QUALITY TOURISTS
Tourism in Thailand has often been criticized for aiming at expanding in quantity rather than quality. TAT has been pressured to search for an operational criterion targeted on
"quality" tourists. Critics, however,often disagree in their opinions
on what exactly a quality tourist is. Representatives from the Hotel
Association often assert that quality tourists are the big
spenders—those who stay in famous, international chain hotels, ride in chauffeur-driven
limousines, and dine at expensive restaurants. Other sargue that true quality tourists are those who most effect income distribution. A quality to urist, under this
definition, stays in locally-owned hotels or guest houses, eats at local food stalls,
and rides a tuk-tuk. Income generated by these tourists is thought to penetrate more deeply and widely to the poorer segments of the industry. Incontrast, money from big spenders
tends to leak outside the country through franchise royalties and
remitted dividends.