By Editor

The Royal Coast Riviera Club (RCRC) has held the August meeting at the Centara Grand Beach Resort Hua Hin, with a presentation by VIP guest Mr Korn Chatikavanij, leader of the Kla Party. 

Khun Korn is a very prominent figure on Thailand’s political scene.  His background includes being an Oxford University honours graduate, reading politics, philosophy, and economics, and then an early career in investment banking.  He was a finance minister in former Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s national government.  In January 2020 he resigned from the Democrats to form his own party soon after.

 

Being considered a leader of the younger entrepreneurial generation, the presentation was about his plans and vision for “Thailand’s future in the wake of Covid 19”.

 

 

Khun Korn also made himself available at a press conference with a question and answer format after his presentation to around 40 RCRC members and guests.  He said this was the only presentation during his visit to Hua Hin.  However with a residence in Cha-Am, he is very familiar with the region and a self-described big fan of Hua Hin radio station Surf 102.5 FM.

 

He describes himself as a ‘’beach man’’ who really appreciates the opportunities to escape the pressures of the Bangkok political scene.  The pleasure of enjoying beach walks and the region’s quality environment is something he wants future generations to continue to be able to enjoy.

 

The presentation covered a wide range of fresh policy ideas, with Khun Korn suggesting that after the eight years of “frustration, wasted opportunities and uninformed government policies”, optimism is warranted for Thailand’s ‘’huge potential’’ to be realised.  However he says a new approach is needed and when it comes to politics, ‘’nothing is certain.’’

 

On the economic front, Khun Korn is confident of the country’s ability to manage the ‘macro issues’, but says that urgent strategies are needed at the ‘micro level’, that is the pressures on households and growing personal debt burdens.  He is in favour of ‘earmarking’ financial reform rather than having taxation only directed to a ‘central coffer’. 

 

For example targeting what he describes as the excessive income for oil companies towards a household solar energy program.   He described the country’s current energy model as ‘from the last century’, favouring carbon producers, and the need to urgently reduce the country’s dependance on fossil fuels and road-based transport.  

 

Some of Khun Korn’s vision is to make big reforms to policies related to foreigners, a vision welcomed by participants at the RCRC meeting.  For example, allowing more foreign doctors to practice here as health care and education needs to be prioritised.  He also wants visa arrangements to be reformed, including scrapping the 90 day reporting requirement.  A requirement he says is “ridiculous!”

 

 

Khun Korn described the Phuket Sandbox scenario as a lesson about how localised ideas and policy can achieve more than relying on dictates from Bangkok; that could include elections for provincial governors.

 

That’s an opportunity for the Royal Coast region to stand out, with Khun Korn adding his support for the aims of the Royal Coast Riviera Club’s aims to affect local policy.

 

 

The RCRC has become a leading voice aiming to develop the region as a quality tourism and lifestyles destination, ’recognising the unique heritage, natural beauty, environment, attractions and special character of the region.’

 

As a founding Member, the Royal Coast Review attends monthly meetings of the RCRC, along with the region’s hospitality and tourism leaders. 

 

 

Source: https://royalcoastreview.com/2022/08/a-vip-presentation-in-hua-hin-korn-chatikavanij-gives-his-vision-for-thailands-future/

 

-- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2022-08-20

 

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Certainly agree about the 90 Day Report. Address should only be required with initial stay and if changing address for those on annual Visas or  extensions.

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Being considered a leader of the younger entrepreneurial generation, the presentation was about his plans and vision for “Thailand’s future in the wake of Covid 19”.

A vision is empty.... Thailand needs reality.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

A vision is empty.... Thailand needs reality.

A vision is a start, at least. It may seem empty but it's still a whole lot more than those currently in charge have!

1 hour ago, JayClay said:

A vision is a start, at least. It may seem empty but it's still a whole lot more than those currently in charge have!

The only vision any Thai politician has is self enrichment.

None care a hoot about the populous, just get to the top spot and increase the bank balance.