6 hours ago, cdemundo said:

Sounds like mostly a failed IT implementation.

I always wonder about nepotism/cronyism when IT projects go off the rails.

"My son studied coding for 6 months, he can build the needed IT support".

Or people who coded phone apps thinking they can build a multiuser business system.

Or plain old graft, IT contract to the company with the juiciest bribe?

 

Seems like a professional IT company could have implemented the requirements, not exactly a problem on a par with a mission to Mars as far as unique challenges.

Now fixing a system that was screwed up from the start, there's a challenge.

 

True but professional IT companies charge money for their services.

If the cheapo's at the TAT had spent more than 5,000 baht designing this website they likely wouldn't be having these issues right now, but they always seem to be cutting corners in the wrong places.

 

Spend 100 million baht promoting the scheme but then limit the budget for the website to 5,000 baht, smart, very smart. 

6 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Why is it always "Chaos erupts?"

   Yes, it's always 'chaos' no matter how trivial the incident.  Or, the equally popular 'outrage', last seen on the minor non-story of a couple of guys peeing into the ocean.   But, perhaps some small progress.  A recent article on Trump finally did not refer to him as "former President Trump".  

LOL

6 hours ago, proton said:

Looks like it was impossible to sign up for the scheme anyway. Mrs tried from day one, for hours, neither her or her many friends managed to do it, another online fiasco.

Same same

Here we go again yet another unorganised mess they announce all these deals yet fail to come up how it will be planned the mouth opens when the brain is inactive 

7 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Why is it always "Chaos erupts?"

Sometimes Etna and Vesuvius are quiet , then Chaos fills the gap ! 

1 hour ago, JimHuaHin said:

First requirement - competent IT people with appropriate, yes appropriate, training and skills.

 

Second requirement - competent IT people with appropriate, yes appropriate, training and skills.

 

Third requirement - competent IT people with appropriate, yes appropriate, training and skills.

 

Thailand does not have many of these people, because Thailand does not train enough people.

 

 

And won't bring in teachers that can train properly. That might take a Thai job. It may end up with trained Thai though.

Technology and Thai bureaucracy have never been the best of friends

9 hours ago, JoePai said:

 Krungthai  is a pain to deal with - use real banks, K Bank, Bangkopk ,SCB etc.

Payments from abroad always go through Kasikorn Bank before hitting the KrungThai account. Reason for that? I don`t know. But it slows down the payments with both banks are being susceptible to errors and problems .

8 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Why is it always "Chaos erupts?"

In other words THAINESS 🤷🏼

13 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo courtesy of Facebook Dusit Thani

 

Chaos erupts as Thai hotels, including big names like Dusit, pause involvement in the domestic tourism subsidy scheme due to technical glitches in the system. The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) online platform has gasped to a halt for maintenance, just as criticism over sluggish processes mounts.

 

Prachoom Tantiprasertsuk, a leader in marketing at the Thai Hotels Association, reveals numerous hotels are stepping back until system stability is assured. The back-end issues leave hotels unable to access crucial booking management, forcing them to turn away customers eager to take advantage of the subsidy.

 

The hitches led to a second closure of public registration for updates last Friday, sparking frustration aimed at the lack of readiness. Meanwhile, Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong is in talks with TAT, hoping to resolve these operational headaches swiftly.

 

A recent conversation between TAT and representatives of over 1,200 hotels shed light on four pressing problems. Chief among them is the rigid pricing method, which locks in rates, preventing hotels from adjusting prices in response to market changes. This inflexible structure allows only three room types per property, exacerbating complications.

 

The antiquated technology further fails to support automatic verification of payment slips. Ms Prachoom, formerly with Dusit International, warns this manual checking increases risk and burdens staff. Both Dusit Thani in Pattaya and Hua Hin responded by halting new scheme bookings but honouring existing paid reservations.

 

Hotels face a lengthy approval process hobbled by the insistence on using Krungthai Bank accounts, adding a 3-4 day delay for verification. Dusit isn’t alone in its struggles—Minor Hotels reports that, while all 26 of its Thai properties are in the system, only eight have passed the bank's rigorous scrutiny.

 

Currently, 2,292 hotels have managed to publish rates on the TAT site, yet 3,047 await bank verification. Despite the registration halt, hotels are still free to join the scheme, and verified users can continue booking, albeit amid these tumultuous times.

 

The tourism sector watches eagerly, hopeful for a swift resolution that will stabilise the process and restore faith in the subsidy scheme’s viability.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-07-05

 

 

I wonder whose kid fresh out of Uni was awarded this IT project.

10 hours ago, bg53 said:

Sounds like the hotels are frustrated because of how strict the approval process is.

 

Guess that shows how much the government wants to curb abuses?

 

Call me cynical, but I'd bet they're more focused on making sure the gub'ment subsidies go to the "right" properties.  The ones with political clout.

 

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Thainess at the leading edge..

jump

4 hours ago, JAS21 said:

The last scheme during Covid 1.0 worked very well for us, we had some cheap deals at some nice hotels. This time my wife has tried many times to register … failed every time so far.

 

The program during Covid was indeed great for the travelers who used it, but it turned out that there was massive fraud by properties that billed the government for non-existent stays. This is the problem they're trying to eliminate during the current iteration, but unfortunately their efforts have ended up causing big headaches for users like your wife.

13 hours ago, blaze master said:

Plenty of room at the hotel California...any time of year...you can find it here.

  ...."We are programmed to receive, 
You can check-out any time you like
But you can never leave!"

7 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

  ...."We are programmed to receive, 
You can check-out any time you like
But you can never leave!"

 

I see you have come over from the living on a tight budget in isan thread.

10 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Why is it always "Chaos erupts?"

What's the alternatives?

Just now, Magictoad said:

What's the alternatives?

 

Hotels back out of Thai government tourist scheme. 

The British Government have spent decades trying to build a new runway at Heathrow airport and have similarly spent multiple decades on various projects that the Chinese and the Americans complete in Months and years.  It's so bad in the UK by the time a major project is completed the actual technology is out of date. This Thai hotel farce looks understandable in comparison to the UK's money spinning, wasteful projects which are all done WITH PUBLIC MONEY.

15 hours ago, blaze master said:

Plenty of room at the hotel California...any time of year...you can find it here.

Such a lovely place . . .

The Shinawatra clan really has lost the plot. Nowadays they can't even get their populist policies right, which used to be the foundation of their success. The silly wallet flip-flopping, now this botched program, what's next?

17 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Thailand - technology hub?

 

A splendid example of Thai e-government, I should think.

11 hours ago, CLW said:

On the other hand, the TDAC introduction went quite smoothly. 

Maybe police/immigration have better IT services than TAT

 

I meant to post something about an IT fiasco in another government agency, too, but refrained because I didn't want to go off topic. AseanNow has a forum dedicated to IT, I believe, and perhaps a member more knowledge than I about this field coud start a topic there where we could relate the good and the bad we hear and see about the execution of Thailand's e-government.

Just go on lazada and renew that windows xp license 

When I lived there I put the son of my girlfriend threw Software engineering.  After 4 years he could not pass the test, not even close. His mom paid the teacher off to pass him.   And guess what bank he went to work for?  Yup you are right.

Well it is Thai a Thai Gov department after all. What else could be expected?

13 hours ago, marin said:

Brilliant the first time. We took advantage often. Its obvious this is a PT screw up again. Populace plans are spouted but totally fail. Think of the 10,000 baht handout. Not too much brain power running the country right now. 

there is an international name for this ...........

10 hours ago, Magictoad said:

What's the alternatives?

Report the truth. Running of the Bulls at the Festival de San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain is chaos erupting.

Hotels backing out of a scheme is a strategic business decision, a fart in a mud puddle.

On 7/5/2025 at 3:13 AM, webfact said:

File photo courtesy of Facebook Dusit Thani

 

 

 

Currently, 2,292 hotels have managed to publish rates on the TAT site, yet 3,047 await bank verification. Despite the registration halt, hotels are still free to join the scheme, and verified users can continue booking, albeit amid these tumultuous times.

 

 

 

Dusit Thani in Pattaya and Hua Hin responded by halting new scheme bookings but honouring existing paid reservations.

if you ever had the "pleasure" of staying there,,

....actually, a blessing in disguise