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[Ulysses G.]

jayjay0, on 2010-07-29 12:52:19, said:

And yes i realize it is the low season but I have been here through four of them and none of them were as bad as this one.

I concur with that!

[otherstuff1957]

I do occasional work for the BMA & TAT.  Their statistics show that the middle-east is the most rapidly growing segment of the Thai tourist  industry.  The only problem is that they usually don't spend as much as the average European/American.

[jayjay0]

elibangkok, on 2010-07-29 14:55:21, said:

laocowboy2, on 2010-07-29 14:12:47, said:

Visitors from the Middle East essentially means those from the six GCC countries. They travel (a) during  school holidays - which run over most of the summer months due to the heat and ( for medical treatment - Bumrungrad has halal kitchens, Arabic speaking staff and prices half of those in Europe. Numbers are up by over 20% this year but from a low base. They are more noticeable due to dress - if 100,000 Chinese rocked up in Bangkok, would we really notice the difference?

I think you have a point on their being more noticable, although I have to say I visited Safari World last weekend and it there were two large tour groups from India and one group from the Middle East. There were no European or American groups.

Obviously this is anecdotal, but I would be more interested to know actual tourism baht spent as opposed to total visitors.

I would like to know what percent of the population is affected by the tourist dollar. They say it is six percent of the GNP but I would be willing to bet it directly effects a lot more than 6%

[moe666]

Piengrudee, on 2010-07-29 12:35:20, said:

In fact, the blast increase tourist arrivals numbers.

Huh!!!!!!!

[moe666]

otherstuff1957, on 2010-07-29 20:33:57, said:

I do occasional work for the BMA & TAT.  Their statistics show that the middle-east is the most rapidly growing segment of the Thai tourist  industry.  The only problem is that they usually don't spend as much as the average European/American.

And  Thais will tell you they donot like Arabs.

[moe666]

When I was in CM in early April the tourist dependant people I talked to were scraping by and were hoping for a big Thai turn out for Songram and beyond. As they all said I need 5 Thais to make as much as one American or European will pay.

The internet shop I have visited on several trips the owner is saleing stuff on line and trading stocks to get by. The lady who runs the foot nassage and travel office across the street from internet shop was hurting as well hope they are both still in business when I return in Nov.

[Just1Voice]

A couple of things. My wife used to work at the Lotus Hotel, which is next to Kad Suan Kaew Mall in C.M., and has some friends who still do.  She was talking to one of them the other day who is in a management position and was told the hotel has closed off one wing, which is half the total rooms available, and the other half is only about 40% occupied.  Some of the employees have not been paid in two months, and the hotel is having trouble paying their electric bill.  

The second thing is that she (wife) and others she knows who are involved in tourism, absolutely hate tourists from India and most Arab countries, claiming that they are "cheap" and the worst tippers in the world.

[SamritT]

What if, just what if, 1 bomb a day in Bangkok on average; will foreign still visit Thailand?

[SamritT]

Piengrudee, on 2010-07-29 12:35:20, said:

In fact, the blast increase tourist arrivals numbers.

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The number of foreign tourists travelling to Thailand from 1 to 29 July 2010 rises by 12.7% compared to the same period of last year, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor, Suraphon Svetasreni. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Looks like Piengrudee is right.