PM blind to his responsibility in Phuket

[webfact]

PM blind to his responsibility in Phuket

By The Nation

 

 

Government chiefs add to the blundering that led to a boating disaster

 

While the world’s attention was understandably focused on dramatic efforts to rescue the youth football team trapped in a Chiang Rai cave, it was a terrible shame that the boating catastrophe off Phuket last Thursday went relatively unnoticed.

 

Quite apart from the appalling loss of life, it revived serious questions about tourist safety and could – and should – have a significant impact on the Thai travel industry.

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was in Phuket on Monday, scolding government officials for failing to ensure the safety of foreign visitors. But it must be said that he is the one who has the most responsibility to bear.  

 

The vessels Phoenix and Serenata capsized and sank in the sea off Phuket, their operators and skippers having ignored warnings of high waves. Of the 133 tourists aboard the two boats, 127 were Chinese. Everyone on the Serenata was rescued. Passengers on the Phoenix fared far less well. As of press time, there were 43 confirmed dead and nine still missing.

 

Prayut’s tardy visit may have been spurred in part by bellowing from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who within a day of the accident was demanding all-out efforts to find and rescue the missing people and take care of the injured.

 

China’s embassy in Bangkok organised its own full-scale operation to aid the Thai effort and to arrange for relatives of the victims to travel to Phuket. Meanwhile Thailand’s embassy in Beijing was also assisting family members wanting to come to Thailand and was keeping their countrymen apprised of developments.

 

Our consular offices in both Beijing and Shanghai stayed open through the weekend to process visa applications and Chinese arriving at Thai airports were granted automatic visas.

 

However, senior officials in the military-led government demonstrated characteristic clumsiness in dealing with crises. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan had to publicly apologise for blaming the foreigners for not heeding foul-weather warnings.

 

Prayut’s anger with Phuket officials – he felt there should have been better management of the tour boats, plus technology to track them – was even more galling. If blame is to be apportioned for such shortcomings, it should directed at his administration. 

 

The premier senses that, with more tourists visiting Thailand all the time, more accidents are likely if the local travel industry doesn’t improve safety measures. It’s a sound prediction, but who’s responsible for ensuring the improvements are made?

 

The government needs to invest more thought, money and time into tourist safety. It’s simple logic, whereas investing in rude rebukes is utterly counterproductive.

 

Tourism generates 10 per cent of Thailand’s gross domestic product and has for a century been one of the most robust sectors of the economy. In recent years China has become the largest source of tourists coming to Thailand, with nearly 10 million of its citizens visiting the Kingdom last year.

 

Prayut gains no ground for anyone by singling out the tour company booking the ill-fated boats as being an illegal operation. There may well be illegality involved if it’s proved the firm was linked to the so-called “zero-dollar” tours that lure so many Chinese here, and the firm will be duly prosecuted if that’s the case.

 

But this still doesn’t get Prayut off the hook. He’s supposed to in charge. It is ultimately his responsibility to ensure Thai tourism is legal, safe and non-discriminatory. We need to see government investment in tourism that goes far beyond colourful advertisements.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30349789

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-11

[faraday]

Tvf reported 2 days ago that the Chinese President had been quiet about this tragedy.

 

But this morning you, report him as 'Bellowing'.

[Fex Bluse]

"Tourism generates 10 per cent of Thailand’s gross domestic product" 

 

When indirect effects are considered, tourism is estimated to account for 20% and that is even before considering the enormous market around sex spending. A more reasonable estimate would be up around 25-30% of GDP but the goverment is too embarrassed to admit it. 

Edited July 10, 2018 by Fex Bluse

[Fex Bluse]

"The government needs to invest more thought, money and time into tourist safety. It’s simple logic, " 

 

Simple logic but not simple execution! People in this part of the world HATE spending money on things, like safety, that they consider unnecessary.

 

The" thought " part would require the entire culture to change which won't happen anytime soon. I will be surprised if they can manage to substantially improve even in that next 30 years. 

[anon537687643]

Chinese Gov is as hypocritical as Thai Gov when it comes to dealing with disasters and taking real measures! China could issue a warning to tourists about visiting Thailand but it doesn’t !


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Lungstib]

I fear that water based transport has been given the same leniency as road based transport. We are all aware of the massive problems centered around drivers who have never been properly trained, vehicles that are overloaded or unsafe, speeds that are virtually unrestricted and police that refuse to interfere unless they profit. Does anyone think the seas are any different? The govt has refused to take serious action to improve road safety and thousands die as a result. Now we are seeing the exact same result with boats. When there is no enforcement things get totally out of hand. Just like the van operators, the boat owners do nothing that would cut their profits unless they absolutely have to and it's only the govt that can make them obey by strict regulations and severe penalties. Now here they are going straight to the severe penalty after skipping all the regulations and enforcement. 

[Fex Bluse]

3 minutes ago, Lungstib said:

I fear that water based transport has been given the same leniency as road based transport. We are all aware of the massive problems centered around drivers who have never been properly trained, vehicles that are overloaded or unsafe, speeds that are virtually unrestricted and police that refuse to interfere unless they profit. Does anyone think the seas are any different? The govt has refused to take serious action to improve road safety and thousands die as a result. Now we are seeing the exact same result with boats. When there is no enforcement things get totally out of hand. Just like the van operators, the boat owners do nothing that would cut their profits unless they absolutely have to and it's only the govt that can make them obey by strict regulations and severe penalties. Now here they are going straight to the severe penalty after skipping all the regulations and enforcement. 

Thais care about only a handful of things. Safety is not really one of them. The ONLY places where they are not lax is when being overseen by foreigners. So, tall buildings are generally OK as is the air transport (after they were slapped by the US and EU). Left to their own devices, they will let safety erode. Wonderful, generally intelligent people, but they have a culture that does not value safety at all. 

 

And, the Chinese are not much different. 

[baboon]

Negligence and dereliction of duty charges will no doubt be filed against him as his administration cannot abide that type of thing...

[Darcula]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He’s supposed to in charge.

 

Yes, no, maybe.

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Government chiefs add to the blundering that led to a boating disaster

Prayut: The best post-coup government administration in the history of Thailand!

There seems to be absolutely no limits to its success to blunder.

If the Prayut government had been instead an elected government, it would have been voted out within 2-3 years.

[bluesofa]

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

PM blind to his responsibility in Phuket

 

1 hour ago, Darcula said:

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He’s supposed to in charge.

 

Yes, no, maybe. 

The same in Braille:

 

[Eric Loh]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

But it must be said that he is the one who has the most responsibility to bear.  

He is not elected and therefore not accountable to the people. No need for those messy responsibilities. 

[marko kok prong]

I feel it is a little unfair to lay the blame on the PM,he cannot control everything,and this is so typically Thai,a preventable accident,brought on by lack of foresight caused by being blinded by money,and most likely a poorly maintained boat.

 Let's just hope they never build a nuclear power station.

[bluesofa]

Just now, marko kok prong said:

I feel it is a little unfair to lay the blame on the PM,he cannot control everything,and this is so typically Thai,a preventable accident,brought on by lack of foresight caused by being blinded by money,and most likely a poorly maintained boat.

 Let's just hope they never build a nuclear power station.

Yes, I think the worry would be the emphasis on the phrase might change, to become: A new-killer power station.

 

[yellowboat]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The government needs to invest more thought, money and time into tourist safety. It’s simple logic, whereas investing in rude rebukes is utterly counterproductive. 

Other than the past governor of Chiang Rai,  Thai officialdom is only interested in Thai or solutions from big name companies.  Tracking boats and things are easier now than ever, but it is not legal in Thailand, or you MUST go threw dimwitted third parties that add only cost, no benefits to your solution.  Given that no official will actually get out of his cushy office to check on things, makes these sorts of accidents more common in the future.   Avoid overcrowded anything in Thailand, and void the roads. 

[Sakeopete]

It doesn't matter what changes are put in place so long as the people enforcing the are quick to take a bribe to look the other way. Nothing will change in Thailand until there is accountability and an end to corruption.

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, marko kok prong said:

I feel it is a little unfair to lay the blame on the PM,he cannot control everything

What, is Prayut's absolute power not enough to control everything?

He controls all aspects of the government to the smallest minutia.

If he can't take blame, he's welcome to retire.

[baboon]

2 hours ago, marko kok prong said:

I feel it is a little unfair to lay the blame on the PM,he cannot control everything,and this is so typically Thai,a preventable accident,brought on by lack of foresight caused by being blinded by money,and most likely a poorly maintained boat.

 Let's just hope they never build a nuclear power station.

He's happy enough dishing the blame out, so what is good for the goose is good for the gander...

[Jonmarleesco]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

But this still doesn’t get Prayut off the hook. He’s supposed to in charge.

Well, he is, isn't he? At least, that's what he keeps telling us. 

[NCC1701A]

there is a great article in the business section of a newspaper we can't quote here saying the Chinese have had it with Thailand and they are cancelling big tour packages.