Thai editorial: Where to draw the line for foreign visitors

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Where to draw the line for foreign visitors
The Nation

High-profile cases of tourist misbehaviour pose a dilemma for Thailand

BANGKOK: -- When in Rome, do as the Romans do" used to be the advice for anyone visiting another country, but times have changed. More and more travellers are ignoring the admonishment to fit in and instead enjoying the freedom to "be themselves".

The outrage expressed by tourists over a ban on beach chairs in Phuket recently showed that visitors are less willing to compromise. Local police have faced resistance from tourists since the rule came into effect on February 12. Some visitors even said they would never visit the resort again in protest against the removal of their favourite beach perches.

Chinese tourists have also had well-publicised run-ins with Thai authorities. This month they were briefly banned from Chiang Rai's Wat Rong Khun ("the White Temple") after members of a visiting group left the toilets in a mess. Meanwhile a photo of a Chinese tourist airing out her bra and panties on a chair at Chiang Mai Airport caused a fuss on the social media. In both cases, authorities responded by asking the tour operators to rein in their customers' inappropriate behaviour.

They will also hand out manuals on local etiquette to the estimated 90,000 Chinese tourists expected to arrive in Chiang Mai over the Lunar New Year holiday.

No one can deny that tourism makes a huge contribution to the economies of countries like Thailand, which do their best to draw as many visitors as they can. However, each country has its own unique rules and customs, some of which seem alien to foreigners. A lack of respect for the local culture, or perhaps merely ignorance of local ways, can lead to misunderstandings or worse. And, under the magnifying gaze of the social media, these often get blown up into international incidents.

Thai tourists have not escaped censure. A group in Japan was lambasted for jumping a queue and failing to mute their mobile phones in the "quiet carriage" of a train. The Thai Embassy in Tokyo responded to the spat by issuing guidelines for Thai visitors.

Though tourists might spend plenty of money, that doesn't give them unlimited freedom to do as they like in the places they visit. Every society has its own set of rules and visitors must comply with them. For example, visitors to Bali must respect the fact that beaches are off-limits on New Year's Day. Tourists in Islamic countries have the alcohol ban to contend with.

Every country wants to earn revenue from tourism. It is up to the authorities, travel agents, nations of origin and social-media users to help promote appropriate behaviour among tourists.

Every visitor is entitled to enjoy the freedom to explore another country, but that right carries responsibilities.

To cite US Supreme Court judge Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr, "Your right to swing your arms ends just where the other man's nose begins."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Where-to-draw-the-line-for-foreign-visitors-30254323.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-18

[Noi657]

Respect is a two way thing!

[jaltsc]

"High-profile cases of tourist misbehaviour pose a dilemma for Thailand...More and more travellers are ignoring the admonishment to fit in "

Yes. Where does Thailand draw the line for foreign tourists, and how can they fit in better?

A bit difficult to behave properly as the Thais do, since foreigners can't do business in Thailand. Thus preventing them from being like Thais and unable to run Jet Ski shops that charge for damages not caused by the user. They can't drive taxis and rip off customers on the fares. Can't enslave people to work on fishing vessels. Can't murder Canadian tourists and be let off until they kill their Thai wife. Can't get away with having their sons kill English couples and blame it on Burmese.

Yes, it is quite a dilemma I'd say.

[Paulc01]

I have a hard time imagining that a protest over beach chairs in any way, shape, or form is equivalent to the trail of destruction, dirt, filth, disorder, and chaos left from Chinese tourists.

[kriswillems]

I wish they would remove the beach chairs at more places.

In general most tourists would be happy about that.

Because right now there are 10 times more chairs than tourists and the whole place looks like a garbage belt and it's impossible to walk on the beach.

It looks very much like a fabricated story to me - fabricated by those in the beach chair business.

[nithisa78]

Respect is a two way thing!

what's your point?

[arthurboy]

A beach chair or lounger is a beach chair or lounger. It is not rude, ill behaved, disrespectful or culturally insensitive.

Nor in light of the eating ban, is an ice cream. However, given that you can drink on the beach, drinking alcohol might cause some to get somewhat 'tired and confused', resulting in people exhibiting culturally insensitive or inappropriate behaviour.

This situation is ridiculous.

[englishoak]

You'd think that tourist revenue and 30 years of doing it would leave Thailand with some understanding and knowledge of how to look after its guests so they come back.

Guess the new generation in charge are even dumber than the last..... if thats possible

[Bluespunk]

Those pesky foreigners, eh.

[Crazy chef 1]

When in Rome...

Like to see it- 5 fat farangs on a motorbike against the traffic....

[Bluespunk]

"Tourists in Islamic countries have the alcohol ban to contend with."

Not always they don't.

Not all but a fair few allow tourists to drink, in special areas true, but they can drink.

[Fab5BKK]

A scene on Sukhumvit: at a so-called checkpoint " officer, thanks for the bottle I needed to pee"

TiT!

or

[zaphod reborn]

And where do we draw the line for Thai scamming and overcharging of foreigners? A report below from Pattaya of a vendor found by authorities to be charging 200 baht for a fried pork dish? The jet ski scams? The karaoke bar scams? Outrageous two-tiered pricing at national parks? The whole tuk tuk and un-metered taxi mafia? The overcharging motorbike mafia? Koh Tao? Phuket?

[jcisco]

I'll try remain coherent..... The foreigners even the bad ones generally give the Thais a fair go, and in that I mean, a couple taking their own beach chairs to the beach for their own enjoyment would not be addressed by the police. Since the issue with the beach chairs was not ones right to enjoy the beach with what you bring, it was the commercial activity present on the beach. And for the most part, either intentionally or just a sheer fluke of luck and maybe just maybe culturally, its a general case of a swing and a miss on proposing solutions and execution of most things, I mean swinging and missing on all steps.

It has to be said that the communication of Thai values to the wider world is rather poorly cohesive let alone accessible. A nation of people who over a lot of issues are telling each other what is Thai("ness") while there views and behaviours are wildly different. And during those moment of blunder, many times the imparting of thai culture upon the foreigners is done by utter silence of those in present with no actions to correct any issues..... if the police involved its just bound for tears... though sometimes they just beat the crap out of you tag team zorg rush style, for the well intentioned touching of a childs head.

A retard reaction if there ever was any and well speaks for itself...

There i feel i have suitable complained about the sounds of one hand clapping on this topic. It doesn't need to be this difficult Thailand, I'm still shocked at how big the gulf between thais and the foreigners is, and its in the perception. Of course I am generalizing , some not all, disclaimer applied.

[daveAustin]

Well when tourists see how Thais act in their own backyard with no consideration for others, is it no wonder that visitors might think they can also act up? But what are we talking about anyway? Tourists annoyed they have to sit on the sand, Chinese crapping on toilet seats etc? Hardly crime of the century is it. The Thais should be thankful they have the luxury to complain about tourists!

[Bluespunk]

"Where to draw the line for foreign visitors"

Well, now the beach chairs have gone, how about in the sand?

[chooka]

When in Rome hey, so why did they arrest the Nigerians for scamming thais.

[reiltin]

First they came for the beach chairs, and I did not speak out - because I had no beach chair

; Then they came for the parasols

, and I did not speak out - because I had no parasol; Then they came for the beach towels, and I did not speak out - I had no beach towel..

The Thai Summer dream is over.

[yellowboat]

When living in Thailand and watching tourists get suckered day in and day out, you say nothing as it is none of your business. Now this fussy person moans about dirty toilets, aired panties and chairs on the beach. Look forward to the day when the surrounding nations become more competitive . Coups, the constant whining, the rip offs just show how petty some are in the Kingdom.

[Thian]

There are no rules in Thailand, there are rules but nobody obeys them because there's no police. Also there are no hookers in Thailand since prostitution is illegal.

Just have a look at the traffic and draw your own conclusions.

It's a shame that the Thai dare to compare beachtourists with chinese wild animals.

Also i thought we even had to bring our own beachchairs to the beach since they were removed by thai police. Well i sure won't go to any Thai beach anymore so i can't be bothered.

[Prbkk]

Really, a woman airing her smalls becomes the subject of an editorial? Who cares, fuss about less than nothing. Storm in a C-Cup. I'm more concerned about the other side of the counter like when a Starbucks staff member wanted to make me a coffee after extracting her finger from so far up her nose it must have been close to her brain cavity.

Definitely 2 sides to this coin

[HuckAuffority]

Maybe they should fix their own backyard first.

Ice in a pint of beer?

That crossed the line for me to never drink in a thai bar ever again.

[trogers]

Do they have lines and lines of beach chairs in Maldives?

[Manbing]

I have a hard time imagining that a protest over beach chairs in any way, shape, or form is equivalent to the trail of destruction, dirt, filth, disorder, and chaos left from Chinese tourists.

I am also wondering in what form the outrage occurred. Was there a raised voice stating it was ridiculous to remove beach furniture, because the local authorities couldn't police the illicit business activities of other locals?

A good idea is to blame the foreigners for local incompetence.

Its a shame the visitors to this beautiful land can't follow the shining example of their hosts, who manage to keep such a pristine environment in city and country.

Thai people are renowned for never fly tipping, dropping rubbish in the street, public urination, showing respect for neighbors, demonstrating empathy for their revered guests and taking responsibility for their actions.

Its worth listening to what they have to tell others about respect.

Oh sorry, wait a minute, I forgot, that's right. They are not known for any of these things. In fact their reputation is for the exact opposite.

Forget Oliver Wendell Holmes, what about that old chestnut, 'People who live in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones'

[Lupatria]

The solution is near, very near. Just turn Koh Tao into a boot camp for Tourists where they can enjoy the approved procedure of "Attitude Adjustment".

[upena]

No beach chairs or umbrellas on Waikiki Beach and they seem to get a few tourists

[Jeffrey346]

Why do we always hear about these issues in Thailand? What happened to treat those as you wish to be treated? Why do we rarely hear of these issues happening else where?

I keep going back to the rules.. Yes, there are rules, but there are no rules.

[claffey]

I wish they would remove the beach chairs at more places.

In general most tourists would be happy about that.

Because right now there are 10 times more chairs than tourists and the whole place looks like a garbage belt and it's impossible to walk on the beach.

It looks very much like a fabricated story to me - fabricated by those in the beach chair business.

I doubt that more tourists would be happy! It's only Western tourists that enjoy sitting in the middle of 40 degree heat, slowly baking themselves until they get skin cancer!! 99% of Asian Tourists enjoy the beach chairs. And remember that domestic tourism is much more important than the few million tourists that visit from the West...

[kerrysum]

Really, a woman airing her smalls becomes the subject of an editorial? Who cares, fuss about less than nothing. Storm in a C-Cup. I'm more concerned about the other side of the counter like when a Starbucks staff member wanted to make me a coffee after extracting her finger from so far up her nose it must have been close to her brain cavity.

Definitely 2 sides to this coin

Dunno, maybe she gives nose jobs.....

How big were her nostrils?

[claffey]

You'd think that tourist revenue and 30 years of doing it would leave Thailand with some understanding and knowledge of how to look after its guests so they come back.

Guess the new generation in charge are even dumber than the last..... if thats possible

Thai people are very good at looking after the majority of tourists, which just happen to be...Thai.. Don't underestimate the importance of domestic tourism. There are 64 million Thais and they all love to go bai Tiaw!! Many posters here arrogantly assume that Western Tourists are the most important and that Tourism, itself, is the main industry in Thailand. Rubber, Rice, concrete , electrical goods, clothes etc are the main industries. Tourism is more important in terms of global reputation...