Thailand Enters Asean Tourism Pact

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Thailand enters ASEAN tourism pact

BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Tourism and Sports yesterday finally signed an Asean Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on tourism professionals, delayed for years by legal barriers.

According to the Constitution, any international agreement that will bring about changes in Thailand must be approved by Parliament. While other Asean member states signed such MRAs to prepare for the Asean Economic Community in 2015, this one was held back in the Kingdom by political troubles.

The move is expected to help Thailand maintain its leadership in the hospitality industry while promoting regional service standardisation.

"It is not too late for Thailand. There will be time to discuss the issue at the Asean summit in Phnom Penh soon,'' Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa said.

Yesterday he attended the signing ceremony along with delegates from other Asean member states, who welcomed the move. Surin Pitsuwan, Asean secretary-general, said he had a strong expression that tourism would be a key driver of economic prosperity in the region as it is promoted as a single destination.

The MRA on tourism professionals is the sixth such agreement, as 32 job titles come under the Asean Minimum Competency Standards. Five professions are recognised by the bloc: medicine, nursing, dentistry, engineering, and architectural services.

Chumpol said the MRA would help standardise the tourism industry across the region, benefiting not only consumers who will receive higher-quality service, but also tour and hotels operators, who will have more opportunity to employ skilled workers.

"However, the profession will not really |be fully open because each nation has domestic laws to protect its businesses,'' the minister said.

Surin said tourism in Asean was very important for the bloc's economy. Currently, about 10 million people work in the industry, with nearly another 25 million indirectly involved. Many of these are in Thailand.

Tourism accounts for 5 per cent of the bloc's gross domestic product, and Thailand has a big slice of this cake.

Surin said that in 1991, only 20 million travellers from outside the region visited Southeast Asia, but now they number 82 million a year. Tourism will play a rising role in the future if Asean is combined as a single destination.

-- The Nation 2012-11-10

[lizardtongue]

The move is expected to help Thailand maintain its leadership in the hospitality industry while promoting regional service standardisation.

I assume that it is a self proclaimed leadership?

"It is not too late for Thailand. There will be time to discuss the issue at the Asean summit in Phnom Penh soon,'' Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa said.

Here is a 'heads up' for 'Silly Archer' it is as late as the Futsal Stadium being complete on time!

Edited November 10, 2012 by lizardtongue

[noob7]

The move is expected to help Thailand maintain its leadership in the hospitality industry while promoting regional service standardisation.

I assume that it is a self proclaimed leadership?

In case, all aspects of 'hospitality' are considered, I think, it's true:

Where else can you find so many personal assistants in the hospitality sector?

[asiawatcher]

How the wheels of progress turn in Thailand and what strange bedfellows they accumulate - and for what benefit?

[belg]

they sign an agreement, but it is not freely open because of domestic laws, so what was the use?

[osiboy]

just hope they interest some ruskies to have a look around elsewhere , pattaya and patong are looking more like red square everyday,.....wouldn't mind so much if they knew what a queue was and apologised when they "push "you out the way .

[Farang0tang]

"The MRA on tourism professionals is the sixth such agreement, as 32 job titles come under the Asean Minimum Competency Standards. Five professions are recognised by the bloc: medicine, nursing, dentistry, engineering, and architectural services."

I dont get this part? Can somebody explain please.

[Farang0tang]

Am I wrong in thinking when this ASEAN 2015 thingy kicks-in proper, it means open borders to member states for their nationals to move and work?

If so, I envisage a lot lot of Thais getting p******d off - when losing out to the likes of Filipino's etc with much better English skills, picking off a lot of the touristy jobs in the Kingdom.

Edited November 10, 2012 by Farang0tang

[dapsolapsalai]

If so, I envisage a lot lot of Thais getting p******d off - when losing out to the likes of Filipino's etc with much better English skills, picking off a lot of the touristy jobs in the Kingdom.

would they be prepared to get paid less than the burmese already here?

[noob7]

If so, I envisage a lot lot of Thais getting p******d off - when losing out to the likes of Filipino's etc with much better English skills, picking off a lot of the touristy jobs in the Kingdom.

would they be prepared to get paid less than the burmese already here?

They will still get the minimum pay, i guess. Probably the reason, why the government is rising it. So that the Thais aren't the 'cheapest' worker, in the future!

[osiboy]

i have over 25 yrs hospitality exp and was even a chef here--until they stole/copied my recipes---

they dont want to do the endless paperwork and think i want tons of money--i also need a work visa and a work permit, which took them 1 year to get..yep waited one year from hire date for them to get off thier butts to get me the permit so i could actually start work---i will no longer work for thais as my exps whether being a volunteer/dj/radio host or chef here has been a lesson in total frustration---

i think its going to be a wake up call in 2015 and with burma on the fast track--the clock is ticking...

believe and sympathise with you , as you know thais just like to copy{saves time trying to think} and tho im not a chef i consider myself pretty good in a kitchen , i dont eat much thai food and don't like many of their dishes either and have found that many are very easy to cook once you kno the recipe, there is so little "timing" involved, everything goes in the same time and it all tastes the same, only 3 choices ;- spicey , sour n'spicey or sweet n spicey and nearly all is boiled or fried, try teaching a thai how to combine an oven into the equasion and then a grill or even microwave ........omg ! babylon , i would like to kno the stats on how many farang have started up a biz here then been tucked up only for the thai partener to continue a lucrative biz , i only have to look in the mirror to see the 1st one .........no personal relationship involved btw.only biz "thai style"

[Thai at Heart]

If so, I envisage a lot lot of Thais getting p******d off - when losing out to the likes of Filipino's etc with much better English skills, picking off a lot of the touristy jobs in the Kingdom.

would they be prepared to get paid less than the burmese already here?

They will still get the minimum pay, i guess. Probably the reason, why the government is rising it. So that the Thais aren't the 'cheapest' worker, in the future!

Minimum pay? The philippinos will clear up in the tourism industry for customer facing roles.

[PoodMaiDai]

Looking forward to ASEAN starting. Thailand is about to get a huge wake up call.

[noob7]

If so, I envisage a lot lot of Thais getting p******d off - when losing out to the likes of Filipino's etc with much better English skills, picking off a lot of the touristy jobs in the Kingdom.

would they be prepared to get paid less than the burmese already here?

They will still get the minimum pay, i guess. Probably the reason, why the government is rising it. So that the Thais aren't the 'cheapest' worker, in the future!

Minimum pay? The philippinos will clear up in the tourism industry for customer facing roles.

But the Thais will get the minimum pay even for garbage-, gardening or road construction work!

And with a bachelor, they have to get another 'baht' extra.

Probably another reason, for enforcing the rules for Farang work permits.

And the Filipinos won't get a higher pay for 'easy' jobs. Because there will be a lot of English available, in the hotel business, from 2015 on!

Edited November 10, 2012 by noob7