PRD gears up campaign to create positive image for Thailand with foreigners

[John1thru10]

The whole thing is depressing to see, for someone who's loved this country for years and tries to do the right thing. Not letting people enter with a visa based on a moment's whim; extreme. Foreigners stopped randomly by police to be intimidated: very extreme. Randomly forcing tourists to take urine tests on the street: beyond extreme. Unmarked immigration vans riding around to intimidate all foreigners: awful.

Edited December 2, 2014 by John1thru10

[The manic]

The Bangkok police should stop urine testing foreigners and do a blood test direct. This would save the foreign men the indignity of urinating in public. To show their commitment to women's equality in light of the Bikini comment. More women police officers should be trained to take urine and blood samples from women tourists especially if they look trashy and are with seedy men. This would help in the fight for national security as well as put an end to the scourge of people 'relaxing' while on holiday in Thailand.

[TheMacMan]

I love Thailand, I have just bought a place here (I know a load of people will say that's a mistake) but I really love it, the Thais I have met locally seem very nice.... and I still hope to retire here in a few years.

However, I am very worried at what seems to be a huge split within the various Thai government sectors....

On one hand you have the Thai sector promoting Thailand, and its tourism, and on the other hand the other side of the government seem to be treating Farang with contempt and trying to make life as hard as possible for visas and property/business ownership.

Recent news of rapes, murder and drug related muggings don't help but for me the biggest, biggest biggest mistake recently has been the chaos over the tourists (swedish family with kid in the news) taking umbrellas to the beaches.... the last two days have seen several news reports of armed men/police/Orbortor forcibly taking cushions/umbrellas/chairs from TOURISTS at Surin beach... followed by a pathetic public press statement/excuse saying they were misunderstood and simply in the way of a survey....

Come on...then tourists were not all up at the high tide/road area of the beach and were quite clear that they were told they could NOT bring stuff on to the beach!!!

This has been spoken of constantly in my circles.... shared via Twitter and Facebook.... out of all this political mess, THIS is the story that will crucify Thai tourism.....

"Come to Land Of Smile and sunny Thailand with your family and children..... get heatstroke, let your children burn in the sun!!!"

What country that professes to WANT tourism can justify that chaos????

Most tourists want the clean air, sun, beaches, sea..... and THIS is the story everyone is talking about.....this could ruin Thailand tourism.... not the local election potential, THIS is what Farang are talking about.

If they want quality tourists, they need to encourage them with better visa options, use a point system (like Australia does for immigration).... you have money and property here...fine, longer stay.... you have little money and want to get drunk and fight in the bar strip... stick with the short-term visa....

Provide, safe friendly service at or near the beaches for food, drink, and for goodness sake...UMBRELLAS for shade!!!

If you don't want tourists...just carry on the sway things have been the last few months....because you are doing a great job of NEGATIVE press advertising!

[toooa]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Image boosting campaign to create positive attitude for foreigners?

Here's and idea!

Return Thailand to the people and have an election.

Not only I will the rest of the world look at Thailand in a more positive light the economy will be much brighter to!

Do you really think the rest of the world gives a rat's what is going on in Thailand ? The average tourist who comes to Thailand probably knows nothing about the local politics or that there was a coup recently and martial law in place.
Most foreigners go to Thailand for cheap food, accommodation, shopping, booze and girls, no matter what party is in power.
The average Thai knows little about Democracy and politics and the only reason some of them would want an election is because of the cash reward they get for their bloody vote !

Patronising nonsense. The Thais have been fighting for democracy for decades and many travellers are highly politically aware and know about blood diamonds, human rights, eco tourism, democracy and other ethical issues. That you do not care about such matters or the Thai people is your business but you have no right to project your crass, immature view on to us all.

Statistically I think you might be much more likely to find the "average Thai" at Mor Chit Bus Station rather than Terminal 21. People you meet in a cafe in Bangers are hardly your average Thai. People are good with catch words like "democracy" or "human rights" but like many things here, that knowledge is only skin deep. I don't think his view is particularly wrong. A little cynical but that's the way we roll around TV. Are you a concern troll?

[impulse]

The Bangkok police should stop urine testing foreigners and do a blood test direct. This would save the foreign men the indignity of urinating in public.

I will get tossed in the slammer before I let a Thai cop stick me with a needle.

[toooa]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The Bangkok police should stop urine testing foreigners and do a blood test direct. This would save the foreign men the indignity of urinating in public. To show their commitment to women's equality in light of the Bikini comment. More women police officers should be trained to take urine and blood samples from women tourists especially if they look trashy and are with seedy men. This would help in the fight for national security as well as put an end to the scourge of people 'relaxing' while on holiday in Thailand.

I'd be willing to give a stool sample...

[mok199]

i am getting dizzy with all these ideas to change thailands image...JUST DO IT....

[tingtong]

positive image?

as in HIV +?

finally they will talk about it in a honest way for the foreigners?

[John1thru10]

The Bangkok police should stop urine testing foreigners and do a blood test direct. This would save the foreign men the indignity of urinating in public. To show their commitment to women's equality in light of the Bikini comment. More women police officers should be trained to take urine and blood samples from women tourists especially if they look trashy and are with seedy men. This would help in the fight for national security as well as put an end to the scourge of people 'relaxing' while on holiday in Thailand.

I'm just curious whether you're being sarcastic

Edited December 2, 2014 by John1thru10

[Clutch]

You can't polish a turd......

The easiest way would be to invest in a rock tumbler. You can find them in department stores and online from $15 to $600. Many come with grit and jewelry mounts. They range from beginner to hobbyist and professional, come in different sizes, and are either rotary tumblers or vibratory tumblers. The effect you’re trying to get with a tumbler is to do in a short period of time what rivers and oceans take years to do. The coarsest rock can become smooth. Your turd is no different.

[toooa]

They obviously don't read TV...

[JOC]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The Bangkok police should stop urine testing foreigners and do a blood test direct. This would save the foreign men the indignity of urinating in public. To show their commitment to women's equality in light of the Bikini comment. More women police officers should be trained to take urine and blood samples from women tourists especially if they look trashy and are with seedy men. This would help in the fight for national security as well as put an end to the scourge of people 'relaxing' while on holiday in Thailand.

I'd be willing to give a stool sample...

With a username like yours, why are we not surprised??

[catweazle]

Does this campaign include all the previously implemented "courses of action for attraction" like refusing foreigners with valid education visas to enter the country, the "attractive" 49% foreign / 51% Thai business requirement, ten times higher (or more) than Thai national park entrance fees, increasingly difficult visa and work permit requirements, the need to be blood-checked for Syphilis when applying for a work permit, the fact that foreigners can't buy or own land, forcibly taking sun beds or beach umbrellas from tourists, bashing tourists heads in to let the following "murder investigation" go bananas in corrupted and disgraceful sharade, the general and constantly increasing anti-foreigner attitude, the fact that foreigners here are tolerated for the sake of their money but not wanted, blackmailings by corrupt RTP and immigration officers, crackdowns on anything and everything foreigner co-owned, managed or performed by foreigners, and the commonly used "if you don't like to be taken advantage of on a daily basis, then go back to your home country" killer argument?

Thailand and its people should learn that you don't "create" a positive image - you either have it, respectively the "positive image" is kept within the peoples' hearts or it simply isn't there, whereas for Thailand it is the latter.

With the anti-foreign, self centered, narcissistic and greedy attitude most Thai people and officials display in everyday life, the PRD campaign is a "mission impossible". You simply can't polish a turd!

Edited December 2, 2014 by catweazle

[Docno]

Just dropped into this thread to sop up all of the expected cynicism and negative rhetoric about Thailand. From the general tenor of the posts here, you'd think the farangs at TV had been captured by slavers in their home countries and forced to come here against their will. C'mon... the place is not perfect, but did so many people simply go along with the urgings of their 'little brain' and decide to move to what is apparently a living hell (if some of the posts here are to be believed).

[Pundi6446]

Good luck, but the World know the real truth

[TSF]

will this include a full investigation of WHY so many are being stopped, searched and drug tested by the police in the Asoke-Tong Lor area?

I can't think of one other country in Asia where foreigners are stopped and ID demanded and fined if they are not carrying passports or other ID.

No-one would carry a passport around with them, it's just too risky.

Like in Pattaya, they stop farang at night in the Walking Street and demand to see their passports. That really makes sense doesn't it? Carry a highly valuable document like your passport when you go out on the tiles, getting drunk, walking through dense crowds full of street hookers and pickpocketing ladyboys.

[jpeg]

This is all very well but they should probably start with baby steps such as letting the government/NCPO know that they actually exist since they currently seem oblivious that they even have a Public Relations Department.

No this is most definitely NOT all very well.

This is not the first piece of ignorant sh1t out of the TAT - whomsoever's - stupid stupid mouths. 'Baby steps' for this idiotic country is pertinent.

Edited December 2, 2014 by jpeg

[MaxLee]

Welcome to the 21st century, where FACE and status is Thailand's campaign for the ages with ZERO intended changes...

[mca]

‘The Drive of Public Relations Plan for the practical implementation to create positive attitude in foreign target groups

Catchy....

They're most probably getting a backhander from the bloke who owns the polystyrene cut out letters company you see on the backdrops at all the functions and weddings.....

[northernjohn]

They can try....BUT, as we all know mention ''Thailand''.... and what do most people think or say ??

Its not the ''Yellow Brick Road'' that they think...., and with whats all going down at the moment and in the past, it wont change anytime soon...

First post of the bat and the nonsense begins.

First you try to say most people think and say it is??

Then you say they think it is the yellow brick road.

Then you say Thailand won't change any time soon.

clue (stick your head out the window and count the number of killings of people just going on about their business. Martial law has reduced that number. How about the beaches and taxi cabs not to menti8on the number of high level police being investigated for crime.

So along with every thing going on that you are not seeing you believe Thailand will not change and your statement included people thinking it is the Yellow brick road. So in other words people will still keep coming to Thailand because they have not been shown any thing to make them think it is not the Yellow Brick road.

The reality is that if they were shown what is going on in Thailand as compared to 7 years ago they would be filling the hotels and guest houses. Unfortunately the bar you are getting all your information is as clueless about the world economic situation as you are about the happenings in Thailand.

Not hard to see where this thread is going. Mindless with the exception of a few intelligent posters.Once again Thai Visa doesn't let me down when I am in the mood for mindless negativity and denial of good things happening in Thailand.

[Chris Lawrence]

Hard to educate an educated audience to what a totalitarian controlled government wants the reader to think.

Most of the damage has occurred over the last 12 months.

Good luck to the Government if they can pull it off. Sounds as though they are after ideas?

[northernjohn]

Image boosting campaign to create positive attitude for foreigners?

Here's and idea!

Return Thailand to the people and have an election.

Not only I will the rest of the world look at Thailand in a more positive light the economy will be much brighter to!

This is just the kind of nonsense I reefer to in my previous post. Elect a corrupt government instead of letting an unelected honest one try to straighten out the mess the government is in Then hand it back to the people with the safe guards that is possible to put in from it becoming corrupt again. There will of course always be corruption but it doesn't have to be on the massive scale it was. Many want a corrupt government so they can continue feeding at the trough.

[The manic]

The Bangkok police should stop urine testing foreigners and do a blood test direct. This would save the foreign men the indignity of urinating in public.

I will get tossed in the slammer before I let a Thai cop stick me with a needle.

They could offer the choice of blood test or anal swab. After all: If You Have Nothing to Hide You Have Nothing to Worry About!

[MaiChai]

Make a new law: negative comments about Thailand will get you 15 years in jail. Works for other things so it will work! Problem? What problem!

[impulse]

You can't polish a turd......

Sure you can.

http://rongoinpuma.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-shining.html

[ratcatcher]

will this include a full investigation of WHY so many are being stopped, searched and drug tested by the police in the Asoke-Tong Lor area?

I can't think of one other country in Asia where foreigners are stopped and ID demanded and fined if they are not carrying passports or other ID.

No-one would carry a passport around with them, it's just too risky.

Like in Pattaya, they stop farang at night in the Walking Street and demand to see their passports. That really makes sense doesn't it? Carry a highly valuable document like your passport when you go out on the tiles, getting drunk, walking through dense crowds full of street hookers and pickpocketing ladyboys.

Posted before you joined TVF. May help.May not. After all TIT.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/747736-no-need-to-worry-says-bangkok-immigration-commander/

[jpeg]

I love Thailand, I have just bought a place here (I know a load of people will say that's a mistake) but I really love it, the Thais I have met locally seem very nice.... and I still hope to retire here in a few years.

However, I am very worried at what seems to be a huge split within the various Thai government sectors....

On one hand you have the Thai sector promoting Thailand, and its tourism, and on the other hand the other side of the government seem to be treating Farang with contempt and trying to make life as hard as possible for visas and property/business ownership.

Recent news of rapes, murder and drug related muggings don't help but for me the biggest, biggest biggest mistake recently has been the chaos over the tourists (swedish family with kid in the news) taking umbrellas to the beaches.... the last two days have seen several news reports of armed men/police/Orbortor forcibly taking cushions/umbrellas/chairs from TOURISTS at Surin beach... followed by a pathetic public press statement/excuse saying they were misunderstood and simply in the way of a survey....

Come on...then tourists were not all up at the high tide/road area of the beach and were quite clear that they were told they could NOT bring stuff on to the beach!!!

This has been spoken of constantly in my circles.... shared via Twitter and Facebook.... out of all this political mess, THIS is the story that will crucify Thai tourism.....

"Come to Land Of Smile and sunny Thailand with your family and children..... get heatstroke, let your children burn in the sun!!!"

What country that professes to WANT tourism can justify that chaos????

Most tourists want the clean air, sun, beaches, sea..... and THIS is the story everyone is talking about.....this could ruin Thailand tourism.... not the local election potential, THIS is what Farang are talking about.

If they want quality tourists, they need to encourage them with better visa options, use a point system (like Australia does for immigration).... you have money and property here...fine, longer stay.... you have little money and want to get drunk and fight in the bar strip... stick with the short-term visa....

Provide, safe friendly service at or near the beaches for food, drink, and for goodness sake...UMBRELLAS for shade!!!

If you don't want tourists...just carry on the sway things have been the last few months....because you are doing a great job of NEGATIVE press advertising!

Wow. Quite a rant Four Posts'. You have an 'interest' here? Love the way these posters always bring in ,my child will come to harm'. Well. Take it somewhere else then

[Rimmer]

An offensive and reported post has been removed

[Neilly]

You can't polish a turd......

But you can roll it in glitter

[Kularion]

will this include a full investigation of WHY so many are being stopped, searched and drug tested by the police in the Asoke-Tong Lor area?

I was just about to ask the same ? Even yesterday night (23:30) I was driving my car Sukhumvit and I saw on my own eyes 2 police on motorbike stopped taxi with farang inside... http://www.wowasis.com/travelblog/?p=6098 and I don't know but I think sometimes that all those politicians who are talking about this whole "Thailand Picture blah blah blah" are living in some different universe...

Edited December 2, 2014 by Kularion