Tourism Minister delivers policy to develop tourism on Thailand’s eastern coast

[webfact]

Tourism Minister delivers policy to develop tourism on Thailand’s eastern coast

BANGKOK, 22 October 2015 (NNT) – The Tourism Minister has declared a policy to develop the tourism business on the eastern coast of Thailand.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul on Wednesday chaired a meeting on tourism development at the Chon Buri City Hall which was joined by representatives from various state and private agencies in Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces.

During the meeting, Ms. Kobkarn delivered the policy to promote the travel industry on the eastern seaboard with a vision that emphasizes environmentally-friendly tourism and international standards.

She told all participants that this development initiative has been put into a 3-year strategic plan which will be implemented from 2015 to 2017.

The minister added that Thailand is now moving towards the goal of quality tourism that will not focus on cheap prices anymore.

Official data shows more than 8.1 million foreign travelers have visited the eastern region of the country, with Chon Buri being the most popular destination among visitors.


-- NNT 2015-10-22

[WitawatWatawit]

The devil is in the details. So, Ms Kobkarn, be a devil and give us the details. Or are we just going to be given a grandiose announcement of a concept ... and that's it. What the Chinese call "biting clouds" (smoking opium).

Oh, and here's another bit of folk wisdom for you: Even the rich love a bargain. But the rich whom you are targeting, and who love to come to Thailand for bargains, are smaller in number than the tourism hoi polloi, on whom you are relying to achieve your figure of 30 million foreign visitors this year, and who love cheap and cheerful Thailand. What! What's that you say? A policy contradiction? No, never from you.

[Ricardo]

Who would ever have suspected, that the Eastern-seaboard might have potential, to attract tourists ?

Although international-standards and high-priced quality-tourism may be a bit of a stretch, given the area's history since the 1960s !

Perhaps the Ministry might consider opening an international-airport, to the East of Bangkok, to serve this future demand ?

And a rail-link between the two, I wonder what sort of lunch-packs one might expect to buy, on the trains ?

[SoilSpoil]

With the 8.1 million foreign visitors to Chonburi/Pattaya she means Russians, Chinese tour groups, deprived European 'love' seekers and criminal elements from all over the world. Not exactly the high end tourist destination the Minister tries to pitch here.

With all the rubbish and plastic washing up ashore in Chonburi and Rayong and not to mention the numerous mysterious oil spills in this area, her solidly planned and detailed 3 year strategies might be seen as an rather uphill battle.

[shirtless]

I think you need more than a policy, sorry your product has gone downhill so badly no policy no matter who delivers it will create any change its appears more like job justification to me.

[Pib]

During the meeting, Ms. Kobkarn delivered the policy to promote the travel industry on the eastern seaboard with a vision that emphasizes environmentally-friendly tourism and international standards.

Real easy to mention a vision....in fact I often describe my visions induced by Chang beer. But for some reason my visions of becoming rich, famous, and handsome never seem to work out.

[clockman]

Clutching at straws! Without the Chinese tourists. Thailand would be in big trouble. They are charging first world prices, but are still a third world.

[ChrisY1]

"Not focus on cheap prices any more"..........

So is her aim to destroy the cheap hotels, guest houses etc........?

[Praematura]

This article made me laugh in several places. She sounds like she seriously believes "quality tourists" will put up with bag snatches, the scams, unsolved murders, Thais getting away with literally murder, and on and on. Even my Thai wife thinks Thailand is unsafe. Domestic tourists have no money. Why doesn't this person do some basic sampling of the population to ascertain if the demographic she seeks exists, because we all know it doesn't.[emoji16]

[waldroj]

The minister added that Thailand is now moving towards the goal of quality tourism.

Quality tourists generally expect quality tourism experiences. What the Minister perceives as international-standards probably differs quite a bit from what international visitors have come to expect elsewhere.

Sadly, there isn’t too much along the eastern seaboard that qualifies. Better to just keep the existing mutton dressed as lamb, and be thankful for the revenue from that.

[Emster23]

I suppose if the quality tourists were transported by helicopter to large walled in compound, might be able to pull it off. If not, some serious infrastructure improvements need to be made (sidewalks that serve as sidewalks, etc). Plus somehow instill in minds of Thai people that much of the world prefers clean over trashed out beaches, streets, etc. Police enforcing traffic laws regarding moving violations..... could go on and on...

[EJK]

No

There's to many people there already it's clear at immigration. There trying to keep people out.

Everyone's happy already save the advertising BAHT

[h90]

Who would ever have suspected, that the Eastern-seaboard might have potential, to attract tourists ?

Although international-standards and high-priced quality-tourism may be a bit of a stretch, given the area's history since the 1960s !

Perhaps the Ministry might consider opening an international-airport, to the East of Bangkok, to serve this future demand ?

And a rail-link between the two, I wonder what sort of lunch-packs one might expect to buy, on the trains ?

Koh Chang, Pattaya?

[Thai at Heart]

Did she not notice the gigantic petrochemical development slap bang in the middle of rayong? I like the sea but I don't really like it next to oil tankers and chemical refineries.

[DrTuner]

I hope the plan includes demolishing the Central in Pattaya and rebuilding the beer bars.

[Cake Monster]

" Environmentally friendly and International Standards " - Kobkarn

She obviously travelled to the region in one of those mini vans with the blacked out windows, and wore some really dark shades.

[Ricardo]

Did she not notice the gigantic petrochemical development slap bang in the middle of rayong? I like the sea but I don't really like it next to oil tankers and chemical refineries.

Agreed, but just think how much one might save, from not needing to apply any extra sun-tan oil, after swimming in amongst the oil-slicks !

A cynic might also wonder whether there isn't a slight degree of localised pollution, from all those industrial-estates lining the Eastern Seaboard, or from Maptaphut, or from being in the outfall of the Chao Phraya river & Bangkok ?

There may well be other/better areas of Thailand, still less-spoiled than this one, which might better be promoted by the Minister, but obviously it's too late for Phuket or Koh Samui which are following Pattaya down the gurgler ... on the other hand, I must admit that I do enjoy the occasional tourist-trip there, just that it I don't go for the superb natural-environment and high-class hiso company one encounters !

[boomerangutang]

I think you need more than a policy, sorry your product has gone downhill so badly no policy no matter who delivers it will create any change its appears more like job justification to me.

To justify the agency's 6 billion baht budget, she stands in front of a room of her buddies, points to place on a map of Thailand and declares: "That's where we want to make a lot of tourist money!" ....oh, and let's add the word 'environmental' to make it more appealing to the masses.

[Crazy chef 1]

Thailand do what are you good in...sell a cheap product for a cheap price and your numbers will be back...

[AyG]

I suppose if the quality tourists were transported by helicopter to large walled in compound, might be able to pull it off.

Actually, that's not such a bad idea (except, possibly, for the helicopter part). "All inclusive" holidays have become very popular in recent years, particularly in the Caribbean. Basically tourists get everything they want within a compound and never have to have any exposure to the natives and native culture, apart from deferential staff at the compound and a few phony cultural decorations. It could work very well here.

[NongKhaiKid]

Is there some sort of competition between the Minister and the PM to see who can get quoted the most ? I'm surprised she hasn't been ' re-shuffled '. for trying to hog the limelight.even if she is a general's wife.

I've mentioned the amount of press she and the PM get but won't over emphasise it's only quantity over quality

[Thian]

I suppose if the quality tourists were transported by helicopter to large walled in compound, might be able to pull it off.

Actually, that's not such a bad idea (except, possibly, for the helicopter part). "All inclusive" holidays have become very popular in recent years, particularly in the Caribbean. Basically tourists get everything they want within a compound and never have to have any exposure to the natives and native culture, apart from deferential staff at the compound and a few phony cultural decorations. It could work very well here.

Exactly, that's also how all thai who can afford it live, in secured compounds with nice maintained parks.

[DrTuner]

I suppose if the quality tourists were transported by helicopter to large walled in compound, might be able to pull it off.

Actually, that's not such a bad idea (except, possibly, for the helicopter part). "All inclusive" holidays have become very popular in recent years, particularly in the Caribbean. Basically tourists get everything they want within a compound and never have to have any exposure to the natives and native culture, apart from deferential staff at the compound and a few phony cultural decorations. It could work very well here.

They need to legalize brothels first.

[jerojero]

Will develop this, implement that, do so and so.... All talk bs and no action or follow up.

[boomerangutang]

Will develop this, implement that, do so and so.... All talk bs and no action or follow up.

Often it's good there's not action and follow-up, because most TAT directives are elitist and out of touch with what a majority of tourists want. But they're not looking to cater to the majority, which are backpackers and middle-incomers. They want the high-end tourists who spend Bt.8,000+/day. So happens those are a small minority of who visits. Plus, TAT can't fathom that the budget tourists of today could well be the big-spenders ten to thirty years later. Because of that, TAT is turning up their noses at backpackers. It puts nearly all its focus on promoting high end stuff for the 2%. It's probably still promoting the ever-losing Elite Card.