Where Are The Western Tourists?

[Dodger]

I think a lot of the Western Tourists have been converted to Western Survivors during this economic disaster they're all contending with.

People just don't have the extra money anymore to be spending thousands of dollars globe-trotting on their vacations. So regardless of how the tourist industry promotes itself, Thailand, or anywhere else for that fact, aren't going to see as many tourists traveling internationally on holiday until their countries economies improve.

My guess is that domestic tourism will remain on the upswing in the West - the same way its been in Asia lately for this very reason.

The use of on-line dating apps for the sex tourists in the West has to be going through the roof.

[Jun]

I think a lot of the Western Tourists have been converted to Western Survivors during this economic disaster they're all contending with.

This is nothing, compared with where it is heading in the next few decades. Certain western countries are keeping their economies afloat with debt. e.g. USA, France, UK. That can't go on for ever.

People just don't have the extra money anymore to be spending thousands of dollars globe-trotting on their vacations.

Visitor numbers to Thailand from the UK, US, Germany & France were all higher in 2024 than 2014. (Ranked by the number of visitors per country).
Apparently people prioritise spending on vacations.

[Dodger]

Visitor numbers to Thailand from the UK, US, Germany & France were all higher in 2024 than 2014. (Ranked by the number of visitors per country). Apparently people prioritise spending on vacations.

Thailand had 40 million tourists in 2019 (before Covid) and recovered to having 35 million in 2024 (after Covid).

There's only been 24 million tourists in 2025. Even with two months to go in 2025 they'll never reach the pre-covid numbers (40 million). And if the Indians didn't come to Thailand in mass this year the numbers would be significantly lower. I know these numbers represent all tourists and not just those from the West - but it gives us a pretty good macro view of tourism in Thailand in general.

People are still spending money on vacations, just not as much as before, coupled with fewer tourists traveling internationally due to economic pressures.

[Gaybutton]

People are still spending money on vacations, just not as much as before

Whether it's low tourist numbers, tourists not spending as much, or both, enough businesses dependent upon tourists are complaining that the problem seems serious to me. In my opinion too many businesses targeting one specific group are still making a big mistake. The venues targeting Chinese tourists found that out when the Chinese tourists stopped coming. Now I see the same type of targeting going on for Indian tourists and Middle Eastern tourists.

One set of businesses I wouldn't mind experiencing real problems are the ones catering to the Kuwaiti motorbike maniacs. If that group stops coming, as far as I'm concerned those businesses would get what they deserve.

[Jun]

Whether it's low tourist numbers, tourists not spending as much, or both, enough businesses dependent upon tourists are complaining that the problem seems serious to me.

Some business owners will succeed & others will always fail. And blame someone else for failing.

Global tourist numbers in 2024 were 96% of 2019 levels.
For Thailand, 2024 was the third highest year on record. Even the numbers from "western" countries seem to be at least 95% of the peak.

A business should be able to make money in the third best year in history. We're not talking of a depression here.

[Dodger]

For Thailand, 2024 was the third highest year on record. Even the numbers from "western" countries seem to be at least 95% of the peak.

A business should be able to make money in the third best year in history. We're not talking of a depression here.

Thailand's "visa exempt" brainchild attracted a record-breaking 2 million Indian tourists last year. Looks good on paper, but according to business owners Indians don't spend anywhere near the amount of money during their holidays that some (not all) westerners do. Add that to the fact that a high percentage of western tourists can't afford to spend as much money as they did in previous years due to economic conditions. That's just reality.

Having a lot of foreign tourists walking down the sidewalks has zero benefits for the business owners. It's only when they go inside and spend money.

[Gaybutton]

I agree with Dodger. Even if the tourist numbers surpass the highest ever, it's how much they spend and where they're spending it that makes the difference.

[Jun]

Well, last year, there were a record number of trips abroad by British citizens and it spending was above all the earlier years for which I can find data. I believe it's similar for a number of other European countries.
Some places suffer from over tourism and are taking measures to discourage tourists.

So there is no shortage of tourists. Or spending.

I'm not aware of formal policies to discourage tourists from visiting Pattaya, but the general incompetence with infrastructure, transport and pollution could achieve such a result. But it will take more than that to keep me away.

[Gaybutton]

So there is no shortage of tourists. Or spending.

Tourist numbers alone don't account for the problems. The tourists that do come are not spending as much as they used to and not spending it everywhere they used to. If they were, then what are the businesses complaining about?

But it will take more than that to keep me away.

Same for me. I think Pattaya's problems shrink to insignificance compared to the problems in cities in the USA and problems caused by Trump. As long as Thailand will have me, I'm staying right here in Pattaya.

And if I am ever forced to return to the USA, I guarantee wherever I go it won't be Miami. When I first lived there, I thought it was a great place to be. But times have changed. As far as I'm concerned now Miami is a great place to be from . . .

[Jun]

Tourist numbers alone don't account for the problems. The tourists that do come are not spending as much as they used to and not spending it everywhere they used to. If they were, then what are the businesses complaining about?

As far as I can tell, the idea of tourists not spending as much as they used to is a perception. Where's the data to support that hypothesis?
Quotes from one or two businesses are not an indication of a wider problem.

Certainly from the UK, there were record numbers of outbound tourists last year and record spending. I believe that's the same for quite a few other major European countries. Where people have been making cutbacks, it's not on the holidays.

Of course, there are many reasons why some western tourists might go elsewhere. If kind of depends on what they look for.