New tat slogan takes terrorism head-on

[lumar]

Insiders report that the Tourism Authority of Thailand, looking to replace the "Amazing Thailand" campaign and trying to deal with the new realities of international terrorism, is considering this as a new tag line for tourism promotion:

"You could die anywhere;  why not make it here"

Such directness is an abrupt turnabout in strategy for an organization and a country who have been bending over backwards to deny terrorism might be a problem in the Kingdom.  A series of explosions or near explosions at train stations, businesses, and schools in Thailand's south was attributed by the PM to "private business disputes".  This

explanation was not changed even after a leading member of the moslem community, whose "business" is farming, was caught with a houseful of explosives.  Similarly, Thailand demanded, and got, a media retraction of a report which claimed that the Bali bombing had been planned at an

al-qaeda meeting held in southern Thailand.  Reading between the lines on the retraction, however, indicated that the only thing retracted was that the terrorists at the meeting specifically discussed Bali.

In fact, the un-retracted part of the report said that one, an

al-qaeda meeting took place, and two, "soft" targets were discussed which included bars and international schools in, among other places, Thailand.

Rumors currently circulating say that Bangkok is rife with al-qaeda operatives and that the Thais have botched a few planned apprehensions.

So TAT is taking the bull by the horns.  Rather than claiming Thailand is the "safest country in the world", their new tact will be to suggest that since no where in the world is safe, folks might as well take the possibility of terrorism out of their decisionmaking, and go where they're likely to have the most fun.  In this regard, Thailand comes up winners.

Addendum:  The following tag line was dropped after being nixed by former Interior Minister Purachai:

"To die in the arms of a bargirl is to beat the moslems to paradise"

(Found on the 'net...)

[Baaksida]

"You could die anywhere;  why not make it here"

Why not in Pattaya, after paying the last bar fine?