TG gives up on Thailand?

[frequent]

Thai Airways announced a slew of timetable changes yesterday, to take effect at the end of October. The corporate spin is that they are required as TG continues to wind down its commitment to its ageing 747 fleet. However they're not just aircraft changes. While there's no longer a 747 service to Munich, for example - it's been replaced by a 777 I believe - my Australian correspondent says that services between Australia and Bangkok have been slashed by almost 50% in some cases. Currently there are two 747 services between Sydney and Bangkok most days. That's being reduced to one a day. There's a 787 service daily from Brisbane. That's being reduced to 4 days a week. The two A350 daily services into Melbourne are being trimmed. The 787 service into Perth is being replaced by an older aircraft

If I fly TG I try for an A380 every time but I'll be particularly careful to check aircraft type for any future TG bookings over the next 12 months

[cdnmatt]

Well, look at that. When a country is run under a military dictatorship headed by a xenophobic general for 4.5 years, tourism goes down the shitter.

Gee, who would have thought.

At least all those food market stalls are off the sidewalks now, even if loads of poor people are financially struggling even more now. Phew, that was a close one.

[paborn]

Matt, what are you talking about?

Thai stats: First quarter arrivals in 2018 up by 15.4 % compared to previous year (10.61 million arrivals)

Total number of visitors to Thailand increased from 32.59 million in 2016 to 35.38 million in 2017.

The title of this thread is TG - the two letter code for Thai Aiways. Not all tourists arrive on Thai planes.

[frequent]

Well, look at that. When a country is run under a military dictatorship headed by a xenophobic general for 4.5 years, tourism goes down the shitter.Thailand's real problem is that it's attracting hordes of low value tourists from mainland China. The numbers go up but the overall tourist spend is coming down. The phenomenon even has a name - "zero dollar tour groups". Bali is beginning to experience the same phenomenon. That's part of the problem. The other is how far behind other countries in the region Thailand is lagging. You can go through Immigration in Malaysia, for example, without even seeing an Immigration officer; it's mostly automated. Cambodia has had a eVisa system for years. Thailand is only just now tinkering with introducing eVisas (https://www.thailandvisa.net/) - not yet introduced and no details of what it actually means are available

No point in flying First World tourists through Bangkok when most of the tourists to Bangkok are either zero dollar tour groups from China or sex tourists on their way to their ghetto in Pattaya

[Moses]

The phenomenon even has a name - "zero dollar tour groups".

"Zero dollar groups" has opposite meaning if we will talk about spending. For such groups tours to Thailand cost zero (or almost zero) because they have obligatory shopping in programs and must spend a lot - on this way tour operator covers expenses - via commissions from Thai shops.

Examples:
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/1276415/calculating-zero-dollar-tour-costs
https://www.ft.com/content/698a002a-d3fd-11e6-b06b-680c49b4b4c0

[kittyboy]

Matt, what are you talking about?

Thai stats: First quarter arrivals in 2018 up by 15.4 % compared to previous year (10.61 million arrivals)

Total number of visitors to Thailand increased from 32.59 million in 2016 to 35.38 million in 2017.

The title of this thread is TG - the two letter code for Thai Aiways. Not all tourists arrive on Thai planes.

Don't confuse people with facts.
Using facts is unfair to those posters who are unfamiliar with the thought process.

[latintopxxx]

stayed in a hotel really popular with Chinese tour groups in Paris recently, had a sign in the room above the electric jug in Chinese characters advising guests to please not cook noodles or ANY food on it. Note sign was only in Chinese.

[Uranus]

stayed in a hotel really popular with Chinese tour groups in Paris recently, had a sign in the room above the electric jug in Chinese characters advising guests to please not cook noodles or ANY food on it. Note sign was only in Chinese.

I saw a similar sign—in Chinese only—in a hotel in small town in Sweden, telling guest that breakfast is supposed to be consumed in the breakfast room, and not to be taken out for lunch.

[frequent]

I saw a similar sign—in Chinese only—in a hotel in small town in Sweden, telling guest that breakfast is supposed to be consumed in the breakfast room, and not to be taken out for lunch.This is my all-time Chinese favourite:

7902

[latintopxxx]

why would they want to examine you??

[scottish-guy]

That was funny

:D

[arsenal]

It was actually.

[poshglasgow]

My God, Frequent, is that sign a reality?!! I haven't stopped chuckling since I set on eyes on it about ten minutes ago. I missed it first time around. I wonder if St. George's Tooting or Barts has such a sign?

Have they a special name at that hospital for a prostate examination?

[frequent]

My God, Frequent, is that sign a reality?!! I haven't stopped chuckling since I set on eyes on it about ten minutes ago. I missed it first time around. I wonder if St. George's Tooting or Barts has such a sign?

Have they a special name at that hospital for a prostate examination?I can't remember where I saw it (in print) a view years ago but a lesbian co-worker at the time loved it. It wasn't a hospital I was visiting

[frequent]

Back to the topic: a friend tells me that it's not just TG that's cutting services. Emirates flies one of their A380s daily from Sydney to Bangkok. From mid-January capacity is being reduced to a Boeing 777 aircraft

[gerefan2]

Haven't you noticed how much the Oz$/Baht has gone down in the last year or two? Same with the £ and, guess what, Thai are using 777s instead of A380s from London at times.