Ministry Of Tourism Considering Yingluck's ' Thai Maldives' Proposal

[webfact]

Ministry Of Tourism Considering Yingluck's 'Thai Maldives' Proposal

BANGKOK: -- The Minister of Tourism said he′s ready to adopt the idea of turning Thailand into the new Maldives as proposed by PM Yingluck Shinawatra after her trip to the South Asian nation.

Previously, Ms. Yingluck has said that the Maldives have beautiful seascape and coral reefs for tourists to see, and Thailand possesses equally beautiful islands.

But the difference is that the Maldives has superior cleanliness, are more environmentally friendly, and are primarily focused on the safety of tourists, according to the Prime Minister.

Mr .Somsak Purisrisak, Minister of Tourism and Sports, gave an interview in regards to the Prim Minister’s plan for Thailand to support investors to improve the environment of the tourism to Thailand hoping to draw tourists with high purchasing power, much like the Maldives.

Mr.Somsak said that the potential for Thailand to promote marine tourism like the Maldives is dependent on the Ministry of Tourism and Sports who will be integrated tourism benefits in a manner of Eco Tourism, which has been started in many islands, such as Ang Tong Islands, Surathani. Koh Paluay is considered a green island and is a favorite among tourists as well, he said.

"Many other islands attract foreign tourists to Thailand, even though they are not yet as famous as the Malives, for example, Chang islands. Thus, to follow in the words of the PM, the ministry will be coordinating with each province with islands in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea," the minister said.

Full story: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM01ETTBNVEExTlE9PQ

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-2013-06-05

[Thai at Heart]

Oh my lord......

30 years too late on this one I fear.

[webfact]

PM plans to attract high-end visitors to boost tourism income

BANGKOK, 5 June 2013 (NNT) - Following her officials visits to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra expressed her wish to attract more high-end visitors to the country.

During the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Ms Yingluck said that high-end tourism is an effective way to boost cash flow generated from long-stay tourists.

The Prime Minister has ordered the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration and related ministries to list tourist destinations that can be developed into upscale attractions. The plan is aimed at upgrading the quality of the country’s tourism services and to boost local and national income.

Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswasdi and Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlaemthong have been assigned to spearhead the nationwide initiative.

According to reports, the number of international tourist arrivals is expected to reach 25 million visitors, generating 1.6 trillion baht revenue this year.


-- NNT 2013-06-05

[lemonjelly]

do the Maldives have TukTuk mafias ,J.J. jetski boys, aggressive and corrupt police..etc etc etc.........

[webfact]

Thai minister: Maldives tourism a model for Thailand

By Digital Media

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will introduce eco-tourism on many of the country’s islands to attract more foreign visitors, the tourism and sports minister said today.

Somsak Purisrisak said the government will encourage Thai investors to adopt an environmental conservation system at tourist-favoured islands to tap high-end overseas tourists – the way the Maldives government has been doing.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said during her visit to the island nation over the weekend that Thailand should follow the Maldives with more emphasis on cleanliness, environment and safety for tourists on most of the kingdom’s islands.

Thailand should follow the Maldives’ step in tourism promotion, she reportedly said.

Mr Somsak said the ministry will expand the eco-tourism concept in the country given the success of “green island” in some southern Thai islands.

Foreign tourists to Thailand should reach 25 million visitors, generating Bt1.6 trillion revenue this year, he said, adding that the government projected an increase to Bt2 trillion in 2015. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-06-04

[Robby nz]

So that will entail building 5 star resorts on islands which don't have the infrastructure to sustain them.

Then of course the islands will no longer be pristine.

Wonder if she has ever been to any of these islands, doubt it somehow.

Loved the " the Prim Minister’s " very appropriate.

[Thai at Heart]

So all together now.

Please clean the beaches and put in adequatew ater and waste treatment facilities in all the resorts

[notmyself]

I wonder if she saw what happens to all the waste generated by the torism.

[tominbkk]

Very hard to put the toothpaste back in the tube. The mafias that control each island will not be pleased with regulation!

[RickBradford]

Thailand will introduce eco-tourism on many of the country’s islands

Well, Ko Samet is already a national park and it looks like the aftermath of an explosion in a plastic bag factory. It seems that all those national park entry fees go no further than the little booth where officials sit placidly collecting the money.

What it comes down to is that Thailand's central government has minimal influence on what happens in the regions, which are run by a variety of local government and business warlords.

Hence, all these grandiose statements about being the 'new Maldives' are simply hot air, ignored by the people on the ground. Idiotic political grandstanding.

[geriatrickid]

So all together now.

Please clean the beaches and put in adequatew ater and waste treatment facilities in all the resorts

What? Are you mad? That would require an investment in infrastructure that won't generate an immediate profit. Cannot.

I say again. Cannot. As the hotels on Phuket have demonstrated, foreign visitors don't mind swimming with feces. The new tourists from the middle east, China and India, don't mind because Thailand is still cleaner than the places they come from.

[PoodMaiDai]

I'd wager 99% of those talking about turning Thailand into the Maldives couldn't even find it on a map.

That said, someone needs to get Chalerm on this. He'll have Thailand looking like the Maldives in three months.

[kimamey]

I'd wager 99% of those talking about turning Thailand into the Maldives couldn't even find it on a map.

That said, someone needs to get Chalerm on this. He'll have Thailand looking like the Maldives in three months.

Is that 99% can't find the Maldives on the map or can't find Thailand............or both?

[Thai at Heart]

I'd wager 99% of those talking about turning Thailand into the Maldives couldn't even find it on a map.

That said, someone needs to get Chalerm on this. He'll have Thailand looking like the Maldives in three months.

Is that 99% can't find the Maldives on the map or can't find Thailand............or both?

Find it? Can they pronounce it?

[jalansanitwong]

These clowns live in a dream world. If you want beautiful pristine beaches with rolling surf you will have to pay for it and go to Australia.

If Australian quarantine officials came to Thailand they would immediately rope off the gulf from Chumpon in the South all the way up and around the gulf to Rayong as bio hazard area.

Edited June 5, 2013 by jalansanitwong

[Thait Spot]

This will like trying to restore a scrambled egg to it's hatchable condition

[Sing_Sling]

She is right, though . . . but as Thai at Heart quite correctly said - 30 years too late

[MaxLee]

BANGKOK: -- The Minister of Tourism said he′s ready to adopt the idea of turning Thailand into the new Maldives as proposed by PM Yingluck Shinawatra after her trip to the South Asian nation.[/b]

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-2013-06-05

"I'm a BARBIE girl, in my Barbie world!!!!!!! Made of plastic, it's fantastic!!!"

I think Barbie would be very proud of Peoxyn Shinawatra by now

[keestha]

Thai authorities, try to do a little bit out of the box thinking, instead of only repeating what the others are saying. It is a misunderstanding that money which is made from tourism, mainly comes from high end tourists. The average backpacker contributes more to the Thai economy than the average high end tourist, because he stays longer and spends money locally, instead of at an international hotel chain. Why not consult authorities in charge of tourism in countries like Australia and Canada, where they do understand this.

The best thing you could do right now to stimulate tourism, would be giving all tourists from developed countries a 90 day visa free entry stamp at all entry points, just like Malaysia does.

[ratcatcher]

Forget High Speed trains, get a high speed clean up and maybe in a couple of years Thai beaches will look like this.

More rubbish from the dreamers in parliament.

[notmyself]

trash1.jpgtrash2.jpgtrash3.jpg

Forget High Speed trains, get a high speed clean up and maybe in a couple of years Thai beaches will look like this.

More rubbish from the dreamers in parliament.

Maldives World Best Island.jpg

[spidermike007]

Only wishful thinking. The Thais hear about earning potential, and assume they can do the same. But, they are totally unwilling to invest the time, money, resources, and willpower required to match the elegance, the cleanliness, the environmental awareness, the sophistication, and the progressive mentality required to achieve this status. Bumble brains like Yingluck, and Chalerm will continue to make these ridiculous suggestions, and are incapable to even contemplating what is involved. While Phuket beaches are quite clean, the Samui beaches remain fouled in a horrific way, and the mayor, the state, and the Feds do nothing about it. They talk, but they do not act. Yakitty, yak, yak, yak. All talk but no action. A bit like Donald trump, or Obama.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[spidermike007]

Thai authorities, try to do a little bit out of the box thinking, instead of only repeating what the others are saying. It is a misunderstanding that money which is made from tourism, mainly comes from high end tourists. The average backpacker contributes more to the Thai economy than the average high end tourist, because he stays longer and spends money locally, instead of at an international hotel chain. Why not consult authorities in charge of tourism in countries like Australia and Canada, where they do understand this.

The best thing you could do right now to stimulate tourism, would be giving all tourists from developed countries a 90 day visa free entry stamp at all entry points, just like Malaysia does.

You are asking the impossible. Very, very few Thais are capable of thinking outside the box. And all of them were educated, or spent decades overseas. That is just not part of the thai mentality, as they are taught that this kind of thinking is both dangerous and non-conformist. I have seen this hundreds of times. Every once in a while I am surprises to see creative thinking. But, so rarely. So, if the average thai cannot think out of the box, imagine the sub par ministers being able to do so? I have met food vendors on the street, who are more intelligent, and more capable than the average thai minister.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Thai at Heart]

In reality, how hard is it to clean beaches and stop people littering or tossing stuff overboard off boats?

Just look at the eastern coastline, it looks like a rubbish tip.

[DocN]

....yeah....right!

[Sing_Sling]

Thai authorities, try to do a little bit out of the box thinking, instead of only repeating what the others are saying. It is a misunderstanding that money which is made from tourism, mainly comes from high end tourists. The average backpacker contributes more to the Thai economy than the average high end tourist, because he stays longer and spends money locally, instead of at an international hotel chain. Why not consult authorities in charge of tourism in countries like Australia and Canada, where they do understand this.

The best thing you could do right now to stimulate tourism, would be giving all tourists from developed countries a 90 day visa free entry stamp at all entry points, just like Malaysia does.

Well, it's completely untrue that backpackers spend more money than-end tourists . . . and focusing on Canada and Australia is simply the colonialist, condescending attitude coming to the fore . . . why not compare apples to apples and look at figures from Flipland or Malaysia.

You have a very valid point, however, with the 90-day visa . . .

In reality, how hard is it to clean beaches and stop people littering or tossing stuff overboard off boats?

Just look at the eastern coastline, it looks like a rubbish tip.

It's called civic pride and awareness . . . not that prevalent in many countries in this region

[Katipo]

Is that the sound of a penny finally dropping? But yeah, a little far too late. Nothing will change, greed always wins.

[chooka]

Does this mean that they are going to clean up the scams, the mafia, remove all the festering mangy soi dogs and their feaces as well as the piles of stinking rotting garbage and the prostitutes that work the beaches. What about removing the majority of deck chairs that are cluttering the beaches so that people can see the sand and actually walk along the foreshore. Personally I think they have totally destroyed their beaches through sheer greed and corruption and there is no turning back.

oops sorry I forgot Charlerm had a crackdown on the mafia and eliminated them in his 90 day plan. No more mafia, so now they can concentrate on the other things.

Edited June 5, 2013 by chooka

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

With the Maldives projected to be underwater in some years then I think Thailand has a good chance of becoming the Maldives.

Undersea BKK anyway.

[NongKhaiKid]

This is supposed to attract even greater revenue from high end tourists and right on cue TAT brings out figures to show yet another expected increase in tourism this year.

I really do believe that one day TAT's figures will reflect more tourists than the amount of people inhabiting this planet.