Where Are The Western Tourists?

[whitedesire]

They're all in Cambodia, PP and SR were packed with many Brits certainly.

[Jun]

This time I decided to apply for a 90 day visa.

The proof of funds part was a slight problem. I'm fairly sure they don't accept stock market investments and my obvious UK savings account was rather reluctant to generate a suitable online statement covering at least 3 months and ending recently. Even the specified date range option produced a statement up to 29th August, despite me putting in an October date.
So:
1 I attached a screenshot which they rejected.
2 For the re-submission, I used Microsoft PDF manager to join 3 monthly statements. The most recent of which ends on 17 Sept.

About 2 minutes later, I figured the way to put today's date on a statement would be to make a transaction. So I withdrew 1 pence & it immediately creates a suitable statement.
Lots of hassle. Totally the fault of my French owned UK bank.

[Gaybutton]

Lots of hassle. Totally the fault of my French owned UK bank.

The most important part - did you get the visa?

[Jun]

The most important part - did you get the visa?

That's to be confirmed.
These things are not processed overnight, at least not for Thailand.

[Gaybutton]

That's to be confirmed.

Understood. Let us know.

[Moses]

French owned UK bank.

European heaven is when:
- the mechanic is German;
- the policeman is English;
- the cook is French;
- the lover is Italian,
and the manager is Swiss.
European hell is when:
- the mechanic is French;
- the policeman is German;
- the cook is English;
- the lover is Swiss,
and the manager is Italian.

[Gaybutton]

According to the Pattaya Mail, the problem is not tourist numbers. The problem is how much - or how little - they're spending.
_____________________________________________________________________

Thai baht strength leaves Pattaya tourism struggling despite high season crowds

By Pattaya Mail

October 31, 2025

While Pattaya usually thrives during high season, this year the city’s tourism industry is facing a more insidious challenge than weather or competition: the strength of the Thai baht. At 32.40 baht per U.S. dollar as of October 30, the local currency’s firm valuation is quietly eroding foreign tourists’ spending power, leaving businesses and long-term residents feeling the pinch.

Analysts point out that the baht’s resilience is fueled by strong foreign investment in Thai bonds and continued inflows from financial markets, as well as the recent decline in U.S. bond yields that has softened the dollar. While these trends are often touted as signs of a healthy economy, for a city that relies on international tourists for its livelihood, a strong baht can feel more like a tax.

Local hotel operators and tour guides report that while visitor numbers remain relatively stable, discretionary spending is declining. “It’s not the women or their smiles anymore — it’s the exchange rate that decides whether I stay or go,” remarked one long-term foreign resident who has lived in Pattaya for years. High-season crowds may fill the beaches and bars, but restaurants, shopping districts, and nightlife venues are seeing fewer high-value transactions.

The situation is compounded by dual pricing, a common practice where foreigners are charged more than locals, which further discourages spending when the baht is strong. While Thai authorities celebrate the currency’s strength as a sign of economic stability, for Pattaya it is a double-edged sword: arrivals may look good on paper, but tourism revenue — the lifeblood of the city — is quietly weakening.

Financial experts suggest that unless the baht softens, businesses that rely on foreign spending may struggle to sustain high-season profitability. Measures such as targeted promotions for foreign tourists or flexible pricing could help offset some of the impact, but for now, Pattaya’s streets are filled with visitors who are noticeably more cautious about opening their wallets.

Fortunately, key year-end attractions remain on schedule. The Pattaya International Fireworks Festival Nov 28-29, Pattaya Countdown 2025, and other seasonal events have not been cancelled, offering a welcome boost to local vendors and entertainment venues. Organizers remain confident these celebrations will draw crowds, providing a bright spot for businesses even as the strong baht limits discretionary spending.

In short, the high season may be here, but the strong baht is silently tempering Pattaya’s tourism boom, and for many in the city, it’s a reminder that numbers on a currency chart don’t always translate into real-world prosperity.

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/thai-b ... wds-524499

[Jun]

1 The exchange rate excuse is BS. They only ever quote one currency pair. That's as much weak USD as THB and only about 3% of tourists to Thailand are from the US. US citizens can tell me why, but I note the flights are much longer.

2 If they want to promote tourism, looking at what they CAN control might be a good idea.
The Pattaya authorities might want to tackle infrastructure & pollution for example.

TAT might want to have a word with immigration and ask why they sit on Visa applications for weeks.
Or determine which tourists don't spend and stop promoting visitors from those countries (my guess is India).

[Gaybutton]

determine which tourists don't spend and stop promoting visitors from those countries (my guess is India).

Low-life tourists can come from any country - and do. I believe low-life probably equals low-spend.

I disagree with the idea that promoting visitors from certain countries is the problem. It's the kind of people responding to those promotions, no matter what country they come from. In my opinion that's the problem.

[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, aern't going to see as many people tourists foreign holidays 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.