Are you sure there is a decline in 40~50 year olds in Pattaya ?Originally Posted by AsDaRa
Overall tourist numbers to Thailand keep going up. Maybe the numbers in the gay bars decrease, but how do you know they are not just using Grindr ? For example, gay cruising seems to be declining. That's not due to money, it's due to the internet.
However, I suspect as you say, money is keeping SOME of the western tourists away.
However, when the internet offers a much cheaper way to date AND the bars keep pushing prices up, of course trade is going to move online. Don't under estimate that factor.
If money has been a factor, I don't expect to see it getting any better soon. The US dollar has had a good run over the last few years & this might continue for a year or 2 as they lead the round of interest rate rises. However, it's bound to ebb the other way at some time.
In the UK, the younger generations seem to graduate with more debt and it costs a lot more to buy property. Also in the last 10 years, the exchange rate has gone from about 66 down to 44, so no doubt some of the more financially stretched Brits have been priced out.
I suppose other EU trade might hold up for as long as the current economic recovery holds up.
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