'One-stop service needed' for tourism investment

BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will miss out on tourism investment after the launch of the full-scale Asean Economic Commu-nity (AEC) in 2015 if state agencies do not take the initiative to form a one-stop service window like Cambodia and Myanmar, an academic said yesterday.

Those countries have realised the importance of having a single body to provide such a service, which improved their investment climate by making it easier for foreigners to do business, said Assistant Professor Thanavath Phonvichai, vice president for research at the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting.

The two countries also have a clear vision that the tourism industry is among the first priorities as they work to alleviate poverty.

Investing in the tourism industry in Thailand involves many ministries such as Foreign, Commerce and Interior, which is an investment barrier, he said.

Thailand still lacks practical regulations to promote tourism. According to the "TAT Tourism Poll: AEC", this country ranks ninth in the 10-nation Asean bloc on this issue, beating only Myanmar. Vietnam was tops, followed by Singapore, Indo-nesia, Cambodia, Brunei, the Philip-pines, Malaysia and Laos.

Practical regulations include easy visa procedures, promotions of new tourism sites and measures to address inconveniences faced by foreign visitors.

The centre in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) conducted the survey from September 30 to October 7 on 400 people working in restaurants, hotels, travel and ticketing agencies, and souvenir shops to check the readiness of operators for the opening of the AEC. The poll found that 53 per cent believed that Thai tourism would gain more opportunities than it lost from the AEC. Benefits include rising tourist arrivals and sales, along with the free flow of visitors without visas.

About 58 per cent said they were moderately prepared for the AEC. Only 28 per cent were strongly ready, while 64 per cent said foreign languages would be a handicap for Thai tourism.

However, 46 per cent thought that, looking at the whole picture after the AEC opening, Thailand was still at a low level of readiness to handle issues.

They agreed that Thailand was the top destination for "value for money", followed by Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, the Philippines and Brunei.

On all aspects of safety, the result was disappointing. Thailand was ranked fifth behind Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Laos.

However, the Kingdom showed it was most outstanding in terms of ''friendly people''.

-- The Nation 2012-11-13

"Practical regulations include easy visa procedures, promotions of new tourism sites and measures to address inconveniences faced by foreign visitors."

No wait....

The way the statistics at the end are hurled at the reader without any insight into methodology, such as survey size, makes them appear ridiculous. The end of the article has the familiar reek of that monkey business relationship between the Thai media and government.

"Practical regulations include easy visa procedures, promotions of new tourism sites and measures to address inconveniences faced by foreign visitors."

No wait....

"Wait" is right. Where is the opportunity for individual graft if a tourist or person wanting to do business can't buy his way out of being inconvenienced? In Cambodia, you pay $25 US for a one month business visa and then $285 for a one year extension. No border crossing every 90 days. All you have to do is spend 10 minutes at the airport to see how much money flows in. Of course, TIT, no one sees beyond his own pocket, and they don't have a clue that an overall increase in revenue will benefit everyone in the end.

5 year visa would be nice in stead of the yearly begging for another year extention race and paperwork

The wheels of change move very slowly in Thailand, but hopefully when Thailand joins ASEAN and the new merchant elites which now run Thailand see how much money is flowing into and between ASEAN countries with more 'sympathetic' investment and immigration rules, they will prod the powers that be to relax there terminally tight <deleted> so that Thailand opens up more. And foreigners both investors and those that live here long term can be allowed to contribute more to the GDP of Thailand.

5 year visa would be nice in stead of the yearly begging for another year extention race and paperwork

Talking Tourism here not Residential

"Practical regulations include easy visa procedures, promotions of new tourism sites and measures to address inconveniences faced by foreign visitors."

No wait....

one stop collection ... without improving the existing complex paper work to a digital one that will make it efficient the only want to create more paper and hands ons... Good on you

5 year visa would be nice in stead of the yearly begging for another year extention race and paperwork

Talking Tourism here not Residential

yeah tourism....first entice... then mistreat?

A poll of 400 people and they actually bother to publish this as a serious survey?

"Practical regulations include easy visa procedures, promotions of new tourism sites and measures to address inconveniences faced by foreign visitors."

No wait....

It's quite annoying when you can't find the wallet deposit box. Maybe the immigration could have a drop box at the counter, drop off your wallet and get stamped in and out all in one go.

There's always a reason why Thailand government institutes makes things so hard for foreigners:

Money and FACE

What? Country ranks???

They surveyed on 400 people, thais in thailand, and get country ranks out of it?

What? Country ranks???

They surveyed on 400 people, thais in thailand, and get country ranks out of it?

Well if you read the whole article it gets worse.

" 400 people working in restaurants, hotels, travel and ticketing agencies, and souvenir shops" Were they in Swampy or Issan when they tested these specific sources?

Interesting article.

Thailand will loose out , they say, when AEC comes to be in 2015.

Even Myanmar is getting greater attention and praise than Thailand at this point, Amazing

Key phrase....... centralizing to a single point. This would apparently make it better and more efficient sense for all involved, but not for the powers that be here in Thailand. Centralizing would eliminate too many of the faucets along the money pipe line. The Thai way is to further decentralize and add more taps on that line.

Remember a couple months back some minister or other stated re it being ok for a little white lie, now and then. These powers that be see that as ok as the lies tend to make things look better. That may work once or twice and be good for certain parties in the short run, but will cause major problems in the long haul.

It can be stated very simply. The lies look and appear to make things better, that is until the liars start to believe their on lies. ...... and fellow members, thats where we are today. The liars cannot tell the BS because they made it sound so good they now believe their own BS.

"Practical regulations include easy visa procedures, promotions of new tourism sites and measures to address inconveniences faced by foreign visitors."

No wait....

It's quite annoying when you can't find the wallet deposit box. Maybe the immigration could have a drop box at the counter, drop off your wallet and get stamped in and out all in one go.

You jest but not so far from reality. In my past life I had a two year contract in Indonesia. I was instructed by my Indonesian company to only fly into Surabaya as the immigration counters had no computers. I would place $20 in my passport, hand it to the officer along with a note from my company. Bingo I was in for six months no questions asked. Instant multiple business visa with no forms or qualifications.

Nothing is easy in the bureaucracy known as Thailand. Nothing... And for those who can't read, it is not about tourism, it is about tourism investment. So if you wish to start up your own jet ski operation and compete with Thai's for the scamming of tourist, Thailand is going to protect their own all the way with the bureaucracy.

"Practical regulations include easy visa procedures, promotions of new tourism sites and measures to address inconveniences faced by foreign visitors."

No wait....

It's quite annoying when you can't find the wallet deposit box. Maybe the immigration could have a drop box at the counter, drop off your wallet and get stamped in and out all in one go.

You jest but not so far from reality. In my past life I had a two year contract in Indonesia. I was instructed by my Indonesian company to only fly into Surabaya as the immigration counters had no computers. I would place $20 in my passport, hand it to the officer along with a note from my company. Bingo I was in for six months no questions asked. Instant multiple business visa with no forms or qualifications.

Guys...all right and fair about the visa- stuff...but did you read further?

TAT should introduce new tourism sights and measures to address inconveniences experienced by foreign visitors...like...let's see...being raped in Krabi??!!!

And TAT introducing new tourist sights?

I am working in tourism for almost 20 years...and TAT is promoting the same stuff over and over and over again.

All the stuff that is already popular!

Bangkok ...for shopping!

Sukhothai...for Loi Krathong!

Chiang Mai...and some Phuket and MAYBE Samui or Krabi!

THAT-IS-IT!

Good luck with all 3 points Thailand!

"Practical regulations include easy visa procedures, promotions of new tourism sites and measures to address inconveniences faced by foreign visitors."

No wait....

yes you have one spot where you can book the jet ski and the tuk tuk, but not Wat Po because it is closed today....

And when will the poor internet speed and quality be fixed? I believe the internet in Thailand is the slowest in the world. Me as a tourist is really missing that!

Even Myanmar, Cambodja and laos have better speed. Why is internet so poor in Thailand??

This would require an organized effort, and that just doesn't happen here. Until the government learns to create reasonble laws and regulations, then adhere to them across the board, this service will be nothing but a nice dream. This is a large part why Thailand is still a "developing" nation. How many posts have we read where folks are reporting "I'm getting better visas at this border crossing right now?"

ANARCHY RULES, : by oxy- more- ron, ( Thailand