Don't stay at resorts illegally built on state land: Thai tourism

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Don't stay at resorts illegally built on state land
Samudcha Hoonsara
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In the high tourism season late this year, many people plan to experience the cool weather upcountry. This author was invited by a friend to visit a resort in Nakhon Ratchasima's Wang Nam Khiew district for a visit and an outdoor concert in late November.

The event is expected to draw thousands of participants from all over the country.

I did research on the Internet for the route and the concert venue, as well as about places to visit during the trip. I discovered a number of news reports about this place. Operators of resorts in Wang Nam Khiew were sued many years ago for forest encroachment and illegal encroachment on state land.

On discovering this, I decided to turn down the invitation. I do not want to support any business that is accused of encroaching on a national forest that is home to many wildlife and should be an asset for the Thai public as a whole.

Many prospective participants on the trip and the concert event may be unaware of this place's questionable background. They are only interested in the glamorous event and the "natural beauty" of the resort.

If they know about the background of that place in question, many of the prospective concert-goers certainly will make the same decision as me.

I talked once with a foreign friend about conservation of natural tourist destinations and tours of forest reserves and mangrove forests. The foreign friend told me that people in his country respect the laws and care for the environment. People in that country often avoid breaking the laws or damaging the environment, and they tend to boycott any person or business that violates the law or damages the environment.

"In my country, hotels and resorts that encroach on the forest or hold the land illegally will be boycotted by the public. Without customers, their businesses will have to close down due to loss," my friend said.

He added that before going to stay at any hotel or resort during a trip, people in his country often check to see whether the place has any problem about the environment and would avoid any place with a questionable background. "We also distribute our findings online so that other people will know about it too."

The problem of forest encroachment and illegal occupation of state land has existed for a long time in Thailand.

Following the coup, the National Council for Peace and Order and now the government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha have got tough with people who have broken this law.

Arrests have been made and buildings on state land dismantled. However, there are also cases of stubborn law violators who continue to hold land illegally. This poses a challenge for the government and the authorities involved.

I would like to focus on Wang Nam Khiew and Pak Chong districts of Nakhon Ratchasima, which are located near the national forests of Khao Yai and Thap Lan. That area is known as the "Switzerland of the Northeast" due to the pleasant air and environment.

A large part of forests in that area has been encroached upon. The problem has existed for a long time and is unlikely to be solved in the near future. Many pieces of state land and forest have been held illegally, and the problem has worsened over recent years, which has seen a land and tourism boom in that area.

Despite legal action against them, several business operators still refuse to close down their businesses that are accused of forest encroachment. They can still enjoy good business thanks to support from customers who don't know about this. Those defiant law-breaking businesses still believe in the power of their money.

The authorities responsible for this issue, particularly Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dapong Ratanasuwan, as well as Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Peetipong Phuengbun na Ayutthaya, should pay more attention to the problem of forest encroachment and illegal holding of state land.

The problem should be tackled seriously or Thai forests and wildlife will become history in a not-so-distant future.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Dont-stay-at-resorts-illegally-built-on-state-land-30245160.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-10

[The stuttering parrot]

And how is one to know a particular resort is legal or not?

It's like whether a bargirl is a prostitute or not,

The authorities know it's there but chose to ignore it.

[Fiddlesticks]

So, tourists should police encroachment! ? ! ? Funny, I thought that was the responsibility of those tasked with enforcing the laws of Thailand. Oops! I forgot, the laws are not applicable to the rich and powerful.

Well, I guess it is up to the tourists to do the job.

We can only sit and laugh at the absurdity and incompetence of the Thai legal system.

[ParadiseLost]

Money, or more specifically the obsessive love for money is destroying Thai culture.

Don't think they are alone, but the inequality gap here dwarfs most civilized countries. According to the Economist, 0.1% of Thais own +50% of the country's wealth.

It is difficult to know why a country - supposedly based upon Buddhist principles - has so many (and yet so few) rich citizens...

[WitawatWatawit]

Sorry, writer, but you Thais are not attuned to the concept of a boycott. Especially if it means interfering in your fun, fun, fun. And like Parrot says, who is going to check? Community activism is a concept foreign to Thais - most of them, anyway, and then only on highly publicised issues. I've only ever seen a few open-minded individuals attempt to use their purchasing power as a form of protest.

[MikeENZ]

Does that mean they'll be tearing all the beach resorts down in the Gulf of Thailand?

[wackybacky]

I can imagine booking in at reception.

Can I have your passport to photocopy sir?

Yes sure, can I also have a photocopy of your Chanote while you are at it?

Thanks.

Edited October 10, 2014 by wackybacky

[englishoak]

what a dumb ass article, what they gonna do give us all a list where we can stay ?

[ParadiseLost]

what a dumb ass article, what they gonna do give us all a list where we can stay ?

Seem to recall there was a report that they were planning to use satellite tech to monitor national parks, reserves etc. It would be a good thing if it is done accurately, allowing people to 'crowd surf' areas and report incursions via social media.

Personally I think Thailand must come up with ways to get their youngsters out of their consumerist, self-obsessed habits, and play a role in reforming the country. Way too many really old people in charge here.

The only way to do this now is via FB etc. I hope it can be done.

[Thai at Heart]

Does TripAdvisor have a category for "illegal" hotels?

[englishoak]

Does TripAdvisor have a category for "illegal" hotels?

Just use the regular one youll probably end up in one anyway.

[willyumiii]

Sorry, writer, but you Thais are not attuned to the concept of a boycott. Especially if it means interfering in your fun, fun, fun. And like Parrot says, who is going to check? Community activism is a concept foreign to Thais - most of them, anyway, and then only on highly publicised issues. I've only ever seen a few open-minded individuals attempt to use their purchasing power as a form of protest

I have heard, but am not sure, that boycotts are against the law in Thailand.

Does anyone know if this is true?

[ChrisY1]

The stubborn, illegal, law breaking landholder are a challenge for the government.....

It wouldn't be if there were not so many influential people involved.......crooks that paid for a title.....built these resorts...and then socialise with the very people that are supposed to run the government, military forces..tessaban...forestry departments.......so..none of these mates want to kick 'em out!

This will remain a stalemate situation...until it's all forgotten..at least for the next few years!

The public couldn't care less about these places.....if they offer a good deal, then the people will stay there!

[Mammon]

That's the first question I ask when I step up to the front desk, "Is everything you do here legal and have any foreign tourists been raped or murdered nearby recently" <deleted> seriously!

[steelepulse]

Pretty funny OP. Not sure why the government doesn't just require these illegal places to have a sign saying " warning, we are an illegal resort, but we welcome your money anyway". That would clear the whole thing right up .

[NongKhaiKid]

The stubborn, illegal, law breaking landholder are a challenge for the government.....

It wouldn't be if there were not so many influential people involved.......crooks that paid for a title.....built these resorts...and then socialise with the very people that are supposed to run the government, military forces..tessaban...forestry departments.......so..none of these mates want to kick 'em out!

This will remain a stalemate situation...until it's all forgotten..at least for the next few years!

The public couldn't care less about these places.....if they offer a good deal, then the people will stay there!

Yes, Somchai and Somying might open a small food stall even shop but resorts take money so we know the type of people who can afford to get involved and be protected.

[Ulic]

The government can have all hotels add there chanote land title to there Agoda listing.

[taony]

Every journey starts with the first step. Boycotts may be a new thing in Thailand, but not impossible to be part of the future.

[draftvader]

So now Thailand is joining in with its own version of "Boycott XYZ"? Without a clear list or method of denoting these illegal resorts should be just simply not stay anywhere? Would that be simpler?

[Sayonarax]

If you don't know its there, how am I to know its illegal?

[klauskunkel]

Op misses the point. Thai society has to pressure and demand from Thai government to severely punish the corrupt land department officials, district officials and local police who enable, promote, protect and obfuscate encroachment. OP says "the problem should be tackled seriously", well Mr. Wannabe-Activist, your 'burning issue' doesn't even mention the corruption in the slightest. Too hot for you?

[worgeordie]

For a start you should not be able to stay in an illegally built resort

in a National park,they should be none there, how is it they always

find these places AFTER they have been built,

regards Worgeordie

[Suffinator]

The solution is easy .... avoid Thailand like the plague. There are hundreds of other wonderful destinations around the world which exercise more constraint to their greed.

[Orac]

How about naming the resort in question since it is already mentioned in numerous press reports apparently rather than this vague whining.

One of the issues in Thailand is the media's timidness in reporting on these issues - rather than the harsh spotlight of scrutiny that the press in most countries would shine on this sort of corruption we end up with a dim glow of hand wringing.

[Krataiboy]

Oh, and don't go and watch any elephant shows because the animals training is brutal and inhumane. And don't use an Internet cafe computer, because its operating system is pirated. And don't buy any cheap DVDs for the same reason. And don't eat tom yam gung because the prawns were harvested by slave labour. And most of all,from now on don't dare offer the police a bribe for a motoring offence (even if they've asked for one like they routinely did in the past).

TiT. Love it or leave it.

[outsider]

On sites like agoda.com, they should have - for Thai hotels and resorts only - a disclaimer that reads "Book at your own risk. Property on illegal land" for properties that have run foul of this enroachment law. That would be helpful.

[mca]

Does TripAdvisor have a category for "illegal" hotels?

" I recently stayed at the Sabai Kii Kwai resort in Pak Chong and have to report a number of issues which slightly marred my stay. After a long flight and bus journey I planned a relaxing lie-in which was cut short by a bulldozer coming through my bedroom wall at 4 a.m. Thinking I may as well get up I strolled down to the advertised buffet breakfast in the Hanuman Lounge to find that the lounge, which had been there the previous evening, now consisted of a pile of rubble. The management seriously need to address this problem but when I asked one of the 100 police officers milling around where the GM was to be found they pointed out of the window where I spied the fellow in question having it away on his toes over a nearby mountain. I don't usually write hotel reviews but i felt in this case my stay certainly didn't live up to my expectations."

[WitawatWatawit]

Sorry, writer, but you Thais are not attuned to the concept of a boycott. Especially if it means interfering in your fun, fun, fun. And like Parrot says, who is going to check? Community activism is a concept foreign to Thais - most of them, anyway, and then only on highly publicised issues. I've only ever seen a few open-minded individuals attempt to use their purchasing power as a form of protest

I have heard, but am not sure, that boycotts are against the law in Thailand.

Does anyone know if this is true?

Good question. You got me thinking now, as I recall something being said about this in another thread. Will try to track it down.

I wonder if it's illegal to boycott the police?

[Toknarok]

I don't know whether boycotts are legal or not, but I understand why the OP didn't name the place in question. Until Thailand gets rid of it's draconian, ridiculous defamation laws this situation will continue. Even if the place was eventally proved to be built illegally, to say so at this stage would lay the accuser open to defamation action. It's up the Government to have the balls to investigate thoroughly and prosecute where illegal activities have occurred, but with so many high ups involved, including Govt. officials themselves this is never going to happen.

Removing a few beach chairs and beach shacks is purely cosmetic. Doesn't begin to address the problem.

[Basil B]

Why ask tourists to boycott these hotels as if you average tourist would know if a hotel is legal or not.

Why not get the Army, Navy and Air Force to close the hotels for good, just designate them as target ranges.