chinese deadly coronavirus

Anything and everything about Thailand
Post Reply
Jun

Re: chinese deadly coronavirus

Post by Jun »

Hopefully there will be no deaths as a result of the reckless behaviour of the Cambodian government with this cruise ship. And if there are deaths, well it would only be fair if Hun Sen were the first.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/18601 ... lobal-toll
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1305 times

Re: chinese deadly coronavirus

Post by Gaybutton »

Japanese cancel tours en masse

19 Feb 2020

Thai tourism has been dealt another massive blow after 80% of Japanese tour groups cancelled packages to Thailand, prompting tour operators to urge airlines to reduce flight frequencies as Thais travelling to Japan also dropped by 20%.

Anake Srishevachart, president of the Thai-Japan Tourism Association, said 80% of Japanese groups already cancelled packages to Thailand as concerns about the pandemic in Japan spike.

The Japanese market ranked third for revenue contribution to Thai tourism last year with 89.8 billion baht from 1.8 million tourists, following China and Malaysia.

Tour operators catering to this market expect to see more cancellations over the next few months as Japanese tourists are highly sensitive to health issues.

Tour operators are already dealing with Thai tourists cancelling travel, worried about the announcement by the Public Health Ministry advising people to delay travel to Japan.

Mr Anake, also honorary adviser to the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), said outbound tours are urging airlines to reduce frequencies to Japan to be compatible with weaker demand.

This strategy will help stabilise the financial status of tour operators, airlines and customers who already booked packages but want a refund.

“Wholesalers carry the burden of air seats reserved in advance. If airlines reduce seat capacities to the same level as actual demand and refund the fees of dumped tickets back to tour operators, we can offset this impact by giving refunds to customers,” he said.

Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn, president of TTAA, said cancellations or delays of outbound trips according to travel advisory are not under the same condition as the Chinese government’s travel ban.

Tour operators cannot process refunds at the moment because airlines still operate as usual.

Tourism associations held a meeting with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation yesterday about aid measures.

The proposal included a suspension on debt payment, a loan fee waiver as well as offering 1% interest rate for a loan of 2 million baht and below and 3% interest for loans of 10 million baht and below.

Jakapan Leeathiwat, chief executive of Tourkrub, said the cancellation of Japan tour packages reached 20% for those sold on his platform.

Overall bookings for all destinations also received 5-10% cancellation so far, especially the corporate segment which is likely to cancel all travel as it cannot risk employees being kept in quarantine for 14 days after coming back from trips.

Thai Lion Air (TLA) chief executive Aswin Yangkirativorn said the average load factor for this route in February is still 60-70%, while the Songkran festival has 50-60% advanced booking.

Yodchai Sudhidhanakul, chief executive of NokScoot, said load factor of Japan routes were unaffected by the pandemic and remains at 80%.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/18 ... s-en-masse
User avatar
2lz2p
Posts: 957
Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 8:08 am
Location: Pattaya, Thailand (Jomtien)
Has thanked: 148 times
Been thanked: 108 times

Re: chinese deadly coronavirus

Post by 2lz2p »

The Pattaya City Expats Club had 3 speakers on this subject at their meeting last Sunday - a large turn out. The PCEC makes a video of their presentations available on YouTube -- the first speaker is a Brit professor and the other two are doctors from the Tropical Disease Hospital in Bangkok.


User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1305 times

Re: chinese deadly coronavirus

Post by Gaybutton »

I've seen a couple news outlets now using the term, "Post Chinese Pattaya."

I hate to admit it, but I like the term and what it implies. I do feel sorry for the Thais who are losing businesses, jobs, and income as a result, but they managed to do just fine long before the unchecked hordes of Chinese tourists ever started coming to Pattaya in such droves. I hope they find a way to survive, but I cannot say I'm all that sorry this is happening. It really was getting far too much out of control and greed was only increasing the associated problems.
User avatar
Undaunted
Posts: 2567
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2016 8:47 am
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 368 times

Re: chinese deadly coronavirus

Post by Undaunted »

Gaybutton wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2020 5:46 pm I've seen a couple news outlets now using the term, "Post Chinese Pattaya."

I hate to admit it, but I like the term and what it implies.
There is at the moment an unprecedented amount of roadwork underway in Pattaya and the absence of those pig carriers makes it somewhat palatable.......
"In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king"
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1305 times

Re: chinese deadly coronavirus

Post by Gaybutton »

Undaunted wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2020 6:57 pm the absence of those pig carriers makes it somewhat palatable.......
And maybe people driving will actually be able to find a place to park without those tour buses taking up every space they can find.
User avatar
Undaunted
Posts: 2567
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2016 8:47 am
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 368 times

Re: chinese deadly coronavirus

Post by Undaunted »

Gaybutton wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2020 8:07 pm
Undaunted wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2020 6:57 pm the absence of those pig carriers makes it somewhat palatable.......
And maybe people driving will actually be able to find a place to park without those tour buses taking up every space they can find.
Don’t get used to it, all good things must come to an end :!:
"In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king"
User avatar
Undaunted
Posts: 2567
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2016 8:47 am
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 368 times

Re: chinese deadly coronavirus

Post by Undaunted »

"In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king"
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21458
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1305 times

Re: chinese deadly coronavirus

Post by Gaybutton »

So far there have been no reported cases in Pattaya.

I like this line: "Experts say the current situation may last at least six more months" Experts? Would someone please tell me who these "experts" are and just what qualifies them as "experts"? I'd kinda like to know how they would have any idea how long this will last any more than anybody's guess.
_______________________________________________

Jomtien Beach Vendors report solid business as Pattaya Beach Vendors say business down significantly

By Adam Judd

February 21, 2020

Pattaya - In a tale of two different tourist markets and sides of the story, Pattaya News Reporters have interviewed both Jomtien Beach and Pattaya Beach Vendors, as well as several major hotels this week and got drastically different stories on the state of how tourism was doing in the city.

A video of the tour we took:



Jomtien Beach Vendors interviewed, which included food vendors, massage therapists, beach chair vendors and water sports vendors were almost universally positive, saying the beach was full daily with primarily Eastern European visitors and families. They said business was solid and contrary to some belief sales of food, drink, massages and beach chairs were brisk.

Pictures taken by Pattaya News Reporters supported these statements on the ground as during daylight hours the beach was quite lively, almost universally with Eastern European and some Thai visitors.

However, the story on Pattaya Beach was nearly the polar opposite.

Nearly every vendor interviewed said since the group tour ban on Chinese group tours that business was down. Several speed boat vendors said business was down nearly 95 percent in some cases.

Additionally, with many corporations and businesses warning employees not to visit Thailand or face a mandatory fourteen day quarantine and being unable to work upon going home, this was also affecting business according to vendors. Korea has also warned its residents not to visit Thailand during the current COVID19 Coronavirus which has led to additional cancellations.

The Pattaya News notes that Pattaya has had zero confirmed or suspected cases and the general feeling on the ground is that things are safe and calm.

Vendors on Pattaya Beach said that although some businesses, like the floating restaurants, had temporarily closed, many speed boats and water sports vendors were changing focus to Russian and Indian tourists. Additionally, many are also focusing on domestic Thai tourists visiting Pattaya.

Experts say the current situation may last at least six more months so many businesses face having to adapt or close.

Both the Thai and Pattaya government have pledged to help businesses who have been affected by the group tour ban in a variety of ways, including loans, domestic tourism promotions, more events such as the upcoming Music Festival and Songkran Festival and other items.

In terms of the hotel market, the crisis has not hit most hotels as drastically as expected, owners told The Pattaya News, with the exception of a few that nearly exclusively focused on Chinese group tours. As stated, Eastern European visitors remain strong in Pattaya and due to several tour deals made with Indian tour companies that we have reported on earlier this week Indian tourists are increasing as well.

Story and photos: https://thepattayanews.com/2020/02/21/j ... ificantly/
Post Reply