teelack

Because in future I would see it cutting down on some steps.Sorry to hark back to the Smart Gate system but now there is no queue, no stamps and its all handled by a machine that's not having a bad day, due her period or going through the menopause. Like it or not the gradual computerisation and AI is displacing people for technology. There would be no reason to spend hundreds of millions of baht on a system that has no advantages or long term savings.

Why do you think this? I have yet to read that it is problem! Sure, initial input is perhaps 2 minutes but I am sure that the end result will be a speed up of the immigration process. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Just read this on Pattaya News. Thailand’s tourism minister has blamed a surge in the baht for sapping tourist arrivals into Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy and says he’ll take up the matter with the central bank, highlighting rising concern over the currency’s gains. Arrivals have dropped because of the baht’s strength, Piphat Ratchakitprakarn, minister of tourism and sports, told reporters in Bangkok after he officially began his new role. Piphat said he’ll discuss with the Bank of Thailand and the finance minister what can be done to help support the industry. “The strength of the baht is part of the reason why the number of tourists has dropped as those who come would get less money from their currencies to spend,” Piphat said on Thursday. “Tourism is considered to be one of our country’s main revenue drivers. I will do everything I can to make sure that arrivals increase and more revenue is generated than before.” Piphat’s aim to boost the number of arrivals contrasts with the view from his predecessor, Weerasak Kowsurat, who said Thailand should care less about increasing of quantity of travelers and focus instead on improving sustainable tourism to mitigate environmental impacts caused by too many visitors. Full report: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-18/world-beating-baht-is-a-big-big-headache-for-thailand-s-tourism

Surely the simple answer is supply and demand? There is more demand for instance for the Thai baht that many other currencies. It may not appear rational but it is the same principle as "Voting with your feet" in that you put your money into places that you like and withdraw it from places that you don't. Financiers are not sentimental so perhaps we need to believe that there are good reasons despite what seems apparent. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

I hope that Pattaya news will forgive me for lifting this story. Pattaya. Nikkei Asian Review released an article this week in which they stated that the head of the cities Business and Tourism Association has forecast a total of 19 million visitors to the city this year, a 5% total increase, which is nearly half of the total predicted 40 million visitors. Significant work is being done to draw Indian, Muslim and Chinese tourists to the city as a quick walk down Walking Street will show any visitor. CP, a $63 billion food and retail group, intends to reshape the flows of people and goods through the region of Chon Buri. A high-speed rail and related projects are designed to attract business professionals, entrepreneurial talent and tourists to the area. CP decides the number of train stations, giving the group the power to determine which areas will be developed. Nikkei Asian Review wrote: Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group plans to build a huge commercial and residential complex in the beach city of Pattaya, the Nikkei Asian Review has learned, a project expected to boost the profitability of a $7.3 billion high-speed rail line that the company has been chosen to construct. The complex, on a size larger than 480,000 sq. meters will include a shopping mall, hotel, cinemas, and a convention center. The investment budget will be at least 10 billion baht ($327 million), a Pattaya city source said. Though CP lacks railroad experience, it has won a contract to connect three international airports, two near Bangkok and the other south of Pattaya. The railway is expected to start operation in 2024. The planned mixed-use complex offers a way to boost the line’s profitability. Tourists could take the train to the shopping and entertainment destination, while residents could commute to the airports or other parts of Thailand. Pattaya, about 160 km southeast of the capital, serves as a gateway of sorts to Thailand’s eastern seaboard, where automobile, consumer electronics, and other manufacturing industries began concentrating in the 1990s. The original article can be found here: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Thailand-s-CP-plans-330m-seaside-hub-linked-to-high-speed-rail?fbclid=IwAR0ILznGlLIL34bFJ-6PLJ6PD0OjZ7WEMfeQ4ciHu2tBbgr9zxybaMrqwH4 The Thai cabinet approved the train deal between CP and the State Railway of Thailand in June. The contract is due to be signed by both parties this month. The China Railway Construction company is also involved in a consortium to build the railway. The rail is expected to be finished in 2024.

As a side comment. For whatever reason the price of avocado's went crazy here a couple of months ago. We grow them locally but first class was as high as $10 each, approx 200 baht. Now down to a quarter of that but beware of the Chinese middle classes who are flexing their economic muscles. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

For more years than I can recall my "In my head" conversion rate was 25 baht to the $NZ . I see that it's now 20.34. The only thing that I have in my favour is that at my age I don't care! Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

My sincere thanks for taking the time and trouble to post this photo. Very valuable to us not in Thailand and outside of the top world currencies.

Like you I have only transferred money once. Before my sending bank gave me a crap rate and charges and then Kasikorn slugged me again I chose not to bother again. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Good post. If I see a new post on the topic I look at it. My only concern is that I am aware of what TT is offering so that I can check it against my local banks. Okay, I buy little at home but a few thousand baht in my pocket for cabs and emergencies is a must. God forbid that I ever buy one sodding baht at an airport exchange. Thanks to those who post photos of the rates and don't forget we others out here looking for the information. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

While I appreciate the reasoning I was turned off by the guys pissed off response. If he was going to respond like that I wasn't interested in staying there.

They have boards outside the hotel on both Soi 15 and Soi Diana with this offer. I would think that if you are interested that an email to the hotel reminding them of this deal might pay dividends. I haven't bothered checking the internet rates and they may be different. As a matter of interest these signs and that pricing have been there for possible the last three years and was certainly there two weeks ago.

Thanks for the updates as always. Starts my day with a "Oh My". Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

The other thing that I think is notable in Thailand at the moment is this. In years past the malls and clubs were full of a great range of European, American and Australasian punters. These have been exchanged for Indian, Korean, Chinese and some Russians. Some have not got the money and others come from places where prices for supermarket and mall products are as cheap or cheaper. This seems to me to be the crux of the problem. Exchanging good tourists (for the economy) for bad. The only place that I see many of them buy anything is the 7/11. I also believe that many of the Indian tourists are using Indian travel brokers in Thailand who arrange super cheap packages. I am also lead to believe that a lot of Chinese money for travel and accommodation never gets to Thailand. It all sounds like a recipe for disaster in what is a crucial part of the Thai economy. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Yes I can see that conversation taking place. Just as real will be the girls who simply cannot make a living. They have the choice to go freelance, and this is already happening.. The other is to pack up and go home. The other thing that hit me this month in Pattaya is that the large shopping malls must also be doing a freeze. Perhaps the powers that be will take more notice of the big money guys than the entertainment industry. Whatever else, there needs to be some radical changes if the tourist industry is to survive. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

I was in Pattaya and fancied a change of accommodation. I found a place that suited me on one of the booking sites and the price was on budget. I then emailed the Canadian owner and asked him about actually pricing as his web site was dearer than the booking agent. He insisted that if I wanted the lowest price that I use Agoda and he was not lowering the price. It was more his attitude rather than the pricing issue but I never did go there. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Not really sure whether to say thanks or not for the replies. My only issue is will eating yak testes and dear penises make me queer?

I recently became the proud owner of a few boxes of Black Ant pills. I see these on sale all over Pattaya but it is years since I have tried them as they didn't do much for me. I haven't tried this latest lot and wonder if I could get some advice. I have done some reading on Google but its all a bit confusing. I also get the feeling that the formula may have changed and the active ingredient for Viagra etc, may now be included. Anyone here want to offer reviews of the product please?

On the subject of joiner fees. I stayed in Bangla Road, Phuket ( Baan Sukhotai) and as was signing in at reception they told me to sign a document stating that I would pay 1000 baht joiner fee. I really had no option and security was tough. It was a major learning experience for me but I console myself with the fact that I will hopefully never pay another JF in Thailand. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Great post and brings up the question. Its not the 'Tipping Point" rather than when are you going to change your spending habits and can you handle a holiday if you have to make some saving?. There are so many ways to change your spending without down grading your holiday but I accept for some it wont be easy. I have met people who refuse to eat Thai food. I love my condo living in Pattaya and it halved the cost of staying in a hotel. I could go on but I am sure that almost everyone could cut back if they truly wanted a Pattaya holiday. I am in such a good place that I hadnt even considered a tipping point although I admit I was horrified at the airport rates a week or so ago.

Yogi and MLC. Thanks for your posts. They were both sensible, to the point and both hit a lot of nails on a lot of heads. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Just read this on Pattaya news. Thailand- The Tourism Ministry of Thailand reported yesterday, June 20th, 2019, the following news in regards to tourism arrivals in Thailand and the news isn’t positive: -A total of a 1.03% drop in the total number of tourists year over year in May. -A total of 2.7 million tourists in May. -Spending of 135 billion baht, down 0.95% from the prior year. -Chinese tourists declined 8.55% year over year. -Total tourism dollars in May accounted for about 12% of the gross domestic product.

You may be completely correct however when the Smartgate system started I doubt that anyone realised just how efficient it would become. The one step that has been dropped for some years in NZ is the stamping of passports. I would imagine that whatever else they will still want to bang that stamp and earn their baht. In the final analysis perhaps all they will achieve is to filter out some of the people on duals such as you have mentioned.

It must be me but on arrival I used the priority lane (over seventy) and same on the way out. I was the only traveler who in the line on both way in and way out. The biometric info was completed on the way out in possibly 2 minutes. Ok, I realise that this is not typical but works well for me. I have no idea how the info will be used but my experience with Smart gate technology in New Zealand has been brilliant. Through in less than a minute and zero queuing. We can only hope that in the long run this will speed the process up. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

I have racked my brain and can't think of any reason why prices would not be shown. I guess that 99% of hotels etc are on Agoda and suchlike and they all manage to put prices on the rooms. Personally, nothing would get me anywhere near a place where I wasn't 100 % clear on the pricing structure. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk