T A T Launches ' The Little Big Project' To Promote Tourism And Save Environment

[HuaHinHim]

I think a program like cleanup Australia would be better. It made a big difference. Thais need to understand the damage they are doing by excessive littering. Think about the future and not just themselves and the present. I also admit that not every Thai is like that but it appears to me that large percentage of the population are. Sorry if it offends but it's how I've seen it over the last 8 years I've been here

[khunken]

Buchholz, on 11 Apr 2013 - 11:04, said:

BrianCR, on 11 Apr 2013 - 10:47, said:

As TAT is owned and managed by the Thai Government it will not be very hard for them to instigate visa exemptions or even create a new type of visa

.

Good.

Let them issue work permit exemption letters BEFORE announcing that it is ok to violate Labor Ministry work permit laws and Foreign Ministry visa laws. That they don't mention it at all lends one to believe that this time, as previously, they haven't even considered the illegality of their latest campaign.

p.s.

It must be hard for them. They or any other entity has never done so before.

.

Because there is no mention of a visa/wp doesn't mean they haven't looking into the matter. I do believe that TAT advertise for tourists but never mention the visa. Interesting to note that to take part in this programme people have to book perhaps, legalities will be taken care of at that time. I seem to remember with the VIP Club a few years back visas were automatically issued to members with no problem? Perhaps your are not understanding that a government can change/alter visa/wp rules as and when it sees fit! Don't forget that the Labor Ministry and Foreign Ministry are both controlled by Government Minsters so, problem solved!

You are jumping to enormous conclusions. Maybe....maybe...

The Immigration dept is the one that goes after non-Thais working or volunteering without a work permit. The Immigration dept comes under the police who in turn come under the Interior Ministry. TAT solving the problem - unlikely because all they want is visitor numbers. Various ministries talking to one another - total bull - they just protect their own turf.

I suspect that their use of the term 'volunteering' means spending money to feed elephants & the like.

[mancub]

The web site is quite amazingly well done. There are some clever people working here.

But the official rules are daunting: http://www.thelittlebigprojectthailand.com/images/file/Official-Rules-The-Little-Big-Project-R040413.pdf

Oh... so it's a publicity stunt not a program..

Would be termed a promotion by most people!

Winners must attend a Press conference ....produce daily video blogs using social media tools etc etc .....Sorry ,but it's a publicity stunt thinly disguised as a promotion .

[justathought]

Again the foreigner comes to the rescue especially the ferang, but when he gets hear, what happens? He/She gets beaten, robbed, raped, murdered, exposed to double pricing, and faced with all means of money extortion from the very people who are supposed to protect them. I ask you with "hat in hand" would you really wish to come hear under those conditions?

Sorry to ask but which part of Thailand are you living in? Obviously the wrong part!

having lived in Thailand for over 20 years, none of these things have remotely happened to me. And I must admit I am not the friendliest chap around and at times loose my temper.

[BrianCR]

Again the foreigner comes to the rescue especially the ferang, but when he gets hear, what happens? He/She gets beaten, robbed, raped, murdered, exposed to double pricing, and faced with all means of money extortion from the very people who are supposed to protect them. I ask you with "hat in hand" would you really wish to come hear under those conditions?

Sorry to ask but which part of Thailand are you living in? Obviously the wrong part!

having lived in Thailand for over 20 years, none of these things have remotely happened to me. And I must admit I am not the friendliest chap around and at times loose my temper.

I'm very pleased to hear it and after 33 years I can echo your comment but, a lot of nice stuff has happened and i think that it would be great to hear some of that- after all comments like He/She gets beaten, robbed, raped, murdered are also everyday happenings in Western countries don't you think it would be nicer if we heard factual reports from Ex-pats about the good things that have happened to them? Have a nice day!

[americaninbangkok]

The web site is quite amazingly well done. There are some clever people working here.

But the official rules are daunting: http://www.thelittlebigprojectthailand.com/images/file/Official-Rules-The-Little-Big-Project-R040413.pdf

Oh... so it's a publicity stunt not a program..

Would be termed a promotion by most people!

Considering that you only have 1.5 months to sign up ("Those who are interested in the project may register now until May 20, 2013"), you would have to call this a promotional, limited time offer.

It's a bit much to expect a) a foreign traveler who already had travel plans now to add in a volunteer effort, or did not have travel plans to now make plans on short notice based on volunteering. It's not like it's a Thai Airways reduced fare promotion.

Good thought, tragic execution.

[WhizBang]

Because there is no mention of a visa/wp doesn't mean they haven't looking into the matter. I do believe that TAT advertise for tourists but never mention the visa.

True... BUT, most people would also NOT be expecting to be required to have a valid work permit just to do volunteer work.

The devil is in the details.

[WhizBang]

I think a program like cleanup Australia would be better. It made a big difference. Thais need to understand the damage they are doing by excessive littering. Think about the future and not just themselves and the present. I also admit that not every Thai is like that but it appears to me that large percentage of the population are. Sorry if it offends but it's how I've seen it over the last 8 years I've been here

On the last trip I took with my lady, at one point, when she had some rubbish to get rid of, she looked at me and said 'I guess I cannot throw this away here'. To which I responded, 'that's right, wait until be find a garbage can.' She held on to it. I also said 'good for you'.

So... it just goes to show that you CAN teach them new ideas. But you have to be consistant in your message.

[Locationthailand]

One thing Thailand fails in, is environmental issues - continually. Attracting tourism is a good idea, but as already stated, it would be an excellent idea to educate Thai's not to dump on their own backyard. Clean up Australia day worked miracles and continues to do so. One day in a weekend around Songkran would be in keeping with the culture as that fits parts of Songkran. Imagine if the public at large cleaned up canals, parks, alleys, and all the street vendor rubbish - wouldn't that be wonderful? Then TAT could go full tilt at trying to attract tourism.

[surangw]

"overwhelmed by the influx of foreign tourists"

and begging for more ?

[khaowong1]

The web site is quite amazingly well done. There are some clever people working here.

But the official rules are daunting: http://www.thelittlebigprojectthailand.com/images/file/Official-Rules-The-Little-Big-Project-R040413.pdf

Well, I have to say, I am absolutely gobsmacked by the website. I would like to believe that TAT came up with this all on their own, and if they did, great job. It has a Discovery Channel series written all over it.

Yes, and it would appear that TAT will solely claim all monetary benefits from Discovery Channel or any other publications. And only allowing English speaking, reading and writing, it sure leaves out a lot of people. The French and Danes have always been rather good at this stuff. Now they are being left out in the cold..

[noitom]

Why would they be promoting tourism, if an another article indicted that "Thailand is overwhelmed by the influx of tourists?"

[mancub]

Why would they be promoting tourism, if an another article indicted that "Thailand is overwhelmed by the influx of tourists?"

Greed

[JetsetBkk]

Because there is no mention of a visa/wp doesn't mean they haven't looking into the matter. I do believe that TAT advertise for tourists but never mention the visa.

True... BUT, most people would also NOT be expecting to be required to have a valid work permit just to do volunteer work.

The devil is in the details.

Just in...

Dear Mr./Ms JetsetBkk (OK, I changed that bit)

Thank you very much for contacting us.

As per your inquiry, we would like to inform you that You will have to

apply for tourist visa to visit Thailand but not required to have work

permit to attend the trip.

For further inquiry, please feel free to contact us.We wish to see

your entry and welcoming you here in Thailand.

Have a good luck

Best Regards

Support Team,

www.TheLittleBigProjectThailand.com