Repercussions of Mass Tourism in Thailand.

[DUNROAMIN]

After watching this documentary on Thailand tourism (link attached), it made me think that maybe the Corona virus is a God send to help Thailands beaches, coral reefs, and surrounding oceans for the future, and even maybe the environment all around the world. This highlights what greed does to a country like Thailand. Without proper government control over Tourism and the environment here Thailand was headed for doom and gloom well before the Pandemic started, it was just a matter of time before tourists would choose alternative holiday destinations. The writing was on the wall, however, Thailand failed to see the path they were headed down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78xdMXOx7Rw

 

[MRToMRT]

Thats. good watch. So true as well. 

[fredob43]

 Should be shown to all tourists that are thinking of coming to Thailand.

 

My first and only visit to Phuket was nearly 30 years ago. My Buddha I cant believe how bad it's got.

Money No: 1 that's Thailand all over.

 

The only thing Thailand can hope for is this Rat Flue 19 carries on for several years yet. With tourism dropping to the low Thousand levels or even less. Sorry for any locals but they will have to learn the hard way. Finding jobs in other industries. Maybe then Thailand can get back to the beautiful place it once was. Can't see it but one can live in hopes.

[SomchaiCNX]

We did think the same way after the Tsunami, but............you know the result other ways you would not have started this topic.

 

[PaoloR]

17 hours ago, fredob43 said:

My first and only visit to Phuket was nearly 30 years ago. My Buddha I cant believe how bad it's got.

Money No: 1 that's Thailand all over.

If you have only visited once, long ago, how do you know how bad it's got?

[DUNROAMIN]

1 hour ago, SomchaiCNX said:

We did think the same way after the Tsunami, but............you know the result other ways you would not have started this topic.

 

Sorry for people who die and suffer from this virus and it could happen to me at my age, however, sometimes good comes from bad, so to speak, my point of view.

[Deli]

TAT and all the others who opened the doors wide to the Chinese are to blame.

Was all good before the invasion started about 6 years ago...

[Surelynot]

Ultimately, money concerns and/or greed will override any concerns people might have over the environment

[Brunolem]

18 hours ago, fredob43 said:

 

Money No: 1 that's Thailand all over.

 

Money is not the problem in itself, but how they try to collect it.

 

As opposed to, say, the Maldives or Bhutan, Thai authorities don't understand that it is preferable to have 10 tourists spending $ 100 each per day, rather than 100 tourists spending $ 10 dollars per day.

 

On top of that, Thailand doesn't have what is requested for mass tourism, in terms of population training, environmental protection, and respect of the laws...assuming they exist...

 

France receives more tourists than Thailand, and is not devastated.

 

Small Las Vegas receives as many tourists as Thailand, and is as clean as Singapore, which also receives its fair share of tourists.

 

Thailand authorities should follow the example of Duterte (of all people) in the Philippines, and close its most damaged sites (most of the South) to tourism for an extended period of time.

 

It should also limit yearly arrivals to something around 12 million tourists, or 1 million per month...but not as little as 1,200 which is more appropriate for the Vatican...

Edited September 19, 2020 by Brunolem

[fredob43]

56 minutes ago, PaoloR said:

If you have only visited once, long ago, how do you know how bad it's got?

Did you look at the video??? If you did you would see for yourself. I can remember when I went, I walked along Patong beach and we were the only people on it. Looked into rock pools with its amazing life forms in them. 90% of the roads were only drivable with a 4X4. Now Phuket is just a concrete jungle, with hoards of people/hotels. Stunning Cristal clear seas then. Now grubby where they have pumped raw sewage into it. We did do the J/Bond island and there were about 6 of us on the whole place. Also Pi Pi that was like wise. Little or no shops/restaurants just wonderful Clean sand. Suggest you don't ask stupid questions. Go look for yourself. I know it's not easy to go back many years, just look at old snaps of how it was before the place got Buggered. It might enlighten you.

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, Surelynot said:

Ultimately, money concerns and/or greed will override any concerns people might have over the environment

True and I have just watched the David Attenborough documentary called, "Extinction" and this proves your point, and is a bit of an eye-opener and alarming, but will anything be done...............not whilst money, profits and large companies look to expand their balance sheets.

 

And I'm sorely afraid that there is no way out of it now – – watch the video as it can be found on various sites. 

[rupert the bear]

i was on ko chang in 1989 .when i returned i didnt even know where i was and that was about 10 yrs later,only reference i had was the big hill at the one end of the island,ko lanta went the same way in a short period from 97 to 2005 the changes were immense.a lack of planning ,a nat park system that seeks to exploit nature not conserve it and massive corruption and greed.this added to a culture that has few educated minds has lead to the death of many species and most of the native forest,the level of stupidity matches the level of environmental destruction in a very short period of time 30 yrs or so.in the 60s thailand had incredible biodiversity still large pops of animals and 50% forest cover what do we have now?its all basically gone except for a few hold outs in the western run of parks and reserves.covid  at sea has allowed the remarkable recovery of sea life which many have observed but stupid somchai will hoover it all up in months when the virus is gone with the help of his be medalled and uniformed half wits

[fredob43]

59 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

Money is not the problem in itself, but how they try to collect it.

 

As opposed to, say, the Maldives or Bhutan, Thai authorities don't understand that it is preferable to have 10 tourists spending $ 100 each per day, rather than 100 tourists spending $ 10 dollars per day.

 

On top of that, Thailand doesn't have what is requested for mass tourism, in terms of population training, environmental protection, and respect of the laws...assuming they exist...

 

France receives more tourists than Thailand, and is not devastated.

 

Small Las Vegas receives as many tourists as Thailand, and is as clean as Singapore, which also receives its fair share of tourists.

 

Thailand authorities should follow the example of Duterte (of all people) in the Philippines, and close its most damaged sites (most of the South) to tourism for an extended period of time.

 

It should also limit yearly arrivals to something around 12 million tourists, or 1 million per month...but not as little as 1,200 which is more appropriate for the Vatican...

 

4 minutes ago, xylophone said:

True and I have just watched the David Attenborough documentary called, "Extinction" and this proves your point, and is a bit of an eye-opener and alarming, but will anything be done...............not whilst money, profits and large companies look to expand their balance sheets.

 

And I'm sorely afraid that there is no way out of it now – – watch the video as it can be found on various sites. 

Maybe there is some way out. Buddha has come up with this Rat Flue 19, that's seems so far to have put the cat amongst the pigeons. I don't want to see people suffer with this illness. But if in some small way it buggers the tourists so be it.    

[Thingamabob]

1 hour ago, fredob43 said:

Did you look at the video??? If you did you would see for yourself. I can remember when I went, I walked along Patong beach and we were the only people on it. Looked into rock pools with its amazing life forms in them. 90% of the roads were only drivable with a 4X4. Now Phuket is just a concrete jungle, with hoards of people/hotels. Stunning Cristal clear seas then. Now grubby where they have pumped raw sewage into it. We did do the J/Bond island and there were about 6 of us on the whole place. Also Pi Pi that was like wise. Little or no shops/restaurants just wonderful Clean sand. Suggest you don't ask stupid questions. Go look for yourself. I know it's not easy to go back many years, just look at old snaps of how it was before the place got Buggered. It might enlighten you.

Well said in answer to a really idiotic question.

[Thingamabob]

2 hours ago, PaoloR said:

If you have only visited once, long ago, how do you know how bad it's got?

If you are unable to come up with a more sensible question than this I suggest you find something else to do rather than wasting time and space here.

[Brunolem]

1 hour ago, fredob43 said:

I can remember when I went, I walked along Patong beach and we were the only people on it. Looked into rock pools with its amazing life forms in them. 90% of the roads were only drivable with a 4X4. Now Phuket is just a concrete jungle, with hoards of people/hotels. Stunning Cristal clear seas then. Now grubby where they have pumped raw sewage into it. We did do the J/Bond island and there were about 6 of us on the whole place. 

I was in Phuket in August 1978.

 

At most we were about 10 foreigners, on Rawaii beach, which was the only one offering some decent accomodation.

 

James Bond island was like James Bond had left it, and we were the only table of foreigners at the sea gypsies village on stilts.

 

And the locals were so friendly...

 

I went back in 2005...and ran away...a nightmare!

 

The worst is that the Thais, save for a very small number, don't see the destruction they have wrought on their own country.

 

In order to change their ways, they first need to be aware of what they are doing...

[Nanaplaza666]

My opinion is that this is one of the best and most usefull topic of this year , covid is bad but humans are destroying the world in a much worse way . 

[sandyf]

4 hours ago, Deli said:

TAT and all the others who opened the doors wide to the Chinese are to blame.

Was all good before the invasion started about 6 years ago...

6 years ago?

In the early 1930's about 12% of the population of Thailand were Chinese immigrants. Haven't you noticed all the Chinese temples and graveyards.

There is a graveyard near us that stretches as far as the eye can see and usually during Quing Ming it becomes a canvas city when they all flood in from China to pay respects to the dead. Bit different this year, only domestic ancestors and socially distanced celebrations.

 

[Brunolem]

13 minutes ago, sandyf said:

6 years ago?

In the early 1930's about 12% of the population of Thailand were Chinese immigrants. Haven't you noticed all the Chinese temples and graveyards.

There is a graveyard near us that stretches as far as the eye can see and usually during Quing Ming it becomes a canvas city when they all flood in from China to pay respects to the dead. Bit different this year, only domestic ancestors and socially distanced celebrations.

 

Not same.

 

Thai-Chinese long time residents and mainland tourists are two very different group of people...

[sandyf]

14 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

Not same.

 

Thai-Chinese long time residents and mainland tourists are two very different group of people...

You are perfectly free to believe that the volume of travelers between China and Thailand, year in year out, has nothing to do with the original mass immigration.

[fredob43]

3 hours ago, Brunolem said:

I was in Phuket in August 1978.

 

At most we were about 10 foreigners, on Rawaii beach, which was the only one offering some decent accomodation.

 

James Bond island was like James Bond had left it, and we were the only table of foreigners at the sea gypsies village on stilts.

 

And the locals were so friendly...

 

I went back in 2005...and ran away...a nightmare!

 

The worst is that the Thais, save for a very small number, don't see the destruction they have wrought on their own country.

 

In order to change their ways, they first need to be aware of what they are doing...

You must have been there around the same time we went. At least you concur with how it was. We hired a car??? well a clapped out 4X4 but at least it got us around the place. (At that time the only place to get fuel was from drums outside small shops) Did all the usual stuff went to every beach Via sandy unmade roads. A delight. Most didn't even have anyone on them, let alone selling cold drinks. What Joy.

 

This video made me feel so sad to see how it is now. Buggered is not the word. The end of the world or Phuket is more like it. Thank you to whoever put it on. At least I know never to ever go back to Phuket again.

 

N/B I still live in Thailand with my Thai wife and Daughter. But not anywhere near a tourist resort, thank Buddha. Life is great as it's Thailand and not just a place in Thailand. 

 

If anyone is thinking of coming here think on were you want to go first. If you would like to see the real Thailand & lovely Thai people get well away from those tourists places. I can tell you you won't be disappointed.  

[Enoon]

 "Mass" tourists?:

 

 

"They" are everywhere.

 

But it's never "me" is it?

 

 

 

Edited September 19, 2020 by Enoon

[Enoon]

 

 

41 minutes ago, fredob43 said:

 

N/B I still live in Thailand with my Thai wife and Daughter. But not anywhere near a tourist resort, thank Buddha. Life is great as it's Thailand and not just a place in Thailand. 

 

If anyone is thinking of coming here think on were you want to go first. If you would like to see the real Thailand & lovely Thai people get well away from those tourists places. I can tell you you won't be disappointed.  

 

That's how "it" starts.

 

Probably a better idea to keep it to yourself.

 

I tell people that there's absolutely nothing to "do" or "see" where I stay in Thailand.

 

 

 

[Brunolem]

49 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

 

 

That's how "it" starts.

 

Probably a better idea to keep it to yourself.

 

I tell people that there's absolutely nothing to "do" or "see" where I stay in Thailand.

 

 

 

Don't worry, the vast majority of tourists want to go only where other tourists go! 

 

After more than 20 years in Eastern Isaan, the situation has not changed tourismwise... Thais are visiting, but the number of foreign tourists remains close to zero... 

[Brunolem]

2 hours ago, sandyf said:

You are perfectly free to believe that the volume of travelers between China and Thailand, year in year out, has nothing to do with the original mass immigration.

There is no belief involved. 

 

Migrants came here mostly after WWII to settle, and they did very well, since they own all the significant businesses in the country, plus the gold market, and then some. 

 

Mass tourism from the mainland is very recent, just a few years old, and these Chinese following their guide and his flag are not here to settle. 

 

The two have nothing in common. 

 

As for the volume of Chinese tourists, it is a simple matter of proximity...like the large numbers of British or Germans visiting Spain... 

[Bassosa]

Don't believe for one second that things will change when the tourists come back (and they will).

The pillaging of their own country will continue, possibly get worse. From building illegal "glamping sites" in the hills near Chiang Mai (devestating the forest in the process) to the longtail captain chucking his anchor onto the coral reef to filthy Railay Beach with rubbish strewn everywhere and the entire population suffering from diahrea because none of the hotels have proper sewage systems.

I do feel the average Thai is getting more environmentally aware, but when there is money to be made any good intentions will be thrown out of the window. Money > environment.

Nope, just don't see it happening....

[fredob43]

4 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

 

 

That's how "it" starts.

 

Probably a better idea to keep it to yourself.

 

I tell people that there's absolutely nothing to "do" or "see" where I stay in Thailand.

 

 

 

Do Hope you noticed that I didn't say where I live. Took me several years to find it (Well wife found it saying it was along way, 400km, from her family. More than likely why we are still married) The last thing I want is to get lots of those tourist (or family come to that) coming here.

 

Hope it doesn't give anything away but we have got the Banana festival just starting here.

Wife as usual went in for the Miss Banana competition last week. Did well came second to last. Whatever a vast improvement on last year. She was pleased anyway. Happy Days. 

[Nout]

The UK industrialized over 200 years ago and stripped the country bare of forests to build a wealthy society. The amazon, thailand needs to do the same. I am sick of Attenborough who has flown round the world on BBC funded tax payers money promoting wild life porn and now suggests WE should feel guilty and stay at home and just experience nature vicariously through his tedious, patronising documentaries.

[Brunolem]

8 hours ago, Nout said:

The UK industrialized over 200 years ago and stripped the country bare of forests to build a wealthy society. The amazon, thailand needs to do the same. I am sick of Attenborough who has flown round the world on BBC funded tax payers money promoting wild life porn and now suggests WE should feel guilty and stay at home and just experience nature vicariously through his tedious, patronising documentaries.

And look where the UK stands today.

 

A decrepit society in full decline, with growing insecurity...on its way to join Egypt and Greece in the cemetary of fallen empires...

 

Nothing to emulate here.

[runamok27]

I first came to Thailand in 1987 and it was a beautiful country but you could already see it was being destroyed. After living here for 3 years I did not return to Thailand again until 2015 and the destruction of the natural beauty of Thailand was shocking. The Thai's for the most part do not care about their country so there is no going back.