Hotel Prices likely to Fall in November

[Guest fountainhall]

I've harped on about this before, but the government really has made a monstrous mess of its damage control in terms of communications with the international community. It's bad enough within Thailand, with officials in charge who know nothing about disaster control and others constantly blaming each other. Yes, I know the BMA is run by the opposition Party, but if ever there was a time for all parties to pull together under one strong leader, this is surely it. Unfortunately, PM Yingluck has neither the intimate knowledge of the civil service machinery nor the experience of managing strong political personalities to be anywhere near a convincing 'war-time' leader.

 

Now her statements about all of Bangkok being inundated in the near future are killing the travel trade. November is going to be a disastrous month for much of the country, but especially Bangkok. So for those travelling here, there should be great deals to be had by bargaining with many of the hotels.

 

Travel firms decided not to bring groups to Thailand after hearing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and officials on television warn that Bangkok was at high risk of inundation. Authorities are also preparing to evacuate Bangkok residents to dry provinces.

 

Bangkok features prominently in daily reports that the flood is likely to spread and the situation may be out of control.

 

Thai tourism has suffered huge damage, with thousands of people deciding not to come.

 

Almost 100 per cent of tourists from China have opted out of trips planned for Bangkok this month.

 

Tourists from other countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia have also suspended their travel plans.

 

Anake Srishevachart, president of the Thai-Japan Tourism Business Association, said the Japanese were afraid to visit Bangkok as well as other destinations. The government's announcements on the flood crisis were the turning point that drove tourists away.

 

Thai Sin Express Co, one of the key inbound tour operators serving the Japanese market, said it witnessed a 100-per-cent cancellation rate this month, or about 30 groups.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Most-inbound-tour-groups-cancel-city-trips-30169198.html

 

A German colleague who has just returned from Japan sent me an email this morning saying the Bangkok floods are extensively covered every day in the media. You clearly cannot stop the media from reporting what is happening, nor showing film and photos of the floods. But a strong leader can couch his/her public pronouncements in such a way that it does not cause the sort of widespread panic overseas that our present government has so successfully achieved.

 

If Thaksin senior is indeed the puppet master, then he's really got his sister's knickers in a twist this time around.

[Guest kjun12]

Amen! It certainly appears that no one is really in control and the politicians want to act as though they each know what the problem is and how to correct the situation. I am not sure that this could have been handled any better since it is, at least to a massive degree, caused by nature but I certainly do not get a feeling that there is a centrally planned effort to control the waters in the best possible manner.

[Guest anonone]

 

Now her statements about all of Bangkok being inundated in the near future are killing the travel trade. November is going to be a disastrous month for much of the country, but especially Bangkok. So for those travelling here, there should be great deals to be had by bargaining with many of the hotels.

 

A German colleague who has just returned from Japan sent me an email this morning saying the Bangkok floods are extensively covered every day in the media. You clearly cannot stop the media from reporting what is happening, nor showing film and photos of the floods.

 

 

I have snipped out some relevant portions, just to save some space.

 

With every passing day, I lose more respect for the media outlets. Their coverage is always sensationalized with no attempt to accurately report the true situation. Almost every report I have seen includes the shot at Don Muang airport with the 2 Thai airways planes parked in a bit of water. The caption or narrative indicates "Bangkok's airport closed due to flood" or similar. They never bother to mention it is the secondary, domestic airport and the BKK is operating normally. No wonder tourists are cancelling trips.

 

My family and friends are astonished that I am still coming for a visit at the end of the month. Of course, they were astonished I emerged from Thailand unscathed during the demonstrations last year. By news reports they were seeing at home, all of Thailand was on the verge of total anarchy. No matter how often I tell family and friends not to believe everything they see on the news reports, it just never works.

 

I feel fortunate that very few friends in Thailand have sustained flood damage. Boyfriend's family members are fine and their home is not in an affected area. My hope now is the waters recede quickly (with or without government plan) and Thailand gets to enjoy a sustained period of tranquility. The Thai people deserve a break.

[Guest fountainhall]

With every passing day, I lose more respect for the media outlets. Their coverage is always sensationalized with no attempt to accurately report the true situation.

I agree entirely that the reporting of the closure of Don Mueang was sensational and quite inaccurate - starting with that organisation which thrives on its reputation for reporting the truth - the BBC. Mind you, the Airport Authorities of Thailand surely bears some of the responsibility. Why on earth it gave the same airport code to the two airports - BKK - is quite beyond my comprehension. London has several airports, and they all have different codes. Same with New York, Milan, Paris, Tokyo and many other cities. If any general news reporters see a wire service announcement that BKK is closed, what are they going to think? It's another example of Thai bureaucracy getting it 100% wrong!

 

On the other hand, I really do not think you can criticise the media for reporting what the Prime Minister and other officials have actually said. I have said above that I believe the government has been utterly incompetent in its general handling of the PR and media relations surrounding the floods. A disaster scenario requires a crisis management media plan. Most major corporations have one that is constantly updated. Ms. Yingluck's government stumbles about from pillar to post making statements that turn out to be mis-statements and predictions that turn out to be false - and understandably that's what is reported.

[PattayaMale]

I guess this post is about prices falling for Bangkok Hotels. I heard that here in Pattaya many people from Bangkok have rented rooms for a period of 2 or 3 months. In the past these apartments would be available for tourists. Now what is available are pricier hotel rooms. Maybe this will change if the floods recede sooner, but it appears it may take longer than a month.

[Guest]

I agree entirely that the reporting of the closure of Don Mueang was sensational and quite inaccurate - starting with that organisation which thrives on its reputation for reporting the truth - the BBC.

 

The BBC do not deserve such a reputation. They have had a left wing bias for many years and it now seems there is a further deterioration as sensationalist headlines take precedence over accurately conveying facts.

If I had a the freedom to own a TV and withdraw my annual

[pong]

in my country they have scrapped paying for those licences some years ago.

The left winging side of BBC would be OK, if not for their ''o pity these poor people, all victims of those oppressing hi-so classes'' syndrome everytime. And then they get pix from Thai news and see happy faces, kids playing in the floods and all that-no signs for go and rush starting collecting money.

But you Brits: why do you do the same as here in Thai-only left and right-only upper/lower class? Never learnt to cooperate and work together? Why all that distrust?

[Bob]

I guess this post is about prices falling for Bangkok Hotels.

 

That'd be my guess too but, although lowering your price to get more business is one of those wacky (being somewhat sarcastic there) notions in the west that I've never seen adopted here in Thailand. And, with regards to hotel prices outside of the Bangkok area, the influx of the escaping Bangkok residents might just cause the prices to go up a wee bit.

[Guest fountainhall]

PattayaMale and Bob are correct - I should have added Bangkok to the title, for prices here have certainly fallen. The Swiss Lodge on Soi Convent, for example, one of the excellent smaller boutique hotels, has a special November price of Bt. 1,890 including breakfast and all taxes, which is below their low season rates.

[Rogie]

The Swiss Lodge on Soi Convent, ...has a special November price of Bt. 1,890 including breakfast and all taxes, which is below their low season rates.

I've just had a look on their website and that rate is only 100 baht less than the usual rate. Also, in their words: "This special rate is full pre-payment, no amendment, no cancellation. Non refundable and non redeemable". So under present circumstances not worth the saving.

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Quote from z909:

If I had a the freedom to own a TV and withdraw my annual £145.50 TV tax to fund the BBC, I could overlook this. As it is, with compulsory contributions, the BBC need to raise their game.

I have the same frustration! However, just occasionally a series of programmes comes along that I just can't praise enough. David Attenborough's current series Frozen Planet is absolutely brilliant. It should appeal to Kokopelli too! (see the Poll on Spoken English topic).

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Quote from Pong:

But you Brits: why do you do the same as here in Thai-only left and right-only upper/lower class? Never learnt to cooperate and work together? Why all that distrust?

Yes there is a lot of distrust in Britain, but it is between those who are perceived to have made their money by less-than-honest means or by being too greedy (the have-too-muches) and the have-nots. It is much less a class thing. The majority of people are now middle class, very few could be considered upper class. Yes, we do have a large and growing under-class which is seemingly a result of many things - a struggling economy, poor education, poor family structure, immigration, over-stretched social services, etc

 

As far as politics in Britain is concerned, all the main political parties are desperate to be seen as close as possible to the centre. The old idea of a distinctly left-wing socialist party, Labour and a right-wing party, the Conservatives, is long gone.