Bangkok is a busy consular post
In addition to political and economic tasks, the Bangkok Embassy derives its right to exist to a large extent from its consular function.
This conclusion can easily be drawn on the basis of the large number of Dutch tourists that visit each year Thailand visits − a number that, barring unforeseen circumstances, will rise to a quarter of a million within a few years.
While the number was still below 2001 in 150.000, in 2009 it exceeded 200.000 for the first time. It is striking that the Dutch tourist flow recovers relatively quickly, even after a sharp drop (because of a coup d'état or tsunami).
In addition to compatriots who visit Thailand as tourists, many thousands of Dutch people have settled here permanently or semi-permanently (estimates are 8.000-10.000 Dutch people in Thailand).
In Thailand, the embassy can suddenly be confronted with an emergency situation, in which the post will have to provide very intensive consular assistance to Dutch citizens. The scenarios are legion in this regard and many of them are far from theoretical. They range from natural disasters such as cyclones and earthquakes or seaquakes (tsunamis) to political instability (closure of international airports, violent demonstrations and bomb attacks).
Not only are more and more Dutch people coming to Thailand, vice versa journey also more and more Thai nationals to Europe and the Netherlands. From 2006 to 2009, the number of visa applications grew by more than 1000. The total number of applications in 2010 was almost 8000, with an average refusal rate of 5%. The peak months of the first half of 2010 even showed explosive growth compared to the same period last year. The increase continued in the first quarter of 2011, with a record number of more than 1200 in March. Partly due to the disaster in Japan and the favorable Euro exchange rate against the Thai Baht, many Thai people decided to book a tourist trip to the Netherlands (Europe). .
(From the Newsletter of the Dutch Embassy)
That's all well and good, but where does that number of 200000 come from? The hotels are empty. There are no tours. In Chiangmai I haven't seen any coaches with Falangs driving for months. The Orchid Farm and Sankampheng have never been so extinct. The only ones you see are backpackers, staying in the extremely cheap guesthouses. Whoever from my Thai family I speak to, they all say. 'No Falang'. “No money, honey”
What does appear is that the Dutch people living here provide an income in Thailand of about 10000 x 800 euros per month. = 8 million x 42 baht/eruo = 336 million baht per month x 12 = 4.320.000.000 baht. per year.
Survey forms were handed out to some companies this morning. A high school project to gain insight into the state of affairs. Question: Has the municipality been in contact with you about your situation? Is the area where the company is located safe? How do people talk to each other about the current situation. Is the negotiation good or not? (Not so, no tourists). Furthermore, whether the municipality offers support, etc. The elections are coming. July 3 ashes
We think most tourists go to Pukhet and Pataya. Beaches, food and soap massages.
Too bad because despite that, the North of Thailand is much cleaner.
Chiangmai, the Rose of the North. Lanna, the land of “a million rice fields.”
Henk, what do you mean by cleaner. I assume not the air, because Thai and Farang friends who live there sometimes complain bitterly about the air quality. Some even have breathing problems. But maybe you mean cleaner in the sense of nicer, but then we come back to the matter of taste. Then give me Louie
Just got back from Pattaya today, very quiet there too.
Empty bars, girls sitting looking bored.
In the hotel where I was, only 7 of the 2 floors were in use.
It is always quieter between February and June, but now it is very bad.
Have a house near prachuap khiri khan, hardly see any farang tourists walking around anymore. To my surprise I see that the past two weekends the restaurants and hotels next to my house were all packed with Thai tourists.