ChC1

I have a different vision about 'Crossroad'. 

I think Thailand is at a 'crossroad' between Prospect and Falling down from a Tourists Mecca.

How so? And why I would have this worry?

I think we can talk about Philippines and South Africa. Both country were very big in tourism. Both fell from its height due to safety concerns (kidnapping, robbery, killing of tourists in some cases). And the safety concerns was due to widespread poverty, drugs trade which in turn makes people violent, corruption and social structure failures. 

After 2 years in desperate situation, many Thais used to live on mass tourism and its benefits suddenly found themselves in a situation that no prospect of mass tourists return in a short period of time. What is worse, many of the tourism industry owners or workers took loans to expand or to enjoy a better life before the Pandemic as the booming seems to be endless at that time. 2 years on without work or steady income, many are close to bankruptcy or even have to borrow more. However, there is no US style bankruptcy laws in Asia in general, so many will carry the debts for ages to come.

If you really analyse the situation, you can certainly see the worrying picture. Desperate people take desperate means. How long before some of the people decide to falling through the system and sees rob tourists or even kidnap tourists in order to pay the debt? How long before some of the people becoming street beggar or join gangs? If Thailand authority is not careful here and let the small problem becomes a big problems that eventually eats the whole foundation of the social structure, it will be non-containable. Contain a virus or pandemic is easier job compared to contain poverty driven crimes.

I am sure my worry is unfounded and fictional to many people and Thais. And I am sure my worry is what it is, a worry.

Yet, if one truly understand history, sociology and have any sense of how poverty can change the landscape of tourism, one should be deeply concerned. Thai elite/ruling class might have the resource to last forever in this highly restrictive environment. It is not same if you have lots of debts but little income, or lost the steady income that was fuelling your debt. Look at Atlantic City, look at Blackpool, look at Egypt after the attacks a decade back, look at Lebanon, and look at Sri Lanka. There are many examples of how a once tourists mecca can fall to desperation and forever downwards spiral. 

Thailand has no social safety net like those in developed country, or not enough safety net. 2 years of no tourists will leave scars and underline damage to its society that once relied on mass tourism. I personally believe Thailand is at a cross road. It must decide how long it can wait to abolish all entry requirements in order to contain the poverty and lost time/income for many of its grass root tourism employees. My not-so-scientific 'worry' is that if Thailand missed the time to be fully reopen, some part of the country might become a tourists no-go area, and that in turn tarnish the reputation of Thailand. When the first monetary aimed attack on tourists occurs, it could be a no-return for an once great tourist destination for decades to come. 

I will go direct to the point:

You are the one to blame. It is entirely your fault.

1, When in Rome, do the Roman way. The same goes to say that Thai has different social value and etiquette compare to western societies. If you decide to settle in a Thai village, respect the people there and their way of life. Here is the question you should ask yourself, if your wife is living with you in your own country, would you expect your wife to bring her Thai village attitude towards stray dogs in your country?

2, You are totally wrong in dealing with stray dogs

Here in US, and some part of Europe, the correct way dealing with stray dogs is to call the animal control, they pick up the dogs, check for diseases, then it will either be exterminated or send to an animal welfare shelter where it may find a new owner. What you have done is absolutely dangerous to the society and people living around you. If you have concern, pay the local vet to take her in and check her up first. You may think you have done a wonderful thing, but from a public safety point of view, you are bring potential danger to your own family.

There are correct way to deal with stray dogs. Thailand can not do the western way to have animal welfare teams. Then if you want to deal with it on your own, you have to take the financial burden yourself. And you need to get professional help, by paying yourself. If you can't or don't want, you should have not get involved.

3, Asking family or friend to take the risk of infection to bury a dead dog without compensation is cruel for your own family and friend.

So here is the thing, you want your family and friend to voluntarily help you remove the dead dog, which could be infested with diseases or parasites. Yet you don't want to spend $100 as compensation for your family and friends to take the risks and time to help you. And then you blame them for being selfish. Right, the real selfish one if YOU. The dog died in your property, you are the one responsible for the mess. Your family and friends are not your employees, they have no obligation to help you. And to remove a dead body, even animal, is a dangerous job. It has nothing to do with animal welfare nor being nice or non-selfish. It is a process with risk. You are rather selfish to expect people should do it for free, 'for the greater good' as you implies. But again it is in your private property, it is your responsibility like your wife had warned you.  

4, You are the culprit yet you blame Thai culture for your own failure

You ignored your wife's warning and take the responsibility. Then someone is not charitable enough in your expectation you start to blame the Thai culture and society for the attitude on 'animal welfare'. But, the reality is you did not really thought it through. Western government has its rules and procedure in dealing with situation like this. If that failed there is animal welfare charity. But in all situation, all government's advice is you should never deal with stray animals yourself. You should not feed any animals that is not your pet or get close to a stray animal. Show me any laws or regulations from any western country says otherwise and I will eat my own words. The reality is that you did something wrong and you could not admit it because you thought you were doing a good thing. You are not. Like I said, you brought danger to the village and your own wife. You might have break the law of certain countries. 

Stop thinking yourself being the victim. If you really care, join a animal welfare charity or start one in Thailand. Don't blame others or the society for your own failure or something failed your unreasonable expectations. 

I don't think you are ignorance nor stupid. I do believe, however, you lack understandings of doing things correctly and you failed to see that your wife is actually more sensible and clever than you.

21 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

They have been realizing the need for the Tourist Dollar from Day 2 of the original outbreak way back in 2019.

And your 25 % of GDP for Tourism is about right me thinks, if all the peripheral things are taken into consideration.

This is the reason that over the last 2 Years or so, the Authorities have been putting so much Smoke and Mirrors out there over Tourism, and the only thing that has changed now, is the amount of desperation for the Money.

That is correct.

Only 25% of GDP, but tourism is a big employer in Thailand. The hotel/tour business employees a lot of higher education graduate, as well as the restaurant/bars/massage parlours provide a lot of job opportunities to less educated Thai general public. Not only that, the booming tourism also provide a lot of fringe business opportunities for street vendors, market sellers, agriculture business opportunities to provide food and flowers...etc. The whole chain of tourism related business provides mass employee opportunities that no other industry can match. If you look at cities like Bangkok, Phuket, Hua Hin, Pattaya...all important Thai cities are largely built based on tourists. The other 75% of the GDP can not fill the hole of tourisms in terms of job opportunities. When the tourists disappear, so does the hotel/tour company business, then the bar/restaurant business, and eventually trickle down to the street vendors and farmers. It is a huge structural problem any reasonable sociology and economic scientist/bureaucrats would get really worried. Build factories, high speed rails and huge infrastructure project cost a boat load of money and make GDP looks impressive, but those project provide little opportunities for ordinary people in absolute numbers and its sphere of influence in broader economy is actually small when we count the employment opportunities in total numbers. 

sure, 25% of GDP, but to loose this part of business, it will paralyse a large part of the Thai society, which should be a bigger concern. Unfortunately, I doubt the Thai hi-so leaders can see through it. And so far I have not seen any responsible academia or technocrats facing the reality and challenge the ruling class to make sure they realise what damage it has done to the society as a whole by putting so many obstacles to attract tourists. 

The longer current situation last, the more irreversible damage it could've done. 

1 hour ago, ESLTeacher1989 said:

To be fair its only going to be around £100 more for the 2 extra tests........................Food + Hotel price in Maldives vs Thailand -  will come to Thousands of £££ more. Hardly any entertainment in Maldives also. Also Good luck getting a massage or renting a motorbike in the maldives £5 an hour/£5 a day, going to be more like £100 an hour, and the £100 a day for a motorbike

I don't do massages nor motorbikes in Thailand, why would I do that in Maldives? And why would budget relevant when I off to Maldives?

2 tests more than what I am willing to do. Sorry but no. Maldives here I come.

25 minutes ago, ukrules said:

 

I suspect the truth is about to come out.

in LOS? Never. You will get only one version of 'TRUTH'. The real version of 'TRUTH' is always disguised as rumour, unfounded or foreign interference/accusations. 

For USD$250,000 plus plus you can buy an EU passport from countries like Cyprus, Malta, Hungary or Portugal. In some countries, you get a house in return.

For USD$250,000 you can buy an universally recognised passport and residence right from Caribbean countries like St. Kitts or Dominica. And, the money you spent is not disappearing, it is actually an investment fund (normally state run sugar development fund) to those countries so you would receive some back.

For less than USD$1 million you can buy a residence right in UAE or Qatar with a big house and room for maids and drivers.

For over USD$1 million you buy nothing in Thailand but right to work. Tell me the options: what work Thailand can offer for a millionaire? I am waiting.

Thailand obviously has a lot of bridges for sale. I wonder which Russian, Iranian, North Korean or Chinese would like to buy.

None of the countries should be in normal retirees' mind unless you are ready to form a family locally. For single retirees there are much better place to live, Florida, Spain or Malta. For family retirees, the world is your oyster, while many would favour closer to grandchildren.

Thailand is a special case, we can debate for years but everyone here love Thailand for special reasons, that including the shameful word and more ordinarily, family ties. Any ordinary western retirees (***definition: does not have family ties to Asia and not prepared to have relationship with locals and does not like Asian culture and/or food, and not adventurous enough to move to a different culture***) who wants to retire in Asia needs their heads examined. 

So, other Asian countries can not simply copy Thailand's offering. And many people who would accept Thailand's offering are unlikely to choose other countries. It is really not a choice for many people. It is either Thailand or closer to home.

For me, the choice is either USA or Australia. I can not live without Costco, good coffee shops and English speaking environment (so to make like minded friends easily and to communicate in equal terms). Thailand is a good place to relax for fortnight, but it gets boring and repetitious easily. I value safety, simplicity, privacy, communication and avoid stupidity. 

For anyone who have never lived in Asia before, or do not have or intend to have family ties, and have little tolerance for stupidity, stay out. 

The article seems to forget many European people would go for a beach holiday:

1, Spain

2, Portugal

3, Gran Canarias

4, Balearic Islands

5, France

6, Greece

7, Cyprus

8, Croatia

9, Turkey

10, Romania (Constanta)

11, Bulgaria (Varna)

12, Israel

13, Jordan

14, Egypt

15, Morocco

16, The Bahamas

17, Cuba

18, Grand Cayman

19, USA

20, Punta Cana

21, Mexico

22, Barbados

23, Netherlands' ABC islands

24, St Lucia

25, St Maarten

26, Antigua

27, French Caribbean Islands

28, the Maldives

29, Surprisingly, Saudi Arabia is building a lot of Red Sea resorts which due to be opened in the coming 2-3 years

30, Goa in India

31, Qatar

32, Salalah in Oman

33, and others like Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil, South Africa, Zanzibar...

Has Thailand now smelt the coffee yet? I doubt it.