Just ten years or so back we were told that Tourism wasn't all that important to Thailand as Exports and so on were where the real money was. Subsequently no real safety improvements have happened and the Scammers (including the Government Agencies) have continued in the same old way. Immigration Processes have got worse as time has passed when they should have been relaxed, or flip-flops have been the order of any given period of time.
Until the Dinosaurs running the Country are removed once and for all and a a younger and more progressive Leadership is installed nothing much will change for the better.
Looking to the Future; seems to me that probably within the next 25 years China will come and take over the Country and that will mean very Radical change. Corrupt Politicians, Army 'Generals' and high ranking Police and other Government Oficials will all be Executed (if the don't run away fast enough ), the Education System will be torn down and a new order bringing genuine Education for the masses will be installed. Many other 'Improvements' will be made and within ten years or so Thailand will be unrecognisable from what it once was !