If I was the TAT I'd be keeping silent about how many Chinese are coming to Thailand. If anything is going to keep others away it is the thought of these people who are rude, aggressive and very badly mannered. I shudder at the very thought of entering a toilet after Chinese tourists have been there first. Last time I was at Phuket airport I saw it all, from queue cutting to people using all the water in the drink machine to make instant noodles in the departure area. Then there is the loud shouting whilst talking to each other. It's hardly a pleasant experience for others.

Posted by Arun Muruga on May 31, 2015 10:05

I thoroughly second Arun's comments. I don't know why they bother coming though as most of the time their heads are buried in their electronic gadgetry. They barely look around them!

Posted by Logic on May 31, 2015 16:57

They didn t even spend money in local business,they just buy dry food in big c, cross the road looking their smartphone. what kind of tourist are you talking about?

Posted by Yellowave on May 31, 2015 19:00

I concur with Arun 100%. What TAT should also tell people how they they tripled the tax on the Chinese, yes greed again. A big hotel had 85% ocupancy from Chinese folk until end of August. New tax against Chinese hit them, now they are less than 6% full until end of November. How to eF up your tourist market, ask TAT, they do it so well.

Posted by Robin on May 31, 2015 20:16

'The biggest spenders in the first quarter were Singaporeans (6,284 baht per person), Malaysians (6,020 baht), Indians (5,952 baht) and Australians (5,842)'

After I stopped laughing, I realised this might be actually correct, when you realise this is per day and top 3 are here for very short trips (for example common for SG's just to pop up for long weekend). Looks to me to be case of cherry picking data to get result you want (like really, Indians as top 3 spenders?!?) .

Anyone got link to original source for this 'study'? As it keeps getting quoted now to justify the China focus but we only see snippets and all evidence out in real world contradict it.

Posted by Lashay on May 31, 2015 21:39

I don't understand Robin's email

Posted by SWERV on June 1, 2015 02:54

Yellowave & logic,
I think we are being a bit harsh on the Chinese. I have seen how well they can follow the guides with coloured flags.
I witnessed this commitment when a group of about 30 followed a guide all the way into a toilet.

Posted by MoW on June 1, 2015 03:26

@ swerv. Insider knowledge and connections. Maybe you change your moniker to brick or someting? You no Einstein either.

Posted by Annon me on June 1, 2015 10:09

Lashay,
I believe the base article referred to the average amount a tourist of a particular country would spend while visiting a foreign country but did not provide details of what was spent in any individual country.
So say a Chinese person may spend, on average 6,000Baht while in all countries, they may only spend 3,000Bath per day while travelling in say Thailand and 9,000Bath if travelling to the US.

So if you multiply the average spend per day by the tourist arrival number, the figure will not be accurate unless it related to a statistically mean(as in average, not as in Burma) country.

Posted by MoW on June 1, 2015 14:45

Don't think they could be using international averages as doubt most of those country's would appear in top 5 (India would not even appear in top 10)

Posted by Lashay on June 1, 2015 15:48

Lashay,
Countries such as India and China have some of the wealthiest business people in the world. A recent report had China 2nd to the U.S. In the number of billionaires. Likewise India has many wealthy people although the majority we consider as poor.
If you search how much is spent by certain nationalities when abroad, the average Chinese person visiting the U.S. now spends more than $1,000 usd per day. Much of this will be made up of wealthy business people and when the totals are averaged, there will be many spending considerable less.
As a percentage of population, I think you will find that regular travellers from both India and China are quite low but the average spent will appear high due to the wealthy travelling for holidays and business interests.

Posted by MoW on June 1, 2015 20:49

Alan,
From a TAT point of view a quality tourist seems to be defined by the ability and willingness to spend money. I wonder whether other aspects such as behaviour, respect and mixing with local people should also be considered but these are more difficult to compare as they are subjective and have no common denominator.
If money is the only comparison, rather than quality, they should be referred to as wealthy tourists but I know some wealthy people who wouldn't be considered quality and likewise the opposite.

Posted by MoW on June 2, 2015 05:19

Lashay
MoW

have you ever heard about Department of Tourism statistics that provides for most nations, in breakdown into independent traveller and package holidays, further breakdown of ave.spending on food,accomodation, transportation, entertainment and tours, and Misc., and also provides ave.duration of stay for each of the two categories?

Also there is statistics of total spending by nations wishing the Kingdom, that largely correlates to to ranking of visitors.

There is no sharp difference in ave.spending between independent and package travelers, also such spending fluctuates among nations like 30% or so, with Europeans spending on ave.less than Chinese, both independent and package travelers.

Posted by Sue on June 2, 2015 05:39

MoW

your logics assume there is no wealthy people e.g. in Europe, and that they are not keen to show off..?

Chinese certain,y shooting mote than Europeans, but not because they are more wealthy, but 'cause there is still not enough shops in PRC.

Posted by Sue on June 2, 2015 05:42

Sue,
The ranks in terms of spending of tourists from a specific country will generally remain the same no matter what destination you choose. There are of course exceptions based on locations that are either affordable or not or attractive to particular wealth groups.
You wont find many low income earners visiting Monacco or high income earners taking their family on a month long trip to Nepal. Individual countries attract different wealth groups of people.

Nowhere did I suggest Europeans are not in the group considered wealthy. I believe were discussing the query of the rank of both Indians and Chinese. These 2 countries also have the ranks 2 and 3 in the list of billionaires behind the US but are well behind on a per capita basis.

Posted by MoW on June 2, 2015 14:59