DonniePeverley

The review will do nothing. Same same every year. I remember just before covid the population and local media had started to rise up against the mass tourism which was approaching 40 million, traffic gridlocked, appalling behaviour from tourists. There was talk of QUALITY TOURISM - it was the magic word. Hostels were going to be banned, tighter restrictions on visa, etc Then covid happened. So scarred by covid and no tourists, that Sretta (the previous PM) stimulated tourism unneccesarily by removing all restrictions to the whole world - when tourism was recovering everywhere. It was needless.

How can a government tell companies to reduce prices of their hotels? For as long as i've known Thailand will look to point the finger at everything but the actual answer Rampant crime, mass over tourism due to the relaxed visa laws from less developed nations, cheap violent tourism with barbaric behaviour, marijuana laws attracting horrific tourists. Improving infrustructure, etc - ALL THIS WILL TURN AWAY QUALITY TOURISM. I was in Vietnam. I never saw a drunken fuelled Benidorm Brit anywhere. The indians i saw were all on visas with hotel bookings and decent tourists. Russians would dare not break the law there as the police do not mess around. There is no open rampant marijuana around that attracts dirt tourists. But nah ... always look for the easiest answer - prices must be to blame etc.

Great to hear !!! I remain heartened their is evidence of some quality coaching. May i ask if the coach was Thai or international ?

I'll definately take your comments on board on trying to move the nephew around to a better place, and giving what you say i remain heartened their is better coaching out there. My generalisation was my own experiences from a few coaches, and of course if you look at Thailand performance in most sports with their large population it does beg the question whether the country has a coaching problem - although fully agreed that may well be generalising - i am aware there are most likely other (not sporting) reasons for the country not excelling at sports.

Pen pushers have to justify their work. Can we keep our pesky shoes on ? The liquid ban did benefit airports very well though didn't it.

I have had some experience in the UK. I've actually been on EE playmaker course from the FA for some work experience i was doing a few years ago. The whole emphasis was on getting the children to love the game, have the ball with them at all times, less lectures, and more playing matches, with coaching being light at these ages. There was also less heading of the ball at these ages which i see isn't being implemented here - but that's another point altogether. Is negative feedback never received well in Thailand ?

Unfortunately it's been 4 coaches i've encountered. All appalling, hence why i refrained from making any generalisation after seeing one or two. Nephew drove back home vowing never to play football again which left me pretty downbeat, claiming it was absolutely boring. I don't blame him after the coaching performance he was given, which was more of a 'sermon, listen to my great voice' rather than any football playing.

Took sisters kid to weekend football academy for under 12's. I've done this a few times with Basketball and at the time i remember thinking how appalling the coach was, and maybe it was just a one off. But the more i see, the standard is absolutely abysmal here. Kids under 12, want to have some basic coaching, but most importantly it's about loving, enjoying the game, to keep them coming back to the game. They had a soccer coach today (replacing an even worst one last week) who spent more time loving the sound of his own voice, giving instructions, rather than letting the kids play football. Long elaborate instructions how to set up for corner kicks, massive instructions how to dribble past someone, etc. But one thing he did no do was let the kids have the ball and actually practice his theories - so you'd have long 5 minutes sermons on how they should play, then a quick minute to implement and practise what he just said. I was seething watching this at the sidelines. After 90 mins into the 2 hours fiasco, with kids baking in the hot sun, looking bored and uninterested, i half felt like going on the pitch and telling him to just let the kids play for crying out loud. Honestly, the best way for kids to learn is to let them play, give some basic instructions, keep them motivated. Have some games, a match - and then point out some mistakes how players can improve etc. Keep things simple. Honestly it's diabolical out here. Totally different from the coaching you see in Europe who have learnt and moved on, and allow children to just play with the ball and keep them engaged. Do coaches here not go through any training programmes, or get any acreditation? To be a coach in the UK for example you need to have done coaching badges, which stresses the need for children to enjoy the game. Should i have gone to the coach or those in charge to tell them my comments? What your experiences out here?

You can say that about any country. Brit on Brit in the UK, etc

Statistically it isn't.

Disgusting violence in a country that was once safe.

I would not risk it. It's not legit. You put loads of funds into that account and then they close it down or block it - then when you go to the Bank to get it back open, they fill in forms, and say you do not have the correct visa. You could potentially lose those funds if they find out you went through an agent. Trust me, don't do it.

So you ackowledge that this has nothing to do with paying tax and just a rant about not being able to open a bank account ? Secondly, as a Thai it's near impossible to get a visa to the UK unless you are an elite, or marry a western guy. Then once granted, you can only open a bank account if you marry someone from the UK (or by some miracle get a residency for 5 years) and even then you have to wait years. So let's not compare the UK entry requirements (which are near impossible for most Thai's) to Thailand.

There was talks before Covid of 'quality tourism' ..... when everything was just way too crowded. One of the options being looked at was banning hostels and cheap tourists who spend nothing, but contribute to crowds, pressures on public infrustructure, rubbish, enviromental damage etc

WOuld they have taken a gun of a cop in China, Dubai or Singapore?

Where did you get that impression from? Did you read statistics or look through official government data? Or, and i might be just guessing here, have you been going down a cul-d-a-sac of twitter/daily Mail type articles?

The irony being you are in Thailand adding 'diversity' but like to rant that their is diversity in the UK.

Bangkok has a 'service charge' and VAT charge added ... some sneaky places even adding it that you doubt are even paying any VAT. DOes this service charge even go to the staff? Unlikely. What you all paying for massage tips ?

1) Vietnam is safer at the moment . Thailand's policy of importing cheap mass tourism and legal marijuana laws has attracted some of the worst dross on this planet. You see the international headlines for horrific behaviour. 2) These despicable cheap tourists feel embolded to break laws and act terribly because they do not fear consequences. You dare not mess in Vietnam, China, Dubai, Singapore etc 3) Vietnam does not allow visa free for Indian tourists. Whilst there are indian visitors to Vietnam, they need to get a visa. This ensures quality visitors from that country, and most importantly ensures each visitor has a hotel booking in their name. There are no cases of 10 indians in one room here.

He won't answer that queston, because the whole message is just an elaborate way of saying 'i can't open a bank account'.

How are you importing your cash into Thailand? That's what you use to pay your tax. IMO this isn't about tax anyways, but rather just a rant that another foreigner complaining he can't open a bank account in a developing nation. Ironically Thai's cannot open bank accoutns in the UK either without a full residency which takes years.

I honestly think Thailand seriously needs to look at banning hostels. Last thing this country is need is more tourists who aren't spending into the mix.

They need to step up patrols really. It feels lawless as it's only really private security guards providing any sort of security for the ladies and bars. Stricter deterrant .... we know these guy will pay a tiny fine and be out in a few hours. They would never behave this way in China , Singapore or Dubai for example as the consequences are too extreme.

Thai people are frustrated at the filth that is descended upon their country. Trashy cheap mass tourism that looks down upon them and feels embolded to behave this way - they would not behave this way in China, Dubai, or Singapore. You see alot of the raw slaps that went in to this guy i feel was very much anger and frustration as to what they have to endure. These won't be isolated incidents. This guys in his western city is probably used to pandy bouncers and law that would protect his ignorant behaviour. He got a good lesson that isn't the west. He got very lucky to be honest.

I was down on Soi Nana near Nana Plaza the other day (for research purposes), and it's already really heavily congested on that tight road as it, as taxis parked up, vendors, and people spill into the road. Couldn't believe my eyes when two double decker busses came into the road to go past. They then slow downed around Nana Plaza, so it must have been on some itinery tour to show what appeared to be Chinese tourists inside. Absolutely wreckless, all whilst blowing out jet black smoke.