Tourists in Udon

It is planned to start a big promotion to attract upmarket tourists to visit Udon in the near future. To prepare for that, shortly, in conjuction with Nong Khai all samlor and somtiel drivers will bo offered free lessons in speaking English by City Hall.It will be very basic but should be sufficient to enable strangers to our town, to get around safely.

Even if its true

I fail to see the connection between "speaking English" and "getting around safely"

Interesting concept though.

What I would like to see is traffic giving way to samlors.........now that would be something

TC

valentine wrote:It is planned to start a big promotion to attract upmarket tourists to visit Udon in the near future.

Any idea on what's on the tourist drawing board?

AznBigG wrote:

valentine wrote:It is planned to start a big promotion to attract upmarket tourists to visit Udon in the near future.

Any idea on what's on the tourist drawing board?

To push all the multitude of natural attractions firstly, then it is hoped to create udon as a place for good shopping and accomodation.This all fits with the redevelopement plan for the town centre.

TC I think giving way to samlors is not a priority, certainly not for me, they seem well able to weave there way between the traffic. Have you never stopped at traffic lights and suddenly before they change you have 2or3 samlors in front of you.As for not seeing having someone who understands where you want to go, especially at night is a safety factor then I cannot help you.

With Singapore Airlines starting up I foresee more Singaporeans commuting to Udon.
I already know quite a few businessmen that commute regularly ie weekly basis from Udon.

I just hope that it doesn

Really sounds like the changes we have seen to Udon on the past years was not by accident Oh! well progress will come and we will probably get some benefit. Who knows maybe in five years I can sell my house make a killing and find another berg to live in

[quote="TC"]With Singapore Airlines starting up I foresee more Singaporeans commuting to Udon.
I already know quite a few businessmen that commute regularly ie weekly basis from Udon.

I just hope that it doesn

Well I think we have aready seen Udon listed as a sex site, Bangkok boys came down for it as I recall. Doesn't mean it won't happen again but I'm willing to bet the prices will be higher, that takes a lot of tea money.

Interestingly enough a few years back AARP ( American Association of Retired People) listed Khan Kean in the top ten places in the world to retire to.

ray23 wrote:Interestingly enough a few years back AARP ( American Association of Retired People) listed Khan Kean in the top ten places in the world to retire to.

Wasn't that Nong Khai, Ray??

or am I getting my reports mixed up

Yes it was Nong khai, Old Ray the wipper snapper is loosing it, and I am finding it

I reguarly commute to Singapore and the vast number of Thai girl sex workers that are there would negate any need to fly here for them. Hopefully [/quote]

There is no need to fly to Udon from Singapore, the beer is a lot cheaper than Singapore. Udon is also a lot more laid back than Singapore. You can't drop your pants in Bugis Street Market any more, since the British left in '65. The Singapore girls don't come near Udon girls for looks.

I read the report from a Looney Planet guide from about two years ago.
It made grim reading. I remember words like shabby, dirty, nothing of interest. Mostly about stopping off to see the old pots at Ban Duel Pricing.
How long will it take before someone opens a shop selling Thai 'Fishermans' pants, for the crusty backpackers that are going to flock to Udon City.

Prenders88 wrote:I reguarly commute to Singapore and the vast number of Thai girl sex workers that are there would negate any need to fly here for them. Hopefully

There is no need to fly to Udon from Singapore, the beer is a lot cheaper than Singapore. Udon is also a lot more laid back than Singapore. You can't drop your pants in Bugis Street Market any more, since the British left in '65. The Singapore girls don't come near Udon girls for looks.

I read the report from a Looney Planet guide from about two years ago.
It made grim reading. I remember words like shabby, dirty, nothing of interest. Mostly about stopping off to see the old pots at Ban Duel Pricing.
How long will it take before someone opens a shop selling Thai 'Fishermans' pants, for the crusty backpackers that are going to flock to Udon City.[/quote]

Sorry Prenders88, maybe I am having an off day, but I don't see the relationship between my quote and your posting
I really can't see the economics of paying an airfare to get a cheap beer
or even two or three. I have no desire to drop my pants anywhere except possibly the toilet and as for being dirty, was that a quote about Singapore or Udon? If it was Singapore then it is way off course, it must be the cleanest city in Asia, why even chewing gum is banned, an immediate fine is imposed for littering, you could litterally eat off the street but that is banned.Don't get me wrong, I love Udon, wouldn't want to live in Singapore, only go there for business purposes and the wife , for shopping.I do agree with you though about the backpackers that will be attracted by recommendations in the Lonely Planet and the like.I have already made this clear to those interested that not all farangs are big spenders, but remember todays students(Backpackers) are tomorrows business men, they may come back in a few years bringing their middle class families with them. In the meantime, are we to deny them the right to explore and see new cultures, even if they are on a budget?

To be perfectly honest I can't see too many attractions for actual TOURISTS in and around Udon. Ok there is Ban Chiang, for the historically inclined, and Phu Foi Lom, Phu Pra Bat etc. But many other places in Thailand offer far greater scenery and visual attractions and certainly better shopping facilities/venues. Maybe some people come to have a look at Issan and the airport certainly helps in that respect.

To me the attractions in Udon are more related/geared to the longer term resident (and visiting) farangs with their TW/GF's, as Udon offers good shopping with many farang orientated products and English labelling, as well as farang orientated hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes, and good transportation links.

I am not sure why Singaporeans would want to come to Udon, though I can see many reasons why farangs in Udon might want to go to Singapore.

arjay wrote:To be perfectly honest I can't see too many attractions for actual TOURISTS in and around Udon. Ok there is Ban Chiang, for the historically inclined, and Phu Foi Lom, Phu Pra Bat etc. But many other places in Thailand offer far greater scenery and visual attractions and certainly better shopping facilities/venues. Maybe some people come to have a look at Issan and the airport certainly helps in that respect.

To me the attractions in Udon are more related/geared to the longer term resident (and visiting) farangs with their TW/GF's, as Udon offers good shopping with many farang orientated products and English labelling, as well as farang orientated hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes, and good transportation links.

I am not sure why Singaporeans would want to come to Udon, though I can see many reasons why farangs in Udon might want to go to Singapore.

I agree arjay, I just don't see it happening here. Especially, in regard to "upscale tourists". I haven't heard of any plans for "destination" types of resorts, ie: Sheraton's, Hyatt's, Dusit's, Amari's, Marriot's, etc. And, I don't think Udon is a viable market for them, IMO. I base that statement on my having worked with "upscale destination" resorts for over 20 years in Hawaii. I know a little about what "upscale tourists" want and are looking for. Now, I could see a "upscale" type of resort being a draw say for the area around Loei or Dan Sai. In the mountains, overlooking a lake, with a golf course, health spa, fine dining restaurants, well trained English speaking staff, etc. The majority of "upscale visitors" that I met during my career fall into the "been there, done that" crowd. They just want to kick back, play some golf, get a massage, read a book, eat some good food, and they want to do it all in a self contained resort environment.
Having said all that, I love living in Udon. However, I enjoy living here for all the reasons that most people would find this area boring. When I was making plans to move up here from the Jomtien area, many people said to me, "aren't you going to find it boring up there". My answer was, again, I like Udon for all the reasons that the majority of people wouldn't like it.