Govt plans tourism revival after oil spill off Samet Island

[webfact]

Govt plans tourism revival after oil spill off Samet Island
By English News



BANGKOK: -- The government is set to put in place measures to help the tourism sector in the aftermath of the oil slick off Rayong, forcing tourist cancellation, said Kittiratt Na Ranong, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister.

The oil slick began Saturday morning when approximately 50 tonnes (50,000 litres) of crude oil leaked from a pipeline, spilling into the sea off Rayong. PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC) is cleaning up the oil slick that washed up on Samet Island, tainting the beach at Phrao Bay.

Measures, which are being considered, include tax adjustments measures to promote landscape improvement to attract tourists and to cut prices of some commodities popular among tourists, Mr Kittiratt said.

The government will also expand cooperation with other countries on visa waivers for tourists and on extension of tourists' staying in Thailand.

The cabinet has cut fees for hotel operators by 50 per cent for three years from July 1 this year to June 30, 2016 to help relieve effects of the minimum wage rise, he added.

Moreover, the deputy minister said planned political protests may also affect tourists' decisions on travelling to Thailand.

The tourism stimulus measures are prepared to cope with possible impacts as the tourism is one of the major factors that drive Thai economic growth.

Meanwhile, Areepong Bhoocha-oom, permanent-secretary for finance, said the planned political protest may affect tourists' confidence and may slow down Thailand's tourism sector.

He believed that in the second half of the year, when the baht weakens, it will help support tourism and will benefit the government's revenue collection.

The government's two-trillion-baht mega investment projects will stimulate economy in the second half of the year. It is projected that the 2013 economy will grow 4.5 per cent. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-08-01

[greg71]

Landscape improvements? Is this some type of joke .

[ginjag]

"'TAINTING the beach"' ------ " CUT PRICES" popular with tourists, like alcohol--fees to enter parks--Thai and Bangkok Airways fares.------

Better cut out SCAMS is that too difficult.---But any measures from arrival to departure would be welcome if they are. Think about the KIng Power prices that rip off returning home tourists----Greed.

[Pib]

He believed that in the second half of the year, when the baht weakens, it will help support tourism and will benefit the government's revenue collection.

...in the second half of the year when the baht weakens....he says. Does he know something we don't...like maybe the govt/BOT is going to take measures to weaken the baht? If so, he's got my full support. 35 baht/USD sounds good.

[spirit47]

Rice for free?

Adventure program...Falang clean up beach...

Future Park...

[bigbamboo]

Thailand's Dr. Feelgood spouting his usual verbiage.

[Lobo4819]

Again, their timeline is delusional. Three years? In three years they will still need to give out free rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs to clean the tar off the tourists' feet. And don't forget the irreplaceable reef and the marine life that won't come back anytime this decade.

[jaltsc]

"...cut prices of some commodities popular among tourist..."

I can see the tourist promotions now...."Thailand, hub of no bar fines and cheaper short times".

[jbrain]

In a month there will be reports from TAT that August tourism arrivals at Koh Samet were the highest ever.......................as they will include the clean up team members in the figures.

[Felt 35]

Thailand helps the tourism sector when rest of the world take measures to save the environment .........so they one day not need to observe that both tourists and the general population disappear due to neglect on their own soil.

[wealth]

free sunscreen and guaranteed tan right from the time you apply it?

[PaullyW]

My goodness. For all the reports of tourism being an insignificant contributor to the Thai economy, they sure do seem to really, really care about it.

[PoodMaiDai]

Miracle Thailand - Come swim in our exotic black water!

[I Like Thai]

Thailand helps the tourism sector when rest of the world take measures to save the environment .........so they one day not need to observe that both tourists and the general population disappear due to neglect on their own soil.

What imaginary world do you live on

[Songhua]

'Oil Spill Sale Now On

All Seafood Half Price'

The environment? It's all about the revenue.

[stoli]

Most of these posters above complain if the government does nothing, but complains more if the government tries to do the right thing. Make up your mind. You can't have it both ways. Just try to embrace something in your lives, and you may enjoy them more. It is not a crime to be happy. Just cut back on the morning beers.

[trainman34014]

Time for a new series of adverts for ''Miracle, Amazing, Fantastic, Super Duper, Incredible, Awe Inspiring, Mind Boggling, Non Scamming, Oil Enriched Thailand '' . Fly now for half price fares on the Worlds Premier Airline with 20 year old Jumbo's, no in-seat entertainment, torn seat covers; but amazingly good looking and charming Hostess's.

[jpeg]

He believed that in the second half of the year, when the baht weakens, it will help support tourism and will benefit the government's revenue collection.

...in the second half of the year when the baht weakens....he says. Does he know something we don't...like maybe the govt/BOT is going to take measures to weaken the baht? If so, he's got my full support. 35 baht/USD sounds good.

Back to 68 to the GBP better

As to poor Samet, it was ruined years ago. This oil slick is just the death blow.

[BudRight]

Most of these posters above complain if the government does nothing, but complains more if the government tries to do the right thing. Make up your mind. You can't have it both ways. Just try to embrace something in your lives, and you may enjoy them more. It is not a crime to be happy. Just cut back on the morning beers.

What are you, a life coach?

Concerning the spill, I think people would like the environmental disaster mitigated before they start the populist handouts.

[market trader]

The next craze in Thailand for health tourism. Crude oil massages.

[EyesWideOpen]

Most of these posters above complain if the government does nothing, but complains more if the government tries to do the right thing. Make up your mind. You can't have it both ways. Just try to embrace something in your lives, and you may enjoy them more. It is not a crime to be happy. Just cut back on the morning beers.

Governmental choices;

1. Do nothing and hope the problem goes away. A popular choice for Thailand, but does not work well with oil spills.

2. Bizarre talk of plans to recoup tourism. Not bad, but looks a bit silly with

oil still covering the beach. Cart before the horse springs to mind.

3. Throw every resource the government has to cleaning up the oil. Do not even use

the word tourism and money in any public statement. When the area is clean,

then attempt promotions to bring tourists back. Getting rid of that silly park

fee would be a good start.

[CIHUAHUA]

Time will tell. It may be wishful thinking but the beach could be ready sooner than people think. Remember the tsunami ?

[MartinL]

Once the beaches have been cleaned-up, maybe they can look at cleaning-up the rubbish dump that the island has become - refuse everywhere, oil sheen on the sea caused by boat fuel leakage/dumping(?)& smell of oil when in the sea, inappropriate building everywhere in what's supposed to be a National Park. Dangerous roads - ruts, loose surfaces etc. - for those riding motorcycles around the island.

[laurentbkk]

Maybe before talking about tourism improvement , make sure the water and beaches are totally clean ... whatever the price is cheap wont bring back people if the island is still dirty.

[laurentbkk]

Time will tell. It may be wishful thinking but the beach could be ready sooner than people think. Remember the tsunami ?

This is very different than a tsunami .... I was in the middle of it in 2004 and went back to phuket area 2 weeks after ..yes was amazingly clean and quiet .... but in the case of oil , it goes down in the sand and stick to rocks .... it can take years before every pieces gone.

[newermonkey]

Here are some great advertising line suggestions (I wont charge my usual copyright fees)

Come to beautiful Samet where you won't need sun oil. (just take a dip and its done automagically)

Samet where the sea food is already & amazingly "Pre-oiled" for cooking.

Come dive and look at our unique and rare "black corral"

Amazing Samet the only place in the world where you can see the unusual two headed black dolphins.

Come to the land where it looks like everyone is wearing wellingtons.

[tomross46]

Govt plans tourism revival after oil spill off Samet Island

So will the government be putting tents up on the beach, Will they invite the Rev. Jessie Jackson, or Rev Al Sharp, to hold the revival meetings. Nothing like the good old Southern Baptist revival meetings, to bring out the believers. It could be like the Blues Brothers. Give me that old time religion. Lets get all the tourist down on the beach of Samet.

[PaullyW]

The next craze in Thailand for  health tourism. Crude oil massages. 

"hellooooooooo siiiiiiiiir. Crude oi masaaaaaaage. Helloooooooo"

[Thai at Heart]

Just watching the TV headlines now, sponsored by, you guessed it.

PTT Plc. I wonder what they will show of the slick....

[JetsetBkk]

Landscape improvements? Is this some type of joke .

Maybe he's referring to the top 12 inches of sand on the beach that has to be removed and replaced with clean, imported sand.

I think the Canary Islands have been doing that for decades with sand they buy from Morocco...