Cambodia Expats Online: Forum | News | Information | Blog

I have mentioned this to a few friends here an we all agree, the people just are not here this peak season. It seems it was busier in oct when we had hoards of Chinese than the farangs that didn't show up this year ( Yet)

Many thai business are feeling the pinch as well

Additional;
most shops here in phuket have stopped giving out free plastic bags, ( Big C, tesco, central, 7/11's)
so soon the plastic bag manufactures will be closing down and lots of thais will be out of work
Have always said its not the plastic bag use that is the problem but plastic management.

Expectations are that tourism in Phuket will see a 20% decline in 2020. Without government help it could be worse still.

In thirty years of Phuket tourism the island had faced many challenges, they said. And pulled through.

But this was the worst. Experts said that the root cause was the strong baht that showed no signs of weakening any time soon.

There was also a massive oversupply of hotel accommodation. For this year it is expected that the hotel industry will see 50% occupancy if they are lucky.

They think that the low season will be very low - 20% occupancy only contributing to the year round malaise.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/114149 ... bcSeXZxU-8

The thai baht hit 29.85 2 days ago and is now back at 30.15

Post by phuketrichard » Sat Dec 28, 2019 2:51 am

69,000,000 thais

Thai factory November output seen slipping 7.1% year-on-year, set for seventh month of fall
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand’s annual manufacturing output likely fell for the seventh straight month in November, but at a slower pace than in the previous month, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.

The manufacturing production index likely fell 7.1% in November from a year earlier, after 8.45% contraction in October, according to the median forecast of six economists.

Industrial goods exports, which account for about 80% of Thailand’s total shipments, dropped 6.4% in November from a year earlier.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thai ... SKBN1YS08C

Blame it partly on the worlds economy,partly on the strong baht

Mi pen rai, thailand will carry on

What happened over the weekend to change your attitude form "not my problem" thailand will carry on to the fear of recession because there are no more free plastic bags?

Many thai business are feeling the pinch as well

Additional;
most shops here in phuket have stopped giving out free plastic bags, ( Big C, tesco, central, 7/11's)
so soon the plastic bag manufactures will be closing down and lots of thais will be out of work
Have always said its not the plastic bag use that is the problem but plastic management.

Are you serious ? The Thai economy revolves around plastic bag production ? If so, time they woke up to the fact that tourists don't like finding plastic bags while swimming in their idyllic holiday resort.
Tbh, last time I went to Thailand, I thought it was super-clean compared to Cambodia, but plastic waste is a universal turn-off.

plastic bags was just a side note as it went into effect Jan 1st<
not saying it will be the Primary downfall of thailand LOL

Its just another thing, I used the plastic bags fr my garbage, Now i need buy plastic bags for that.

I still believe thiland will muddle thru this downturn...it always does..

Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 1:14 pm

Many thai business are feeling the pinch as well

Additional;
most shops here in phuket have stopped giving out free plastic bags, ( Big C, tesco, central, 7/11's)
so soon the plastic bag manufactures will be closing down and lots of thais will be out of work
Have always said its not the plastic bag use that is the problem but plastic management.

Are you serious ? The Thai economy revolves around plastic bag production ? If so, time they woke up to the fact that tourists don't like finding plastic bags while swimming in their idyllic holiday resort.
Tbh, last time I went to Thailand, I thought it was super-clean compared to Cambodia, but plastic waste is a universal turn-off.

According to the association, there are around 500 plastic manufacturing plants nationwide with over 8,000 employees.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... o-hit-home

GM Thailand and Tesco Lotus laid off 7,500 workers between them in 2019. 16 million in the rice farming industry and rice is purchased at 14.5 baht a kilo, people are seriously hurting. 8000 employees out of a workforce of 34,000,000 are sweet f all. Thailand has serious economic problems in every industry but corruption. Perhaps living in a tourist area bubble where homes can cost up to 700,000,000 baht or 25 million USD some are not aware of it, insulated or lucky is not for me to judge.

I have spent the last 4 years...in either Thailand or Cambodia. I visited most of the major areas of each nation and some off the beaten path as well.
I just kept having the same question in my head.
How do any of these places turn a profit?
Too many hotels..too many restaurants...too many bars...even too many tuk tuk drivers.
I would ask myself. How much to open that place?
How many years until they break even?
That even goes for about every little stand too.
Phuket has a nice airport for direct flights.
It has coastal regions on 2 seas.
It has so much to offer and you can avoid Bangkok to get there.
What are the total numbers of visitors?
You will have to look at the end of the dry season when the tide shifts.
You just have to use a hotel app on your phone to see the incredible number of hotels.
I must say that a lot of travellers prefer a place without the huge crowds.
How many of you are like me and go somewhere and wish you had come there 10-20 years ago?
I found a neat little island off the coast of Trang called Ko Gnai in 2016...it was incredible.
Then, my friend took me to Ko Samui and I wished I had been there 20 years earlier.
Perhaps, people are looking for something less crowded?

the title is a bit misleading, 2005 was a disastrous year (post Tsunami). Bet hotels were lucky to see 20% thru the year
There over 9,000,000 visors Flying into Phuket /year,
apx 25,000 hotel rooms on the island, ( keep in mind phuket is a province ) and maybe another 3-4,00 airbnb offerings and building more and more condos/300+room hotels

Whats nice about phuket is there a few beaches where you might be the only one on it in the morning,
Phuket is not just Patong

I, and most expats living here, question how all the bars/restaurants can make it thru the year, doesn't seem possible
turn over for many is very high

How many of you are like me and go somewhere and wish you had come there 10-20 years ago?

In the past 2 years i have revisited Bali & Nepal, ( 5 years ago went over to Samui) places i spent a lot of time in the 80/90's
wont ever return to any of them

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 2:01 pm the title is a bit misleading, 2005 was a disastrous year (post Tsunami). Bet hotels were lucky to see 20% thru the year
There over 9,000,000 visors Flying into Phuket /year,
apx 25,000 hotel rooms on the island, ( keep in mind phuket is a province ) and maybe another 3-4,00 airbnb offerings and building more and more condos/300+room hotels

Whats nice about phuket is there a few beaches where you might be the only one on it in the morning,
Phuket is not just Patong

I, and most expats living here, question how all the bars/restaurants can make it thru the year, doesn't seem possible
turn over for many is very high

How many of you are like me and go somewhere and wish you had come there 10-20 years ago?

In the past 2 years i have revisited Bali & Nepal, ( 5 years ago went over to Samui) places i spent a lot of time in the 80/90's
wont ever return to any of them

Thailand is in the shit 1997 again coming soon

So what's up with Nepal?

shnoukieBRO wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 4:24 pm So what's up with Nepal?

He is paid to promote thailand