Quote from Michael Meallem on 6. November 2020, 5:14

Opening up is the only way to rescue Thai tourism

https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2014331/opening-up-is-the-only-way-to-rescue-thai-tourism?fbclid=IwAR0OaYigwTbNC95d4p15ax9_lPfc4jyVubyQpIAbC4qkJoOcIdpBmvj0wx8

 

Quote from Adis Krdzalic on 13. November 2020, 10:11

It’s so sad, but realistic. The only way to survive the crisis - is definitely to learn to live with the virus. I hope so, after all this is over, we are going to come out stronger than ever...

Quote from Jarmo Ritalahti on 16. November 2020, 9:17

Most of the or perhaps all the tourism businesses suffer from the pandemic. It is the same in Thailand, Vietnam, Spain, Finland and Austria. During Europe's summer break, June - August, international visitors were partly replaced by domestic tourists. However, the consumer behaviour of domestic tourists is not the same than international tourists'. In Finland, summer was good enough in certain regions, but bigger cities and especially the capital area suffered from the lack of visitors. The occupancy rate of the hotels in Helsinki was only about 30%. Christmas and winter season in Lapland is also a question mark. European tour operators have cancelled their package holidays there. Again, can the domestic tourists compensate the missing visitor flows from various European countries. It seems, that accommodation Finns are looking for are already booked for the Christmas.

Quote from Harald A. Friedl on 12. March 2021, 14:03

Dear Jarmo, dear Michael, thanks a lot for your comments. I can only underline what Jarmo has said, for Austria. The point is: I think that many people who are travelling normally abroad are saving their consumption for later. As we don't know when we will be able to travel again abroad as the virus is still pretty aggressiv, developing new and even wors variations, the question eraises if a certain reorientation of the markets to regional visitors doesn't make sense. I know that traditional long-haul flights don#t want to hear that, but... there is covid19 now, and climate crisis is approaching, getting tougher. To look for solution according to which we just hope for "more of the same" after the pandemic will certainly help on the short run, but it won't even at the mid-term run...

Am I an idiot thinking about that?

Quote from Harald A. Friedl on 12. March 2021, 14:05

By the way:

I am terribly sorry for not having answered earlier. To be true, after the Chinese attack of a hacker in August I lost a bit the motivation...
The other thing is a technical problem:
When somebode is opening a new issues, nobody will become aware of it automatically as members have to klick at the suscribe-button before. Well, but those who don't know yet of the existence of a new issue... except if someone would regularily check the "unread messages" (which is an additional effort; nobody does this... especially if a forum is suffering from slowly dying...).

What I found out as a solution: If creating a new subject, it helps to copy the link and the main title and to make "publicity" by posting the link and the short info in other, roughly fitting subjects where some people have already subscribed. So they can get this information.

What do you think about that? is this helpful for network-challenges?

Thanks, bye, Harry

Quote from Michael Meallem on 15. March 2021, 9:50

I agree Harry - Given the emsissions of long-haul travel and more GoLOKAL - plus the pandemic - It would make more sense for Thailand to focus on ASEAN/regional customers - actullay this pattern is replicated in international trade these days when more and more trade is intra-regional rather than international

Quote from Harald A. Friedl on 15. March 2021, 13:41

Thanks, Michael, for your observation. I think that there is a bigger movement. I wouldn't talk about the "end of globalisation". There were always breakes, crises and other influences on the expension of globalisation. I am convinced that there will be a continuous growth of complexity, but the learning effect for now is the high grade of vulnerability. If something hurts a lot, peole are willing to change.
So, there will be a certain re-regionalisation on all levels, but - as I am afraid, but also convinced - only for a short time. Just look on the development of the international bank system: After 2007-09, there was a strong signal about more control... and how short did all come back to "more of the same"...
Conclusion: Short-term a certain regionalisation, but after all, money will go where money growth...