Council wants junta to help Thai tourism industry

[webfact]

Council wants junta to help tourism industry
Suchat Sritama
The Nation

Many problems need addressing besides curfew, TCT says

BANGKOK: -- The tourism sector is pressing the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to solve some urgent problems that are making things even worse for a crucial industry that has been hit hard for months.

The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) also is putting forward some short-term measures to prop up the industry.

"Apart from lifting night-time curfews in tourist areas, the military government still needs to solve many other problems. These include reducing illegal businesses such as [unlicensed] taxis in Phuket, Chinese-language tourist guides who are reportedly damaging local guides' [business], and overcharging for electricity on Samui Island," said Pornthip Hirunkate, vice president of the TCT.

Since the military seized power last month, travel associations, especially in the provinces, have approached the NCPO directly for help instead of the TCT, as they believe they will get a quicker response from the junta.

The TCT, however, is compiling a list of problems and will soon pass them to the NCPO. It will also advise the regime to run a series of short-term recovery plans such as providing funding to help retired people travel, encouraging government officials to hold meetings and conference in the provinces, and reducing exploitation of tourists.

Meanwhile, the junta should launch a hotel-discount campaign very soon to boost domestic travel. The campaign would be funded by the Bt840-million grant announced last week to revive tourism.

"Tourism has dropped significantly since the military coup last month. But we still have hopes of being a world-famous destination," Pornthip said.

According to statistics, Thailand earned Bt1.3 trillion in revenue from foreign tourists last year, ranking seventh in global tourism income - ahead of all Asean and after only China, up from ninth in 2012. There were 26.5 million international visitors last year, 10th globally.

According to the NCPO, three more major tourist destinations -Khao Yai, Koh Chang and Koh Phangan - have had the curfew lifted. Places previously exempted are Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Cha-am and Hat Yai.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is projecting international visitor arrivals in 2014 at 25.6 million, a slight drop from last year. However, visitor expenditure is expected to rise 2.18 per cent to Bt1.23 trillion.


-- The Nation 2014-06-10

[EricBerg]

It seems the military is approached all the time now by many different groups of society to change things, stimulate economy, cut out the bad parts. It means many trust the new (temporary) government to be able to accomplish things other governments could not. Or did not want to.

It means Prayuth is doing a good job.

[englishoak]

Maybe they can offer free airport to hotel rides in their trucks for pensioners or camouflage souvenir Thai silk scarves. Or hand out free copies of the latest song-writing phenomenon.

The possibilities are endless

[terryp]

"Apart from lifting night-time curfews in tourist areas, the military government still needs to solve many other problems. These include reducing illegal businesses such as [unlicensed] taxis in Phuket, Chinese-language tourist guides who are reportedly damaging local guides' [business], and overcharging for electricity on Samui Island," said Pornthip Hirunkate, vice president of the TCT.

is that it? I can give you a list of HUNDREDS of more serious problems..guess the electric price on Samui is driving aways millions of tourists ..for pitys sake are these people even awake

[UbonRatch]

..for pitys sake are these people even awake

Is that a rhetorical question?

[Oryx816]

It seems the military is approached all the time now by many different groups of society to change things, stimulate economy, cut out the bad parts. It means many trust the new (temporary) government to be able to accomplish things other governments could not. Or did not want to.

It means Prayuth is doing a good job.

One would hope so, but they can't say yes to everyone, so they may as well say yes to no one, that way everyone is disgruntled,but at least it is fair.

[TommyUK1960]

It would be nice to see them sort out Jet Ski crooks.

[ebean001]

Please cancel the curfew nationwide. that solves many tourist issues.

[JoeLing]

Can't wait to see those army girls in camouflage g-strings,
playing [volley]ball on the tourist beaches
accompanied by the Army brass band.

[Strangebrew]

Want to help torism enforce the laws to stop crime against tourist is a good place to start.

[lomatopo]

Just send out the Thai Navy, Air Force and Army to various international locales to "round up" encourage tourists.

[Chris Lawrence]

Hair cuts, pop music, free deserts, hotel discounts, rice scheme, discount petrol, cheap eats; populists programs?

No infustructure spending because the brown envelopes didn't reach the new targets?

Maybe we are watching a country go broke?

Its great to see petty crooks being swooped on, but the big ones at the end of town are still on the loose.

Tourists are important, but we may get to a country with nothing in it. We just become bigger ATM targets?

[Benmart]

Can't wait to see those army girls in camouflage g-strings,

playing [volley]ball on the tourist beaches

accompanied by the Army brass band.

I prefer something a bit more mature, productive and beneficial. There already seems to be plenty of alternative distractions for sober and non-sober tastes.

What seems to be in short supply are constructive comments aimed at the issue at hand.

[shirtless]

If they want to fix tourism, they need to start cleaning the beaches and stop run off and untreated sewerage being discharged into the ocean, . Jomtien beach is disgusting, and i am sure its not an isolated case, Past governments have failed to address infrastructure , scams , and pollution, dont get me started on the private sector.

[WhizBang]

Perhaps the tourism council can make better use of it's time by leaving the junta alone. The junta has a lot on it's plate right now without having to cater to special interests. The tourism council should perhaps lobby TAT instead. Not that it would do much good.

[JoeLing]

Can't wait to see those army girls in camouflage g-strings,

playing [volley]ball on the tourist beaches

accompanied by the Army brass band.

I prefer something a bit more mature, productive and beneficial. There already seems to be plenty of alternative distractions for sober and non-sober tastes.

What seems to be in short supply are constructive comments aimed at the issue at hand.

Constructive comments ?

Here on TV ?

OK - I'll try.

So how could the army help tourism in a mature, productive way?

Sorry, I give up

Edited June 10, 2014 by JoeLing

[Thailand]

Bit drastic I know but holding free and fair elections would probably go a long way to solving the tourism problem.

But with Suthep et al having fought so hard to avoid that, and aided and abetted by those with the power not a likely scenario.

An unelected government simply won't hack it with the outside worlds governments who need to able to say to their citizens that travel to Thailand is OK, at the moment they cannot.

From our perspective. We have had a few people ask us if it's OK to come to visit and we have said yes but be aware the military are in control and there are armed soldiers on the streets but it, and the previous couple of coups we have been through, have barely affected us apart from being unable to say what you may really think.

[bigbamboo]

"Tourism has dropped significantly since the coup last month but we still have hopes of being a world famous destination". said Porntip.

With statements like that think the TCT doesn't so much need help as a new VP.

Tourism had dropped significantly before the coup when things really were getting ugly here and Asian tourists in particular were staying away in droves. And I would have said that being number one in South East Asia proves that Thailand is already a world famous destination. What she should have said is that she has hopes of Thailand being a world class destination and the that means a really big clean up on so many fronts. Thankfully the military has already begun that process.

[bunuel]

The tourism industry is global, and the market is not Thai, but international. The military rulers complain that the rest of the world

" does not understand " LOS whenever they are critical; they may be right, but understanding is a two-way street. If the Thai tourism industry seeks to attract the international market, the current government needs to better understand the rest of the world. The fact is that most tourists know little about Thailand, nor do they want to get involved with local politics while on vacation. However,

tourists are generally risk-averse; they will stay away from destinations with image problems and take their business elsewhere,

since there are a lot of other wonderful destinations to chose from. In short, Thailand has a serious public relations problem, and

solving it will require retaining the services of a professional international public relations firm, at the very least.

Other countries - like South Africa, Jamaica and Mexico - do this and are able to sustain healthy flow of foreign tourists, despite problems on the ground, like crime, which are far worse than anything in LOS. Image is everything!

[lomatopo]

I am seeing a new TV campaign, with theme music...

"Return happiness to Thailand"

Thai army chief shows sensitive side with 'happiness' song

BANGKOK (AFP) - A ballad penned by a coup-making army chief promising to bring happiness back to Thailand has been viewed more than 200,000 times on YouTube, in the military's latest effort to put a positive spin on its putsch. The normally stern-faced General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who led the May 22 military overthrow of the civilian government, can now list songwriting among his talents after writing the lyrics to "Return happiness to Thailand".

The song - featuring reassuring lines such as "we offer to take care and protect you with our hearts" and "give us a little more time" - has proved an hit since the Royal Thai Army band put Gen Prayut's words to music on Friday and released it on their website.

By Monday, one uploaded video on YouTube had garnered 150,000 views, while other media sources posted links to the patriotic song that generated tens of thousands more hits.

[citizen33]

Fewer tourists, but they are expected to spend more. Now where I have I heard that one before?

[JoeLing]

..... understanding is a two-way street. If the Thai tourism industry seeks to attract the international market, the current government needs to better understand the rest of the world. The fact is that most tourists know little about Thailand, nor do they want to get involved with local politics while on vacation. .........

........ Image is everything!

One of the most basic philosophies for every Thai seams to be: "Ultimately I'm on my own". ME, ME, ME.

Only MY idea is right. Only I am important. Only MY opinion counts. Only I understand, no one else.

Suppose that's why Thailand is also the hub of clarifications.

The only time others are considered is, if one can point a finger at them.

I believe keeping face in one's own mind is more important to Thais, than the image others might have of them.

[retell]

Tat , tct is the next on ye list of most corrupt money swindling bunch

No doubt heads will roll in those departments soon

[retell]

Tat , tct is the next on ye list of most corrupt money swindling bunch

No doubt heads will roll in those departments soon

[Snig27]

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Bit drastic I know but holding free and fair elections would probably go a long way to solving the tourism problem.

But with Suthep et al having fought so hard to avoid that, and aided and abetted by those with the power not a likely scenario.

An unelected government simply won't hack it with the outside worlds governments who need to able to say to their citizens that travel to Thailand is OK, at the moment they cannot.

From our perspective. We have had a few people ask us if it's OK to come to visit and we have said yes but be aware the military are in control and there are armed soldiers on the streets but it, and the previous couple of coups we have been through, have barely affected us apart from being unable to say what you may really think.

Well of course this is the glaring and overriding issue that they won't and and can't address. The fact is that 70 countries have warned their citizens not to come here - this is far more than the US as the dead-from-the-neck-upwards crowd who are attacking Kerry and the US for interfering in Thai politics seem not to understand. It is a large part of the world. ASEAN and APEC countries are amongst these and many have done much more than just say "don't come" - Indonesia and Japan have both formally censured the Thai ambassador. Singaporeans and Hong Kong residents are loudly being warned not to go to Thailand. All of Europe and Australasia.

What this means is that travel agents and insurance companies won't support a trip to Thailand and thus we have the spectre of empty airports, hotels and the loss of a lot jobs that will inevitably follow. This is 7% of the Thai economy and no amount of curfew lifting with help.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Snig27