Thai tourism industry to focus on safety, cleanliness, sustainability and not taking advantage of tourists

[webfact]

File photo for reference only

 

Thailand's Minister for Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakan has outlined a four point plan to improve tourism in the kingdom. 

 

Going forward, and in its bid to recover post COVID-19, Thailand’s tourism industry will focus  on four key points: Safety, cleanliness, sustainability and not taking advantage of tourists.

 

As regards point number one Thai news site Siam Rath reported that the ministry were teaming up with the Faculty of Engineering at Kaset University to work on land based transport/tourism and ziplines. 

 

 Picture: Siam Rath

 

Thaweesak Wanichcharoen said he had been tasked with safety and he held a seminar for all concerned at the Pathumwan Princess Hotel in Bangkok on March 5th.

 

Under his chairmanship it was designed to raise awareness of safety issues especially those concerning zipline operations in six provinces namely Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Udon Thani, Kanchanaburi, Phuket and Bangkok. 

 

In 2015, a Chinese tourist died after falling from a zipline  in Chiang Mai, while in 2019, also in Chiang Mai and Canadian tourist following a similar incident. 

 

With regards to not taking advantage of tourists, one aspect of Thailand’s tourism industry which the minister hinted previously needs addressing is the practice of dual pricing. 

 

Also in 2019, and not long into his new role of Minister for Tourism and Sports, Mr Pipat first aired the idea of eliminating dual pricing for foreigners - a subject that angers many visitors and residents in the kingdom.

 

The need to scrap dual pricing was again mulled publicly last year, as officials highlighted aspects of Thailand’s tourism industry that should be overhauled as part of its post-COVID-19 recovery.

 

In July, and speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Club, Tanes Petsuwan, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications at TAT, said that “it does not make sense” to charge foreigners more than Thais. 

 

Mr Tanes said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn had spoken to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the government department responsible for the national parks in Thailand, about the two-tier pricing issue.

 

Mr Tanes went on to say that while the country is waiting for the return of tourists it “is a very good time for Thailand to reform the tourism industry structure”.

 

“What we did wrong [in the past] we must make it right this time, he added.

 

A so-called ‘Expat Card’ was also touted as a possible solution to ending dual pricing. 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-03-29

 

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[petermik]

If it happens it will be a first....I,m not holding my breath.

[CelticBhoy]

"The need to scrap dual pricing was again mulled publicly last year . . . "

 

As it was the year before that, and the year before that, and the year before that, etc..

[internationalism]

before they come, around  2025, all instructions will be forgotten.

The way of teaching people to behave is to educate them about the world, just basic geography, history, but also languages.

If to try to instil the idea, that thailand is the navel of the universe under the coconut shell and insist, that thai language is a major international language, push nationalism, xenophobia, racism through all the educational system, all ministries and government agencies, you end up with indoctrinated robots which disregard all outside world

Edited March 29, 2021 by internationalism

[keith101]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

and not taking advantage of tourists.

LOL  ,   this will never end its a part of the industry worldwide .

[colinneil]

So the Thai tourist industry are to focus on..... Safety, and not taking advantage of tourists, not April first yet, a bit early for April first jokes intit.????????????

[ChipButty]

I was almost falling asleep after my diner sat at my PC, laugh a minute these guys it's one of the reasons I live here

[gunderhill]

Cobblers about  ripping people  off, Wife was  just back from James  Bond Island, all the boats on the main pier wanted 2000 baht she told them it was  too  much, none would  budge from their  little  cartel so her and her friends went down a  bit and asked another guy on his own away from  the main pier  cartel. 1500  baht, off they went.

[gunderhill]

44 minutes ago, keith101 said:

LOL  ,   this will never end its a part of the industry worldwide .

But in this  case  Thailand really is the  hub.

[gunderhill]

52 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

A so-called ‘Expat Card’ was also touted as a possible solution to ending dual pricing.

What's  the matter with just using the PINK  one we can already get,they sure  like to dream up dumb ideas.

[outsider]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s tourism industry will focus  on four key points: Safety, cleanliness, sustainability and not taking advantage of tourists.

 

Do they even know what they are talking about. Especially the last point ???? Oh well, still good for a few chuckles. Don't worry, everything will be same-same when we wake up tomorrow.

[sahibji]

Not taking advantage of tourists is more easily said than done. Usually it starts right from the taxi that picks you up from the airport and ends only when you are back in the plane for your flight home.

[JustAnotherHun]

[quote]Thai tourism industry to focus on safety, cleanliness, sustainability and not taking advantage of tourists[/quote]

Sounds like Thailand is planing a complete reboot ????

 

[nobodysfriend]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

and not taking advantage of tourists.

That's pure hypocrism . Of course they want to take advantage of the tourists . If not , why should they want the tourists back ?

[kotsak]

Whoever writes these headlines has a great sense of humour ????

[Guderian]

What tourism industry?

[Kaopad999]

I LOVE being taken advantage of in Thailand ...

By pretty Thai girls  ????

Edited March 29, 2021 by Kaopad999

[wombat]

so sayeth todays optimistic post from the hub of optimism

[PETERTHEEATER]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

and not taking advantage of tourists.

Words fail me.....

[PatOngo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

and not taking advantage of tourists.

Oh come on Pipat! Where's the sport in that? It's been tourisms duty for decades, ripping off tourists! I'll bet old habits die hard! Don't try and alter the image!

 

 

Edited March 29, 2021 by PatOngo

[Aarin]

1 hour ago, CelticBhoy said:

"The need to scrap dual pricing was again mulled publicly last year . . . "

 

As it was the year before that, and the year before that, and the year before that, etc..

Better start by looking at the prices the hotels in Bangkok are charging fur quarantine. The room is a double room but they charging per person. So instead of me and my wife paying  30.000 for the room you must pay 60.000.Its a disgrace and they will continue to Rip off the farangs until irs too late and Vietnam and Philippines are going to reap the rewards

[Lingba]

its too late

 

[hkt83100]

Not taking advantage of tourists might begin with the admission for national parks and other dual standards.

[robsamui]

Watching all this unfold over the last 12 months is like seeing a naughty little kid being punished - with Thailand being the arrogant, conceited, spoiled kid who's now had all his toys confiscated and his pocket money stopped.

 

"Awwww mom, I didn't mean it. Farangs are nice . . . really! I promise I'll let them in the country as long as they have 2 weeks in lockdown quarantine in a 5-stay hotel, take 8 weeks vacation, buy wonderful government insurance on top of their own, and sign up with a Thai agency abroad."

"Awwwww mom! OK - I've got an idea to get 20 million tourists in the next 2 months! No? I want my toys back! How about an idea that brings in 30 million tourists by next week? No? What about golfing quarantine? Yacht quarantine? Huntin shootin 'n' fishin quarantine? AWWWWWW MOM!"

"OK OK OK - I'll be nice and stop ripping-off farangs. No? Bubbles - we can make lots of bubbles with falang countries then they'll all want to come and see me again. Here's an idea to get just the really rich ones - we can get only one million but they'll have 30 times more money than the silly little day-trippers so we don't need so many? No? Special visas? Keep 'em captive on islands? Make quarantine only 10 days? I can do that 'sustain' thing . . . just tell me what it means, I'll do it. I promise to clean my room and not break any more farangs . . . honest!"

"AWWWW MOM! I WANT MY TOURISTS BACK. BWAAAA SNIFF SOB - I'M REALLY SORRY FOR TREATING THEM SO BAD!"

Edited March 29, 2021 by robsamui

[SymS]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

four key points: Safety, cleanliness, sustainability and not taking advantage of tourists

That would not be Thai tourism anymore. Those are the four pillars of Thai tourism: danger, garbage along the road (bonus points for garbage on the beach), fossil fuels & disregards of nature all the way, rip offs.

Edited March 29, 2021 by SymS

[tonysilly]

Once again a funny article. What are they going to do? Import people from all over the world to make sure things are done correct? No way in Hell will Thai people stop taking advantage of Tourist.  My wife family never gets tired of taking advantage of me and other Farang lol 555 

[madmen]

Won't work unless authorities Crack down hard starting with taxi meters in tourist areas. There you go they are defeated already  cause it will never happen. 

[ChrisKC]

Dual pricing

 

No need for any more discussion

No need for any more meetings

 

It is time to say YES to end it... Everywhere.

 

Cleanliness:

 

YES. Let' s clean up scruffy Thailand... everywhere.

[nerjaron]

The fact that they now openly admit that rip-offs, dual pricing etc. actually exist is a step in the right direction. I won't hold my breath for anything to happen soon though!

[johnny49r]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Going forward, and in its bid to recover post COVID-19, Thailand’s tourism industry will focus  on four key points: Safety, cleanliness, sustainability and not taking advantage of tourists.

In other words, the polar opposite of how it has always been. Will another plea to the minions of Thai tourism be heard? Hmmmm...kinda doubt it.