mancub

I think what iritates most long term expats is the constant aggrandizement and embellishment that is the backbone of the Government.

Many things here a far less efficient than in the West and I for one accept that, however, little is done outside rhetoric and posturing to actually make things better. Thailand has to learn to accept things as they really are and stop pretending that they are better. Perhaps if they channeled some of the energy and cash asorbed by this meaningless nonesense and actually tried to genuinely improve , then there would be less discent . Because I likeThailand does not mean that I am blind to the conditions that prevail and I would dearly love for them to get their act together and bring this nation up to a standard that is commensurate with a developed nation rather than just making claims that it is so.

Completely agree.....and as for TV...grandiose ,out of context, headlines like the one attributed to this thread don't help !

I agree.. I think they should just change the name officially to Swampy Airport.. that's what most foreigners call it anyway!

never heard anyone call it "Swampy Airport".

Suppose you are joking--come on --do you live here ??? I'm sorry but if you live here you must be a prisoner in some Thai rural house.

Have you ever spoken to any farangs here ?? Most Thais only would say they have never heard of it.

foreigner i know are young urban professionals and are polite and don't speak gangsta slang or low-class language but use the proper words for it.

No idea why you find Old Swampy so offensive ...........If you actually understood Foreigners ,then you might even see it as an affectionate term , not unlike New York being referred to as the Big Apple .

One should not forget that the money spent bybackpackers and "travelers on the cheap" goes more directly to the pockets of the locals than the money spent by the 5 tourists. Example: Money spent at a international hotel chain ends up mostly in the banks of some big company; meanwhile baht spent at a guesthouse or a locally owned hotel will reach, (more directly) to the proprietor. A locally owned restaurant or vendor will make profit off the "cheap tourist" ; whereas the international chains keep the profit meanwhile paying their staff just minimum wage. I think it is only fair to say that both kinds of tourist are important to the economy.

nice backpacker myth here. they write stuff like that in the editorial of the lonely planet to make you will better.

one fancy high end resort on a nice island controllable eco tourism wise. wild growing of the grass root, back packer tourism will actually have a higher environmental impact and damage.

furthermore it looks like the country don't want to become financially depend on that low class tourism. even it brings actually more money to the economy. no interest. making the most money, that is not the goal.

read the op.

"keep the total number of tourists to an appropriate level in order to prevent deterioration of natural resources and overcrowding at Suvarnabhumi international airport."

as romantic backpacker traveling sounds, look at the market in Thailand. does the backpacker sector need anymore grow and expansion?

Suggest that you also "read the op" ...

She also asked the TAT to introduce measures to extend tourists' length of stay from five days to six days.....

You can't have it both ways !

Shinawatra Holdings or any tenuously linked company should benefit significantly !

The penalties are there, just ENFORCE them without exception and if anyone is caught offering and/or accepting a bribe, lock them up for 12 months on the first offence and 5 years on the second offence.

Murray.

CNX.

Nice idea....only they'd have to convert all those rice containing warehouses into holding cells first.....then perhaps they could turn Phuket into a kind of Alcatraz to keep 'em all !!!

"
He pointed out that the state’s Bt2 trillion investment in the kingdom’s infrastructure will be a boon to the auto industry, as more capital will be injected into the economic system and contribute to the public’s higher purchasing power."

Err how exactly ? Unless more tax relief schemes are in line , the only way the general public will have more purchasing power ,is by taking on .greater personal credit debt .

Maybe he expects it to create such a further economic miracle that everyone ( not just the chosen ones) will benefit from ever increasing salaries ?

2OOBT , But seriously don't recommend it ,unless on a school-day in the Low season. Took friends there recently , I didn't go in this time, but witnessed thousands that did. Friends compared it to feeding time at the catfish farm. No chance to see the natural beauty of the place for the crowds.

Took some Thai friends to the Emerald pool recently....2oobt for foreigner ( no exemptions ) . Didn't go in ,but witnessed thousands that did !

Friends came out saying that it was like " feeding time at a catfish farm " . Couldn't see anything for bodies .

Seriously not recommended unless it's a school-day in the middle of the low season !

The only reason she wants a limit on the number of tourists , is because she's read the reports that the infrastructure, water supply and sewerage in particular will not be able to cope .

"She also asked the TAT to introduce measures to extend tourists' length of stay from five days to six days,"

Really... im curious to see how to propose that when most people take a week off of work and need those 2 extra days for traveling back home.

Exactly.....but you see , where TAT is concerned , they don't actually have to do it, they just need to conjure up some stats to show it !

Parliament will not cooperate if PM refuses to attend: Wisut

Truly a classic.

...and a fine example of the "political stability enjoyed " which is supposedly the cornerstone of the economic miracle !

If it's acceptable to bribe your way into and up the ranks of the nation's police force, why not teaching ?

Would be more disconcerting if it was about medical students !

Just look around and witness how Thai males " date" and treat Thai women ( in different social circles)......don't try to understand all these generalised concepts of "Thainess " just treat the woman you're with/interested in ,as an individual , just as you are !

Hardly an inspired article !

No mention of the relative cost of flights during these periods ( or "entertainment " costs !)

Many people ,myself included actually enjoy goung back to the UK occasionally for a holiday . There are many many beautiful parts to visit and I actually appreciate the change of Seasons , a pleasent change from the often oppressive heat over here !

The author ,doesn't seem to grasp that the majority of UK expats ,or Europeans in general , are living off pensions or regular incomes that originate in their own currency . Not many would have benefitted from transferring their life savings into Baht 15 years ago !

Usually only lasts 2 days in ao nang starting on the 13th shouldn't be anywhere near as crazy as pattaya.

Hmm. OK. I may chance it if I get my travels organized.

Thanks

Starts on 13th, but being a Saturday ,it means that Mon-Wed 15th-17th are also holidays , so the mayhem may linger a while this year !

Krabi town is usually much more subdued than the madness witnessed in Ao Nang .....

Of course they have to sell it at a high price ...don't forget they've also got these absurd bills to pay .

BANGKOK, 30 January 2013 (NNT)-The Cabinet has approved a budget of 157 million baht to be paid to police officials who are hired to watch for dodgy dealers taking part in the government’s rice pledging scheme....!

..can't wait for April Fools Day ,obviously !

Hardly worth a mention ,given that it equates to a piss in the ocean in the context of their expected 23 million plus tourists .

Hmm. UP bakery.. Now their coffee is passable if you're lucky enough to get served, but my experience is that they offer awful service.

First day I went at 5pm on the dot and ordered a coffee to take away and was refused. They close at 5. Fair enough, I thought, though not too difficult to make a takeaway coffee.

Next day went mid afternoon, got an overpriced coffee. The food looked nice on the pictures so my wife and I took a table outside and looked at the menu in full view of 3 staff. After 15 minutes being ignored we gave up.

Today I went at 4.30. "latte to take away please". To be informed by the same individual that had half-served me on both previous occasions that they were "closed"

"but you told me you close at 5pm"

"I turned off the coffee machine already"

Two staff sat there twiddling thumbs half an hour before closing time and waiting for the clock to turn to 5. Not sure if the same people own the shop as are serving customers, but if not and the owners happen to read this - they are not representing your business well at all.

At least Starbucks leave the machines on until closing time.

Rant aside, there's a nice coffee shop and kwayteow shop (beef and duck) on the left hand side as you drive from krabi town to ao nang.

Any more ideas for good coffee are very welcome as I certainly won't be giving UP Bakery another chance.

Am surprised at that , have always found the staff very helpful ,but I,ve only ever visited before lunchtime .

So the entire police force will now "be aware "................how comforting !!

Please....the "sex workers" are obviously illegals from Myanmar ,Cambodia or sshh, Rohinga even.......No , Thailand is rightly outraged ,as it only has nationals employed as " enertainment liason facilitators ". .......which is not an easy thing to ask for after a few beers ..

I don't feel the increase value in the baht is the problem...but it is the declining economy in the Western countries; one certainly does not run into travelers from North America or Europe like 10 years ago. People are afraid of losing their jobs (or have lost them); the aging population can no longer go on expensive holidays, and the flights are way more expensive today than ten years ago from USA or Europe. Yes, there are more of the "new" travelers from Russia, China, and India who are less independent but travel in groups. I still feel Thailand offers a variety of hotels/ restaurants to the budget and 5 star traveler. It is still cheaper to travel in Thailand than in Singapore (too modern for most Western travelers); or Lao (limit number of 5 star hotels).

What IS hurting Thailand tourisim is the pollution of its beaches, greedy thug heads that run the tuk-tuks and bhat busses/ the jet ski scammers/ crime/ neglect (or stupidity) of not maintaining the tourist attractions to its prime, and the lack of Thai hospitality like one saw 20-30 years ago. Thailand doesn't seem to understand customer service like they have in the West or other developed countries, they only seem to know how to put on a fake smile, nod their head yes, and wait for the tourist dollar to roll in.

America has half of the most beautiful beaches in the world all year round and if an older gentleman wants to meet a woman Cuba is only 90 miles from Florida. I doubt if they would come to Thailand for the beach. Airfare is too expensive now. Not so hard to figure.

Why assume that by "ageing population " the poster implies older gentlemen travelling to Thailand looking for women ? Retired couples also like to take vacations ...and, surprisingly , often together !

Due to a further rise of the THB the time will come when some UK ,US, and EU expats will walk on the pavements with a guitar and sing songs in order to get some donations from the public.

But they'd soon all be banged up ( assuming there's space in the over-crowded prisons) for singing copy-right protected lyrics ,in a public place ,without a work permit . Hapless souls !