Reader's Submission: Consequences of the King's Death
There is a lot of talk that tourists suffer as many attractions, bars, etc. are closed. This in itself is correct. But what is the influence on daily Thai life?
Suddenly there are many Thai people who are out of work, the tips in the bars are drying up. Alcohol sales are falling. Loy kratong, full moon parties celebrated moderately or not at all. The financial consequences of this are incalculable.
Social services are not available. So much poverty. It is a fact that tourism is collapsing and people are moving to surrounding countries. It is not visible in the short term that this will again have an effect on employment. However, the surrounding countries benefit not only in the short term but also in the long term. Once you've lost it, you can't easily get it back.
Many Thai end up in even more poverty.
Henk
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You can notice it well. Vietnam was very busy. There it was also big news among Australian backpackers. Here in pattaya i see hibernators, a few russians and a few busses of chinese. Furthermore, a single holidaymaker. In Jomtien, the pubs are filled to a maximum of 10% of their capacity. I couldn't even bring myself to look at rompoo. It is better to go straight to walkingstreet. There you still have the photographing Chinese. Anyway. Better luck next time.
Exaggeration is an art. We are a week after the death of the Majesty and there is not yet an overview.
The Thai press is convinced that the impact on tourism will not be too bad, because closing is 'only' for a month and that closing is not even nationwide. So 'closed attractions' is really an exaggeration, that is not the case nationwide.
If you know Thailand a bit, you know that Loy Krathong and other traditional festivals continue but on a low ebb; parades but without much exuberance and with the stereo on 2 instead of 10. Full Moon party? How many do you think there are?
I live in the Isan and nothing has closed and nothing stopped; bars and restaurants are open as usual, only the alcohol is temporarily locked, but in the shops alcohol is normal and as always for sale within certain hours. No restrictions that weren't there before.
There are no figures of tourists who swerve, or if there are, I'd like to read them here.
I think you are grossly exaggerating. Now just wait for the results of the investigations. After a week you can't say anything unless you have a crystal ball. Well, polish it up!
Erik,
Completely agree with that. How can you start evaluating something after barely a week.
Moreover, October is much calmer than the other months anyway.
Most of those who are now in other countries were already planning to do so before the death.
In February it will become clear what the actual consequences are. And whether it is only the result of the death is still the question.
I have been coming to Phuket for almost 25 years and now mainly see Chinese people there. The "Western" tourists have stayed away because of the lack of beach chairs and increased crime, rip-off (tuk tuks and sand hills) and higher prices than elsewhere in the country. By sand hills I mean the substitutes for beach chairs. Some “handy” Thai people have scooped up sand and put a mattress over it. Costs (don't be alarmed) 300 baht per person per day.
Anyway, the article was about the death of the king and in that respect I share Erik and Ronny's opinion that you can't say anything about that yet.
Most tourists book their stay months in advance. So the first 3 months (until New Year) will not be too bad I think. But what will happen next I think will depend on the mourning in Thailand. I too have booked a trip for December 2016 – January 2017. I am not planning to cancel that, but my stay will be slightly modified. In Bangkok, I don't think the New Year's atmosphere in the Central World – Siam Paragon area will be there this time.
As far as employment for the Thais themselves is concerned, I partly agree with the author of the article. I think it will be mainly the 'catering' and tourism that will be hit the hardest. In my opinion, food, drink and clothing and the entire industry around it will suffer much less. Eating and drinking (non-alcoholic) should be done by all Thais every day.
For clarification. Nothing is closed here in jomtien. All bars are open. The music is on softly. And there are plenty of barmaids present. Some close very early. 01:00. Furthermore, the food here is 10 times better than in Vietnam. If I had known this in advance I would have come a month later. But certainly not exchange it for another country.
The death of the king may have a short-term effect.
Especially the first month there are the most restrictions for the tourists.
And those trips are often long booked.
You should be much more worried about government measures that give the impression that tourists are no longer welcome.
Like, for example, the plan to make all beaches on Phuket virgin beaches.
So no more umbrellas and beach chairs on the beaches of Phuket.
I think that will mean the end of Phuket as a holiday resort.
And where people will go then is of course the question.
There is a good chance that it is not Thailand, because that beach chair story also plays out in other places.
Whether that plan of those virgin beaches will go ahead, however, remains to be seen.
Huge financial interests are at stake for the tourism industry on Phuket.
If the tourists stay away, chaos will ensue on Phuket, due to bankruptcies and falling real estate and land prices.
That tourists stay away and move to other countries is certainly NOT a fact. Don't exaggerate.
It is now low season and therefore as quiet in the tourist areas as ever. Not everyone comes to Thailand just for the Walking Streets and Nana plazas. Many come for the beautiful nature, the beautiful weather and culture. No one should miss any of that. That is not suddenly gone.
Even if all tourism were to collapse, you are still talking about about 6 percent of the total GDP. That really won't create poverty in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.
Once more; don't exaggerate so much. Tourists are really not going to stay away, and certainly not to surrounding countries, which are not comparable to Thailand.
There is also quite a bit of poverty in Southeast Asia's second economy, and it will probably get even worse for a few, but in general the Thai economy is still growing at 5-8% every year, for years, and really not by the tourism.
Exports have a much larger influence, about 65% of GDP.
Very people earn money in Thailand directly and indirectly from tourism.
The collapse of that tourism will have a much greater impact than that 6%.
That 6% is the direct impact, but that 6% is good for the income of many people who, when spending that income, also contribute to GDP, as well as the people who receive and spend that money again.
That percentage is therefore much higher.
And how the people who have become unemployed will have to earn their money is also the question, because all kinds of construction projects such as hotels, condos and megastores will also stop or decrease, as will the work in the tourism supply companies.
Then there are the unpaid debts, from the loans that banks have given, for land and real estate.
There will probably also be the necessary blows.
Everything grossly exaggerated! Here in Pattaya and Jomtien, the restaurants, shops and bars are open as usual. Alcohol is available everywhere, as usual.
The only restriction is: no LOUD music. And in many cases that is a relief!
Everything is normal in phuket but the music is a bit softer.
we don't have any cancellation
but the foreign media plays a dirty role in misreporting
Yes, it is very unfortunate that people do not think it through, now many people from the catering industry have to borrow money at extortionate prices. Of course also less tourists in Thailand. Technically unemployed does not exist here Pattaya is running 80% at full capacity, but that will not be the case everywhere, so a lot of extra poverty, no, this is not good either. Just know that a very good king has passed away!
Michel Thailand's economic growth has not been growing at 5 to 8 percent for years, but is at 3 percent and is only due to government spending and tourism. Exports have been declining for years.
October has traditionally been the slowest month for tourism after April/May.
That eternal lamentation of “now they're all going to be poor” – I've been hearing that for many, many years, after every coup d'état or red shirt ditto and has never really come true. What did have an impact at the time was the financial crisis when the THB plummeted.
OR you're already well on your way to becoming very Thai and interpreting every unexpected imperfection as draconian arraignment following.
Airport occupation was much worse
1md is nothing
As far as changes in Thailand are concerned, that's another story and that can be much worse by those in power.
Waiting blown
It will be okay
I've been following the forums and comments here for a while now
Especially after the death of the king, the reactions are often really great like with this blog. I'm leaving Thailand in a week for 30 days with my girlfriend, After all the hassle last week we have our doubts. We hear that it is quite intense, that even tourists have been attacked because they did not wear dark clothing, this makes you think twice. My question is ., can I still enjoy my holiday and I ask the people who are there more often? Also we both have birthdays in the 2 days we are there it's starting to look like I'm just unlucky lol..hoping to get nice and helpful response
Thank you in advance.!.!!
Benny
Bring dark clothing. Read the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on their site. Behave calmly as the land is in mourning though the severity varies from place to place. Please respect that people here view the House differently than in NL or BE. You are guest. If you act like that Dutch man in Myanmar, you will get into trouble.
Don't worry Benny, no one will be attacked for not wearing black. As long as you behave normally as a guest in Thailand, nothing will be different from before. Just enjoy and both have a nice birthday in Thailand!
Only difference compared to 2 weeks ago is that the bars here in Pattaya close earlier (at the latest at 2 am) and as said before (thankfully) the music is turned down.
The Thai people live exactly the same as before, but they express that they respect their deceased king.
Have a nice time in Thailand.
I think the current exchange rate from the Euro to the Baht is causing a lot more tourists and expats to flee. Baht 37.90 for a Euro and continues to fall.
I think it is very thin that the (Dutch) tourists here think that the Thais should push the mourning over the death of their beloved king into the background, in order to serve the (Dutch) tourists. When a people sincerely mourns the death of its King, and that happens in Thailand, I have seen it with my own eyes in Bangkok and experienced it in conversations, as a tourist you should keep yourself out of it.
It is true that this also affects the employment of the Thai. You won't hear a Thai complain about that though.
Renee, totally right respect it we were in Thailand when the queen mother passed away and visited the Grand palace this left a deep impression on us.
Loh Kratong has been canceled in Chiang Mai. If this isn't a blow to the middle classes here....
Loy Khratong has not been cancelled. Chiang Mai Governor Prawin Chamniprasart reversed his earlier decision to cancel the Ye-peng and loy khratong festival on Oct. 17. The festival continues without specific entertainment. So probably in a slightly slimmed down form.
Look up
http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/news/governor-repeals-loy-kratong-cancellation-just-no-entertainment-at-the-festival/
Given the number of responses that it is not too bad, I think it is not easy for the average Thai ..
Around us we see that there is already a lot of searching for replacement work.
A day without work is therefore a day without income.
Most do not have a buffer.
The consequences are not yet visible in a week.
But it is clear that it has an impact on the financial level.
It is not for nothing that it is also arranged that black clothing is free for the lowest class.
Last week bus and boat transport was free to still offer the opportunity to go to Bangkok.
Loy kratong in modified version?
Saves income. There is a lot of air about it, but just like many activities have been canceled or are being celebrated frugally, it definitely affects the financial situation.
They are creative. But the ability to find replacement work is difficult.
Just take the music tapes in the bar.
The question of this topic is: "But what is the influence on daily Thai life?"
Here in Chumphon prov, daily life goes on as normal. The palm fruit is cut as before death, the rubber is tapped, people go about their daily activities as usual. They go to the talad to buy their food, but in public they are usually dressed in black or white. The restaurants along the coast are open and serving the same delicious seafood as before. The only difference was that no alcohol was sold for three days and there was one day, last Sunday, that otherwise, without death, it would have been the case because it was Big Buddha Day and then traditionally no alcohol is served in public. sold.
Have spoken to the pujaaibaan and Loy Khratong will continue, albeit without music concerts. Just like in the past, people will be able to place their traditional wreath in the sea from a specially constructed jetty and pontoon. There will be food stalls and wreath vendors. So tourists who want to see this event will be able to do this even better than usual because they will not have to complain about the excess decibels.
There are different opinions about whether tourism will suffer. If there is still a lot of nonsense being sold in the sense of : daily life has come to a standstill, this is not allowed, that is not allowed ….. then yes and others who spread this nonsense around will possibly benefit from it.
The question is of course: what is the purpose of a tourist visit to Thailand? A few weeks come to party, drink, go from one bar to another, lie on the beach all day and then claim that there is nothing to see or experience in Thailand except this? Well yes, these would have taken home a wrong image of daily life in Thailand.
I have been coming to Thailand in October for 14 years and I see a clear difference. Everything is now as good as open, but the clientele is not like usual. There are some restaurants where there are quite a few people, but for the most part it is much less. Last night in 80% of the bars there are less than 10 falang. At the beach road in Pattaya we received a black ribbon at the tourist police. Nice gesture.
Indeed, there is mourning
, the Thai and many foreigners show this by wearing appropriate clothing. We are on the coast of Hat Mea Rumpang, indeed you see few tourists here now because it is the rainy season and the high season is still waiting for a while. This is every year at this time. The restaurants and beach restaurants are all open, you can see that no alcohol is openly sold, but for the notorious user there is a way to find as usual. The atmosphere is of course calmer than when there are babbling and drunk people, so nice now. The noise is also less in the shops, no more screaming offers. I think it's wonderful to see that people show so much respect for their deceased king, we Westerners can learn something from it.
Hopefully tourism will get back to normal after the rainy season so that money can be earned again. Stay away or move to another country DON'T DO IT.
I'm sorry, but it can make me angry how Dutch / Belgian people here react as if nothing is going on in Thailand at all, condone everything, and pretend that life goes on as usual. Nothing is less true. First of all, many Thai people are mourning the loss of the King who I deeply respect as I am sure he was a good man at heart.
However, I see 2 “camps” among my Thai Facebook friends.
The first shows up to (to the point of boredom) albums with thousands of photos of the King that I can often appreciate.
The second group, but also Royalists, show videos of Thai people who may not be wearing the right clothes or have said something "wrong" and then actually almost get kicked to death. Horrible!
Isn't that something you Thailand lovers haven't seen or do you close your eyes to it? The Royalists Thais think it's terrible and so do I!
What utter nonsense! Do you live in Thailand? I do!
All shops, offices, restaurants, bars are open as usual, alcohol is sold and served. Just no LOUD music (which is a relief in many cases)!
And yes, the Thais mourn the loss of their beloved King. They usually wear black or white clothing, or wear a black ribbon on their clothing. Many expats also do that, which is highly appreciated by the Thai.
On TV, certain channels only broadcast images about the life of the king, or from the memorial place where he stands in state, or from other commemorations. This helps the Thai people to cope with the loss. Everything with great respect.
But daily life ( here in Pattaya and Jomtien ) goes on as usual. Nothing wrong.
Lèse majesté is a major offense in Thailand. Those who are guilty of this incur the wrath of the populace. The government has again made a call not to fight this out on the street, but to report this to the police. Only two incidents are known where people have played their own judge. So don't exaggerate.
It sounds very condescending to say that Thailand enthusiasts or expats who live here close their eyes to reality. We, expats, have great respect for the King and for the Thai people, and sympathize with their grief and sorrow. But also respect that their daily lives continue normally; one must also live. That's why nothing has changed here, just more black clothes on the street and no loud music. That's all. And we are in the middle of it and experience this daily, in practice!
It does affect the financial part of Thai life. My son, who updates on Saturdays and Sundays for extra spending money, got a call last Friday from the restaurant where he works that it was closed until further notice. So there are also full-time employees who live on the wages earned there. These people have had no income for a week now. I expect it to open again this week. There is no assistance here, so what should you do in such a case?