Pattaya tourism outlook hazy

[reader]

From Pattaya Mail

With the high season fast approaching, Sanphet Suphabuansathien, President of the Thai Hotel Association (Eastern Chapter), has voiced concerns over national stability and the critical issue of high airfares and seats availability. These uncertainties are impacting traveler decisions and adding complexity to preparations for the upcoming high season.

Sanphet emphasized, “To welcome visitors to Thailand and Pattaya, it is crucial that we demonstrate our readiness, particularly in terms of safety. We are well aware of the need to build confidence among both international tourists and Thai nationals.”

Yet, uncertainties remain, primarily due to the scarcity of dependable flight options. Sanphet highlighted that airlines operating below full capacity are causing challenges during price negotiations. Potential tourists often cite high airfare rates as a deterrent to their travel plans. Consequently, the outlook for hotel bookings during the high season remains unclear.

The hotel industry eagerly anticipates support from the new government, which emphasizes stimulating the economy through tourism and services. This approach is considered essential for generating substantial revenue for the country. The industry is seeking comprehensive policies and proactive promotions to enhance Thailand’s global competitiveness.

Somsong Sachaphimukh, Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Industry Council of Thailand, underscored the need to cater to the preferences of Indian tourists, particularly in terms of food and entertainment. Swift adaptation is crucial to prevent these tourists from choosing alternative destinations.

As India emerges as a potent force in Asian tourism, Thailand is witnessing a significant influx of Indian travelers. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) projects around 1.6 million Indian visitors in 2023. Chai Eamsiri, CEO of Thai Airways, highlighted the Indian market’s strength. Presently, Thai Airways operates 70 weekly flights to India, in contrast to 14 flights to China. This reduction is a result of COVID-19 challenges. With Thailand’s narrow-bodied fleet poised to expand in the coming decade, future operations might pivot more towards India.

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, reader said:

 Potential tourists often cite high airfare rates as a deterrent to their travel plans.

yes, I'm one of them. I have vague plans for yet another trip this year but made internal limit of how much I'm prepared to pay and so far offers are not even close to my limit, sigh.

[traveller123]

I travelled from BKK to Manchester UK mid April returning in July.

Was on Emirates A380s economy changing in Dubai The flights were expensive twice to three times what I paid pre Covid.

All four flights were full suggesting people were not put off by the cost

[reader]

From Pattaya Mail

Pattaya’s tourism landscape shifts as Chinese visitor numbers decline

Pattaya is facing new challenges as the flow of Chinese tourists, once a dominant force, dwindles. The President of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA) Boonanan Pattanasin, has highlighted the evolving dynamics of this popular travel hub on August 28.

For years, Pattaya has drawn in millions of Chinese tourists, acting as a substantial economic contributor. However, recent stringent visa regulations and concerns about potentially unaccounted Chinese funds have triggered a notable drop in these figures. In the interest of curbing gray-market financial activities, tighter regulations and meticulous vetting procedures have been implemented, leading to a decline in tourist numbers.

Boonanan recognized that this downturn can be attributed to a combination of factors, including decreased flight availability and rising airfares. This trend, affecting the broader Thai tourism landscape, is also influencing Pattaya. To combat these challenges, collaborative strategies have been launched involving public and private sectors, along with airlines, to boost flight capacity at U-Tapao International Airport and promote tourism during the upcoming high season.

The shifting behavior of Chinese visitors is evident, with a growing preference for independent travel (FIT) over group tours. Nonetheless, group tours still constitute a considerable 40% of the total Chinese visitors. Despite this, Pattaya has witnessed a noticeable decline in Chinese tourist arrivals, which has left a mark on hotel occupancy rates.

Pattaya’s situation is further complicated by its airport’s limitations. While U-Tapao International Airport serves as a gateway, its flight options are limited. Nevertheless, Chinese tourists remain pivotal to Pattaya’s economic fabric, supporting local businesses both as FIT travelers and group tourists.

Recent tourism trends in Thailand suggest encouraging growth, with a steady stream of foreign visitors. Notably, Vietnamese tourists have spearheaded this trend, contributing to a 14.40% increase, followed by South Korean and Indian tourists at 9.27% and 7.17% respectively. These statistics bode well for the remainder of 2023, hinting at a robust visitor turnout primarily from the ASEAN, East Asian, and South Asian regions.

[vinapu]

6 hours ago, reader said:

 

Recent tourism trends in Thailand suggest encouraging growth, with a steady stream of foreign visitors. Notably, Vietnamese tourists have spearheaded this trend, contributing to a 14.40% increase, followed by South Korean and Indian tourists at 9.27% and 7.17% respectively.

what about me ?, I was in Thailand  already 3 times in 2023 , increase of 50% over 2022

[PeterRS]

9 hours ago, vinapu said:

what about me ?, I was in Thailand  already 3 times in 2023 , increase of 50% over 2022

Huh? I've been here 6 times (but then I've been returning home each time 🤣)

[vinapu]

6 minutes ago, PeterRS said:

Huh? I've been here 6 times (but then I've been returning home each time 🤣)

what is your increase over 2022  as I was boasting about that ?

[gayinpattaya]

There are Indians EVERYWHERE. In fact, some areas of Pattaya look, feel and SMELL like India now. My Thai friend from Chiang Mai was horrified how they have ghettoised an entire area of Pattaya.

[Phoenixblue]

15 minutes ago, gayinpattaya said:

There are Indians EVERYWHERE. In fact, some areas of Pattaya look, feel and SMELL like India now. My Thai friend from Chiang Mai was horrified how they have ghettoised an entire area of Pattaya.

Indians are everywhere all over, not just in Pattaya or even in Thailand but all over the entire planet. They already have 10 Downing Street and aiming for the White House

[gayinpattaya]

58 minutes ago, Phoenixblue said:

Indians are everywhere all over, not just in Pattaya or even in Thailand but all over the entire planet. They already have 10 Downing Street and aiming for the White House

Let them have it. England has been lost already. A failed state shithole. I'll just keep myself as far away from them as possible. 

[PeterRS]

5 hours ago, vinapu said:

what is your increase over 2022  as I was boasting about that ?

Sorry - it's actually already 200% as I was only away once in the UK and once in Taiwan in 2002. 

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Sorry - it's actually already 200% as I was only away once in the UK and once in Taiwan in 2002. 

you beat me again and again

[vinapu]

8 hours ago, gayinpattaya said:

There are Indians EVERYWHERE. In fact, some areas of Pattaya look, feel and SMELL like India now

You are on something, now every second or third restaurant in Pattaya seems to be Indian one.

I wouldn't say everywhere though as I saw very few of them, if any ,  in Boyztown or Jomtien boy bars.

[gayinpattaya]

3 minutes ago, vinapu said:

I saw very few of them, if any ,  in Boyztown or Jomtien boy bars.

Some have been drifting through Jomtien Complex. Surprisingly they never get a "HELLOOO WELCOMEEE" from any of the bars. 

[vinapu]

10 minutes ago, gayinpattaya said:

Some have been drifting through Jomtien Complex. Surprisingly they never get a "HELLOOO WELCOMEEE" from any of the bars. 

They have some reputation for stinginess that's probably why. On another hand I asked one BBB boy I offed few times whether it's true Indians are poor tippers and he said 

"not all, some are spending big"

[Moses]

My statistic in Siamroads shows what Vietnam is more popular within gay tourists now than Thailand. First year since 2009 Siamroads has more request and reservations in VN, than in TH.

[macaroni21]

3 hours ago, Moses said:

My statistic in Siamroads shows what Vietnam is more popular within gay tourists now than Thailand. First year since 2009 Siamroads has more request and reservations in VN, than in TH.

Maybe it's because most travellers are no longer new to Thailand and thus don't need guides, whereas they're still new to Vietnam.

[vinapu]

2 minutes ago, macaroni21 said:

Maybe it's because most travellers are no longer new to Thailand and thus don't need guides, whereas they're still new to Vietnam.

my thought  exactly , you beat me to it by  1 minute. I wanted to say ' relative novelty value" also , again relative shortage of travel information.

[macaroni21]

I can't speak for the hetero side of Pattaya, but "hazy" is too kind for the gay side. A new bar called Classic has taken over the former Cupidol premises, and stocked itself with about 15 fem twinks. Not a single customer inside. The mamasan could barely speak four sentencces of English. S/he was unable to understand a word of what I said, and to everything I tried to say (as simply as possible), the response was "What number you like?" I was out of there in ten minutes having performed my charitiable act for the month.

Meanwhile at X-Boys, the off fee has gone up to 800 baht. I thought I had misheard the first time, so I asked a second mamasan and sure enough, she typed "800" on her phone to show me (the music was too loud for speech). At least I made a point to find out - not that I had my eye on any of the boys, all too scrawny and tattooed for my taste. The poor guy to my right later had an argument with the manager over the off fee when he was surprised by the amount being added to his tab. He then said sorry to the boy who had put on his streetclothes, and left the bar alone.

You call that "hazy" or "suicidal"?

Edited December 8, 2023 by macaroni21
missing word

[macaroni21]

Hot news! While X-boys is committing suicide, there's a hot new bar in town. It's on walking street only about 50m from the junction with Beach Road.

Upstairs it has 2 rooms. The front room has male dancers and the back room has "Russian girls" as advertised 

Of course I chose to sit in the front room. The dancers come on stage one at a time since it's a small bar (and they really dance, including going 3m up the pole).  All buffed white males, 1.8m, with chest hair. They're gender neutral. After each stage number they go to each customer and grind their groins in customers' faces, whether male or female clients. For a 100 baht tip of course. At first I thought all Russian, but at least one was Brazilian. No nudity however, just down to briefs.

[forrestreid]

Interesting.

Were the majority of the clients male or female?

And did they look Asian or western?

[macaroni21]

6 hours ago, forrestreid said:

Were the majority of the clients male or female?

And did they look Asian or western?

In the front room, other than myself, there was just one group of Koreans: three guys and three girls. The dancers gave equal attention to the guys as to the girls. It was interesting to see how at first the (straight) guys flinched when the dancers approached them, positioning their pubic regions no more than a hand-span from the Korean guys' faces. They almost freaked out when the dancers pulled their trouser waist-bands forward to invite them to tuck a tip in.

But that was just their reaction to the first 2 dancers. By the third dancer, the Koreans guys were just as into the scene as the anyone of us would be. I observed one of them do a full Vinapu tuck, to make sure the 100-baht bill was securely inside.

After watching four dancers and tipping each one of them 100 baht, I decided to take a look at the women's room. Technically I was required to buy another drink to enter that room*, but I worked my charm on the manager and the second-drink requirement was waived. What did I see? A svelt white girl on stage curled around a pole and two other white girls in the sofas against the wall (from their skimpy dressing obviously dancers too, waiting their turn). But not a single customer in sight.

*that's similar to what I been sayng for years about gay gogo bars. They should have separate rooms: one for rotation boys and offing, and another for just the show (at specific times). They should keep drink prices low for the room with numbertag boys and charge an extra drink for the showtime room.

[floridarob]

16 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

but at least one was Brazilian.

Offable?
Prices?

Compared to guys directly in Brazil?

Wish I was in Brazil when you were.....might've been better for you with a guide, but your reports were so interesting as a first timer 😉