Guest fountainhall Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 According to the TAT, Pattaya last year had 7 million tourists (no wonder traffic is appalling!). Russians made up the highest number, followed by Chinese at 1.23 million (up from 785,553 in 2010 - despite the flood crisis), then Europeans, and coming up fast, Indians. In the country as a whole, Chinese have now overtaken Russians as the largest single group arriving by air, with an increase of 23.55% in the first four months of this year alone. But ripping off Chinese tourists is on the increase in Pattaya, and so the TAT has had talks with local business operators and the Chinese Embassy to find ways of tackling the problems. The Chinese Ambassador pointed out that presently only 0.13% of the country's total population visits Thailand. If the number increases to 1% (perhaps he should have said "when" rather than"if"), these numbers will increase to 13-14 million! http://www.nationmul...u-30182346.html Quote
Rogie Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 The Chinese Ambassador pointed out that presently only 0.13% of the country's total population visits Thailand. If the number increases to 1% (perhaps he should have said "when" rather than"if"), these numbers will increase to 13-14 million! How many of those will be single males desperate for a bit of pussy? Looks like the bars (gay and str8) are in for a bonanza Quote
pong Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 1.@rogie: Chinese (from mainland, the HKg/Sin/Taiwanese are not counted here) still must get en exit-visum for such holidays,. Only granted to officially married couples? I every now and then read those reports that lady-groups from there really relish a visit to the gay bars with their big(thing) shows etc. 2.The cheating of the Chinese does bother? What heck-THEY are the ones who cheat, decete, lie etc. the most of about any hostgiver. One would assume they are thus thoroughly prepared for the worst. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 1. Chinese . . . still must get en exit-visum for such holidays,. Only granted to officially married couples? 2.The cheating of the Chinese does bother? What heck-THEY are the ones who cheat, decete, lie etc. the most of about any hostgiver. 1. Most Chinese presently travel in groups, but the exit visa for Thailand is easy for many single Chinese to obtain - far easier than for Hong Kong. In fact, I had dinner with a Shanghai friend only last week who finds it easier to get to Hong Kong via Bangkok than direct from Shanghai! 2. You have indicated this before - and I do not agree with it. I don'' know when and how often you visit China, but over 32 years I have rarely been ripped off in the cities I visit regularly. Even taxis now are regulated and stick to the meter charge (although that was not the case in Harbin in January, I must admit). Yet, I can think of a host of other nationalities who are experts in ripping off tourists - and China is not on that list. Quote
Guest Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 Interesting to compare the two most common tourist nationalities in Thailand. The Russians are frequently noisy, ignorant & inconsiderate. They are becoming quite difficult to avoid. As for the Chinese, well I'm amazed they're number 2 on the list. I barely notice they are there, which must be a sign of good behaviour on their part. For what it's worth, I am also very impressed by the general behaviour of Chinese visitors to my own country. Maybe they just know how to behave? Quote
Moses Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Interesting to compare the two most common tourist nationalities in Thailand. The Russians are frequently noisy, ignorant & inconsiderate. They are becoming quite difficult to avoid. As for the Chinese, well I'm amazed they're number 2 on the list. I barely notice they are there, which must be a sign of good behaviour on their part. For what it's worth, I am also very impressed by the general behaviour of Chinese visitors to my own country. Maybe they just know how to behave? It is easy to explain: Russians buy individual tours and are free to express themselves without any control. Chinese from mainland in 90% travel with groups and are under control and supervising of leader of group and usually have no rights to leave group without permission of the leader. It is full-time scheduled visit without "free-time". Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 It is easy to explain: Russians buy individual tours and are free to express themselves without any control. Mebbe easy to explain, but not so easy to understand. At least not for me. What do you mean by control? If you mean control by the tour group leaders, I don't know why they would be so restrictive. What is the basis for them to implement such discipline? On the other hand, I could envision a society in Russia that does not so casually allow such freedoms of behavior. Therefore, I can see how being transplanted to a holiday environment might make them feel they are more able to behave differently or more uncontrollably. Quite understandable in that context. Quote
Moses Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Chinese are from communist country. Govt control who is allowed to leave mainland for travel and who is not. And keeps to control situation even when their citizens are out of country. Leader of the group is a job. They must to to supervise everyone in group: where they go, what do... everything. After visit leaders fill report about everyone in group to secret service: about their contacts in a foreign country, about behaviors etc. Quote
Moses Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 By the way statistic of Russian tourists in Thailand: 2009 - 336,965 2010 - 644,678 2011 - 1,014,493 Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 After visit leaders fill report about everyone in group to secret service: about their contacts in a foreign country, about behaviors etc. Sorry Moses, but that suggestion has a bit too much of the spy novel about it. You are correct, though, in saying the Chinese travel mostly in official tour groups. As such, they travel with a tour leader from a travel agency who will meet up with another leader from an Agency here in Thailand - in order to provide translation service for the group, most of whom will speak no Thai and very little English. Many of the tours are arranged by the official China Travel Service - but not all, by any means. There are loads of small independent tour operators now in China organising tours for Chinese to most parts of the world. I suppose if someone on a tour committed a crime or something serious like that, the tour leader would have to make a report. But the number of Chinese wanting to travel is increasing massively. Already more than 60 million of them travel each year! Tour agencies are far, far too busy now to bother with spying on and writing reports on their groups. Besides, who would read 60 million such reports? Chinese communism is very different to the old Soviet communism! Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Moses, my post had nothing to do with the Chinese. I quoted you about the Russians. But thanks anyway, I can finally finish that John Le Carre novel now. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 China's outbound tourism statistics are - 1991 : 2,100,000 2001 : 12,100,400 2010 : 57,400,000 2011 : 66,000,000* * estimate by China Association of Travel Services and Ivy Alliance Tourism Consulting Co. Quote
Moses Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Gents, if you have trusted Chinese from mainland - just ask them about my info. You will find many interesting things then. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Gents, if you have trusted Chinese from mainland - just ask them about my info. Moses I have had trusted friends in mainland China for more than 25 years. One, in fact, works for a travel agency in Beijing! Your information about Chinese tourists outside China may have been correct 20 or more years ago. It certainly is not the case now. Other friends in Shanghai - gay - travel regularly to various parts of Asia, including Thailand, as individuals. No-one follows them, no-one reports on their activities - frankly, no-one can be bothered! China may not be a beacon of freedom in our world, but I can assure you its government has a great deal more to worry about than who meets whom and who sleeps with whom on one week tours overseas! Quote
Guest Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 There are a significant number of Chinese students living in my town, for 1 year postgraduate courses. I know some of them very well. Outside University hours, they go where the hell they like when they like, with no one following them. Their behaviour is impeccable, probably because they are just nice considerate people. In some cases, they have taken breaks, involving travelling independently to overseas countries in Europe & Africa. I very much expect the same thing from Chinese tourists in Thailand. Quote
