheaper for me to drink and eat out (comparable western food) in an English pub than one in Thailand.

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

it is cheaper for me to drink and eat out (comparable western food) in an English pub than one in Thailand.

People don't come to Thailand for the western food.

^Are you suggesting tourists to Thailand go hungry or confine themselves to noodle stands, sipping meagre rations of water to avoid the price of beer?

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

Are you suggesting tourists to Thailand go hungry or confine themselves to noodle stands, sipping meagre rations of water to avoid the price of beer?

You're being irrational. They don't have to eat at noodle stands and even the most expensive beer I've had in Thailand is still cheaper than at home. Alot of western food is cheaper here, I guess you choose the high class restaurants. And if peoples desires are high class restaurants serving western food, why would they come here? I've yet to hear anyone say they come here for the western food.

It's probably the package tour market that is suffering the most. After an absolutely abysmal start to high season thanks to the airport being closed, numbers in Pattaya have rebounded quite well. But many of these are repeat visitors, and staying in lower end hotels and guesthouses. Apparently, the vacancy rates at the Marriott and Amari are still high.

The whinging here never ceases to amaze me, particularly from resident expats. Personally, I can find quite OK western food here for a reasonable price, and obviously Asian food is no problem. The 'real' price compared to Oz & UK has gone up due to exchange rate movements, but I would hardly call Thailand expensive. The prawn phad ka phao from a local shanty is nice, plenty of fresh prawns, made to order (ie not too much chilli) and at 25bht, damn cheap. Washed down with a large Leo (on ice- nice n cold) at 42bht, I'm not complaining.

Then again, I would never eat in one of those mediocre, overpriced English or Irish themed pubs you get in Bangkok in particular, but also Pattaya and Phuket. Beats me why someone would pay 300bht odd for a soggy microwaved pie, mash n peas, with a gravy strait out of a packet- I can get a decent steak for less. I love a pint of guinness, but with 150 bht being the absolute cheapest I can find in Pattaya (maggie mays) and 220bht more average, it's an occasional treat only.

For all you expats, have the prices risen much in the last year or two? Due to the economic slump, the prices, especially for foreign products has jumped drastically here in Korea. What you say?

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

Are you suggesting tourists to Thailand go hungry or confine themselves to noodle stands, sipping meagre rations of water to avoid the price of beer?

You're being irrational. They don't have to eat at noodle stands and even the most expensive beer I've had in Thailand is still cheaper than at home. Alot of western food is cheaper here, I guess you choose the high class restaurants. And if peoples desires are high class restaurants serving western food, why would they come here? I've yet to hear anyone say they come here for the western food.

Wrong on all counts.

For example - The Black Swan charges B220 for a pint of Heineken. That is
₤4.90 for the tourists who change up in the UK at the current rate.

Food-wise, a pizza at Little Italy is about B350, which is ₤7.80, hardly a 'high-class' joint, yet does not compare well with the Pizza Express outlests in the UK, which manage to serve up a pizza for ₤5.99.

So, in your world, what do you think tourists eat and drink when they come here?

^ Well, if they got any sense (or care what they spend) they don't eat at places like that.

I know Bkk is more expensive (capitals usually are), but in the Soi 8 Bar, kiwi owned, a few months ago you could get quite a nice steak sandwich with a decent serve of chips (real chips) for 120 bht. I doubt it would've changed much since.

Around here, a nice thin crust pizza from Ticino's Italian restaurant is 200- 240 bht, but I consider pizza in this country to be no bargain.

Originally Posted by robuzo

My point being, even without the hedonistic elements England is still interesting, whereas Thailand- not so much.

I take it you've never been to Thailand, then? Maybe you should go for your first time, so you know what you are talking about ...

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

Wrong on all counts. For example - The Black Swan charges B220 for a pint of Heineken. That is ₤4.90 for the tourists who change up in the UK at the current rate. Food-wise, a pizza at Little Italy is about B350, which is ₤7.80, hardly a 'high-class' joint, yet does not compare well with the Pizza Express outlests in the UK, which manage to serve up a pizza for ₤5.99. So, in your world, what do you think tourists eat and drink when they come here?

You're quoting restaurants themed on countries other than Thailand. People who eat there should perhaps holiday in those countries. They deserve to be gouged.

Originally Posted by sabang

The whinging here never ceases to amaze me, particularly from residing expats. Personally, I can find quite OK western food here for a reasonsable price, and obviously Asian food is no problem. The 'real' price compared to Oz & UK has gone up due to exchange rate movements, but I would hardly call Thailand expensive. The prawn phad ka phao from a local shanty is nice, plenty of fresh prawns, made to order (ie not too much chilli) and at 25bht, damn cheap. Washed down with a large Leo (on ice- nice n cold) at 42bht, I'm not complaining.

Then again, I would never eat in one of those mediocre, overpriced English or Irish themed pubs you get in Bangkok in particular, but also Pattaya and Phuket. Beats me why someone would pay 300bht odd for a soggy microwaved pie, mash n peas, with a gravy strait out of a packet- I can get a decent steak for less. I love a pint of guinness, but with 150 bht being the absolute cheapest I can find in Pattaya (maggie mays) and 220bht more average, it's an occasional treat only.

Great post mate and so foking true.

I think me and you should team up for a top night out eating the cheap local food and with the money we save we can drink shit loads of Guinness as I love it.

We cant be the only buggers that love the local food ? When I'm in country thats all I eat and when I'm in Aussie thats all I cook. The guys that love to eat there fat laden bacon and eggs with a side serve of foking soggy chips can bash them up there shite shoot as thats where they belong.

To be fair a few times a year after a huge night on the piss is kosher but thats about it but to front up every foking day is Sickining.

Foking pies and mushy pea's for fok sake, Jeessus absolute bollicks.

As far as going into an Irish or English theme pub goes, fok that also, I'd rather sit outside and have a nice drink with the locals.

Why the fok would one come all the way to Thailand to sit inside a foking theme pub ? I suppose the correct answer would be : The same sort of punter that comes over to spend his time shagging whores.

Aint got no problem with that but there not my sort of people.

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

Originally Posted by robuzo

My point being, even without the hedonistic elements England is still interesting, whereas Thailand- not so much.

I take it you've never been to Thailand, then? Maybe you should go for your first time, so you know what you are talking about ...

Uh, I'll refrain from joining in a pissing contest over who's been here longer, but will say you have it exactly backwards- it's the wide-eyed first-timers who tend to find the exotic "culture" here so interesting. Compared to China, Japan, or Indonesia (Bali), Thailand doesn't really have much depth when it comes to culture, unless you are into recycled Lao, Khmer or Burmese temples, dancing, music, animist shrines, etc. But then again, perhaps you are easily impressed, and I wouldn't want to burst your bubble.

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

For example - The Black Swan was charging B220 for a pint of Heineken . That is
₤4.90 for the tourists who change up in the UK at the current rate.

Matey, theres no foking way on gods earth that I would pay B220 for a foking pint of Heineken whether it was in Bangkok or foking Tim Buk Too.

Foking madness, nothing less.

Originally Posted by robuzo

Compared to China, Japan, or Indonesia (Bali), Thailand doesn't really have much depth when it comes to culture, unless you are into recycled Lao, Khmer or Burmese temples, dancing, music, animist shrines, etc.

Erm, ain't all this stuff culture ?

If one spends time kicking around Thailand you will see there culture at work everyday especially around there Wats and up the north, but on the other hand if one is in Pattaya one will only see mongers and slappers and on this point I will agree its lacking inthe culture department.

Anyway never mind, carry foking on, What ever gets you off.

Originally Posted by robuzo

Originally Posted by DaffyDuck

Originally Posted by robuzo

My point being, even without the hedonistic elements England is still interesting, whereas Thailand- not so much.

I take it you've never been to Thailand, then? Maybe you should go for your first time, so you know what you are talking about ...

Uh, I'll refrain from joining in a pissing contest over who's been here longer, but will say you have it exactly backwards- it's the wide-eyed first-timers who tend to find the exotic "culture" here so interesting. Compared to China, Japan, or Indonesia (Bali), Thailand doesn't really have much depth when it comes to culture, unless you are into recycled Lao, Khmer or Burmese temples, dancing, music, animist shrines, etc. But then again, perhaps you are easily impressed, and I wouldn't want to burst your bubble.

You don't have to be wide-eyed to enjoy the temples, and Thai culture. You can't just get Thai food in any other place, then in Thailand. Neither can you get the massages the same in any other country. Don't forget that they have one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
You can't compare China, Japan and Indonesia to Thailand. They are all unique.

As for England. there are a lot of tourists that go there, but for a different reason. England is expensive. London is touristy no doubt, but people will go there for a different reason than Thailand. I know I did.

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

Wrong on all counts. For example - The Black Swan charges B220 for a pint of Heineken. That is ₤4.90 for the tourists who change up in the UK at the current rate. Food-wise, a pizza at Little Italy is about B350, which is ₤7.80, hardly a 'high-class' joint, yet does not compare well with the Pizza Express outlests in the UK, which manage to serve up a pizza for ₤5.99. So, in your world, what do you think tourists eat and drink when they come here?

You're quoting restaurants themed on countries other than Thailand. People who eat there should perhaps holiday in those countries. They deserve to be gouged.

So you are now saying that tourists to Thailand should only eat Thai food. I think that clears up your rather strange view on the subject.

Originally Posted by phuketbound

England is expensive.

Not after the pound's collapse. For instance it is 34% down against the Baht since the peak.

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

So you are now saying that tourists to Thailand should only eat Thai food. I think that clears up your rather strange view on the subject.

I was referring to overpriced themed bars and restaurants. There are plenty of other options for western food that is cheaper than they would find at home.

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

So you are now saying that tourists to Thailand should only eat Thai food. I think that clears up your rather strange view on the subject.

I was referring to overpriced themed bars and restaurants. There are plenty of other options for western food that is cheaper than they would find at home.

Righto, so make some suggestions in order that they can be compared with similar class venues in the UK.