Where tourist areas like Phuket are having one of their worst low seasons in history (meaning no tourists coming to support the economy) rural Isaan is always the low season.
We never have any tourists so we do not have to worry about economic high and low seasons.
The economy here revolves around farming and harvest time.
Selling sugarcane and rice during the year is the only high season for the locals.
The only time they can make any money during the entire year.
It is tough going but when you don’t have to count on how many tourist will show up, then at least you have an idea throughout the year what the financials will be.
We have resorts here in rural Isaan, some brand new, that have never had even 1 customer.
I could never understand why people would build a resort here when people survive on 300 thb per day at most????
The dream (minus the education) of thinking a resort will make them a lot of money is simply not true.
Why would someone come to rural Isaan where there is absolutely nothing to do?
Many people here are vendors of food, fruit, drinks, clothes, reselling or doing what ever they can to make money.
These villagers have no idea how much, if any, they will sell each day and have to live with what they make.
It’s tough, Thailand is tough all over.
There is NO guarantees here!