Special Report: Are Days Numbered For The Thai Tourist Industry?

[The Deerhunter]

All the new forms, suggestions of traceable sim cards, regulations and comments by the current officials seem to suggest that foreign tourists, particularly foreign sex tourists it now seems, are the cause of all that is going wrong in the LOS in recent years.  Oh, well, the government may well consider themselves due for a bonus if killing off the tourist industry returns LOS to being the paradise of their imaginations.  Chiang Mai will already be benefiting from having  less problems with dirty toilets and greedy smorgasbord patrons.  By my understanding, Phuket is already a runaway success in this regard with tourist numbers plummeting over the last 3 -4 years and not showing any signs of recovery.  Plenty of cheap bars & guest houses available in Patong from what I hear.  I have friends living semi-permanently there and they continue to comment on the recent lack of tourists even at  peak season   Perhaps it will keep everyone happy just as soon as the Thais can find and implement an industry that creates the income and jobs that they lose from tourism.  However, old wisdom would be to say "Don't give up your day job" or night job in this instance.

[connda]

I did some shopping around Thapae area while visiting the city yesterday.  The place was deserted: no farangs, Chinese, or tourists to speak of.  One, two or three here and there, but nothing to speak of.  Barren.  Some of the shop owners I know look and sound worried.  Most depend on their regular expat customers. 

Thailand, in it's xenophobic fervor, seems dead-set on driving a stake through all industries held up by tourist and expats.  What do you expect from a nation that considers all non-Thais to be troublemakers and potential criminals, and all Thais to be the 'salt of the earth' and above reproach?

Edited August 3, 2016 by connda

[connda]

 

1 hour ago, Fookhaht said:

Agreed.  What American would give up some of the great, clean beaches of California, the Gulf Coast, or Hawaii for the trashed/pimped beaches of Thailand, Spain, etc.?   All of the beauty, exercise, sunbathing, good food, nice resorts, without the 3rd world hassle?  

I didn't come here for the beach (thank goodness).  However, if I didn't want a surfing vacation, Australia isn't that far away.  If would be my first choice over any beaches here in the LOS (Land of Scams, especially at the beaches).

[mrmicbkktxl]

1 hour ago, Fookhaht said:

Agreed.  What American would give up some of the great, clean beaches of California, the Gulf Coast, or Hawaii for the trashed/pimped beaches of Thailand, Spain, etc.?   All of the beauty, exercise, sunbathing, good food, nice resorts, without the 3rd world hassle?  

Clean is correct,how about water temp.?I was in june in Monterrey and Redondo,the water had maybe 12-13c or 55-57f,I only dipped my toes inside and felt like a russian ice swimmer.Hawaii and Golfcoast also nice clean,but how about the shark problem?You probably never went to Spain,did you ever hear of Fuerteventura?Matalascans?Menorca,etc?

[connda]

8 minutes ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

Clean is correct,how about water temp.?I was in june in Monterrey and Redondo,the water had maybe 12-13c or 55-57f,I only dipped my toes inside and felt like a russian ice swimmer.Hawaii and Golfcoast also nice clean,but how about the shark problem?You probably never went to Spain,did you ever hear of Fuerteventura?Matalascans?Menorca,etc?

I've spent a lot of time on the West Coast beaches.  You get use to wearing wet suits, except perhaps from late July through August in SoCal (I still would wear a top).  If you wanted warm, then North Carolina to Florida is the place to go, but they seldom get the type of waves that we got in Cali.  For those not into water sports?  Well, the beaches are nice even if the water is cold.  Guess it's a trade off.  Lol

Edited August 3, 2016 by connda

[MyFrenU]

9 hours ago, ramrod711 said:

 

A good friend from Canada came to Chiang Mai on a 30 day visa, turned out that his return flight was in 33 days. I thought we would just pop in to immigration and get an extension rather than pay 3 days overstay at the airport, 4 hours to get the extension. My friend was livid and I was embarrassed, not sure we will see him in Thailand again.

So the mighty Canadian Bhwana was upset that the little brown Thai immigration officials wouldn't upon bearing witness to his mighty,white countenance instantly change their immigration laws on the spot to allow him 3 days extra,as he was too stupid to count how many days he was coming on holiday for?
Never really liked Canadians TBH and this is why,good riddance to him I hope he doesn't come back!

[MyFrenU]

9 hours ago, Thian said:

Actually it's quite simple: 

 

Name me a nice clean beach in Thailand which is perfect!

 

There's always something wrong, no shade, dirty water, overcrowded, annoying sales, no resorts, ladyboys, seaweed, glass, beachvendors...

 

It took a while but now the Europeans found better places for their holidays. Solly for thailand.

 

The beaches in the Philippines are everything that Thailand's aren't,try Bantayan,Malapascua,Camotes and even Bohol is better despite being overrun by German dive shops these days.The most similar to the overcrowded,overcommercialised Thai beaches but still 100 times less so.
Before anyone starts these are all around Cebu which is 100% safe,far safer than Bangkok TBH so if you've not been there don't bother commenting!

[MyFrenU]

38 minutes ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

Clean is correct,how about water temp.?I was in june in Monterrey and Redondo,the water had maybe 12-13c or 55-57f,I only dipped my toes inside and felt like a russian ice swimmer.Hawaii and Golfcoast also nice clean,but how about the shark problem?You probably never went to Spain,did you ever hear of Fuerteventura?Matalascans?Menorca,etc?

Also Spain having the best food in the World,forget those greasy burgers in America just disgusting!

[Thian]

7 minutes ago, MyFrenU said:

The beaches in the Philippines are everything that Thailand's aren't,try Bantayan,Malapascua,Camotes and even Bohol is better despite being overrun by German dive shops these days.The most similar to the overcrowded,overcommercialised Thai beaches but still 100 times less so.
Before anyone starts these are all around Cebu which is 100% safe,far safer than Bangkok TBH so if you've not been there don't bother commenting!

 

I've been in Manilla 20 years ago and that was enough Phillipines for me.

 

I also doubt if Cebu is safe, i heard there are many guns around there. You guys  can go first and if nothing happens i might go there as well.

[MyFrenU]

8 hours ago, Thian said:

This island won the price for the 2nd year in row as being the best.

 

https://www.google.nl/search?q=Ao+Manao&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjp4IOXlKTOAhVC0hoKHcrZA_AQ7AkIKg&biw=1366&bih=643#tbm=isch&q=palawan

 

And it looks much better then ao manao

Now I'm the first one to stick up for the Philippines on any thread,as I've lived in Cebu before and I can 100% guarantee you that it is much friendlier AND safer than Bangkok and most of Thailand.
However,Palawan would be on my list of places to be wary of it is a place known for a lot of tourism by Abu Sayyaf and people have been taken from there before,like the Dos Palmas kidnappings although it was a long time ago :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dos_Palmas_kidnappings

My take on the situation is why put yourself in harm's way at all if not necessary,just to see an admittedly beautiful island or beach,especially when there's 7,000 plus other islands to see?

[mojorison]

10 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Excellent report.  Thailand's environment is in a terrible state.  Really sad when you are afraid to swim in the sea due to pollution.  Or drive down back roads that are lined with trash.

Or a waterfall that as well as being a landmark to Rama 5 and revered by Thais, also is festooned with dozens of blue water pipes draping down it as the locals brashly appropriate the water for their homes and businesses, totally missing the point that their businesses revolve around the beauty and sanctity of the waterfall. People would go to see the water fall... all they see now is shit. And they talk about it. And it gets passed around. The Thais ardently kill every goose that lays golden eggs. You try to tell them, or explain the ins and outs, and they either think your'e a silly billy, or they don't agree, or they say if I don't he will, so I have to, or vice versa. They know all, and have outrageous egos combined with exceptionally robust senses of self worth. Unfortunately they also happen to have next to no experience abroad, and are completely oblivious to any other perception... for the most part, (not all though). This malaise by the way is the same mindset running the country at the moment. (Edit, I have always found it unusual that a people with such a conflated view of the Buddha, can so rampantly pollute their and his environment. I always thought that to be disrespectful. Truth is, they just don't think about things deeply enough.) /RANT

[MyFrenU]

3 hours ago, anotheruser said:

 

I can't figure out which post is dumber. Kudoes to you both for trying so hard.

Funny though!

[MyFrenU]

24 minutes ago, Thian said:

 

I've been in Manilla 20 years ago and that was enough Phillipines for me.

 

I also doubt if Cebu is safe, i heard there are many guns around there. You guys  can go first and if nothing happens i might go there as well.

Cebu is very safe far safer than Bangkok or Phuket,if you don't want to go there who cares?Your loss!

[MyFrenU]

5 hours ago, tubby johnson said:

The Thai bashing is cranking up to the max. The legions of Haters on this forum are turning out in full force.

 

Go on, have a whinge.

It seems to me there is some very eloquent and constructive criticism of the way the tourist board had handled foreign and especially Western tourism abysmally for many,many years now.For me the average hard-working,non-complaining Thai person is actually what does keep people coming back over and over again.
Non-acceptance of the fact that there are problems with the mega-corruption from politicians,the BiB etc. that are ruining tourism for these good people seems churlish and naive to me as I'm sure the average Westerner would like to see a lot of these problems fixed.
Of course it will never be perfect,no country will ever be but what is wrong with wanting to help to recover what is as plain as the nose on your face?The tourist industry in Thailand IS going downhill fast and xenophobia from various successive governments plus mistreatment of many foreign tourists is largely to blame.

[Berty100]

6 minutes ago, MyFrenU said:

Cebu is very safe far safer than Bangkok or Phuket,if you don't want to go there who cares?Your loss!

 

No doubt where a security with pulled shotgun is stationed outside a money exchange must be the safest place on earth

[MyFrenU]

4 minutes ago, Berty100 said:

 

No doubt where a security with pulled shotgun is stationed outside a money exchange must be the safest place on earth

Same,same don't go then,who cares?Your loss!

[Berty100]

1 minute ago, MyFrenU said:

Same,same don't go then,who cares?Your loss!

 

You said Cebu was safer than Bangkok or Phuket. How many have been shot already this year in Cebu? I can count those in Bangkok and Phuket on the fingers of my hands

[MyFrenU]

1 minute ago, Berty100 said:

 

You said Cebu was safer than Bangkok or Phuket. How many have been shot already this year in Cebu? I can count those in Bangkok and Phuket on the fingers of my hands

Cebu is safer than Bangkok or Phuket,if you don't want to go or believe that who cares?

[Rod Gold]

The world is in an economic slump.  The Chinese still have money to spend.  As long as there is enough money to travel, tourists will come to Thailand for the smiles, theirs.

Edited August 3, 2016 by Rod Gold

[trainman34014]

The Chinese have fairly quickly learned that Thailand holds no special magic for them and in most cases is more expensive than what they have back home.  They go back and tell their friends that Thailand is a filthy and lawless place and that they did not feel particularly welcomed.

 

How do i know this you will ask ?    I have several old friends who live in China that i speak to regularly and they keep me up with all the travel gossip.   Of course; the 'better class of Chinese tourist' does not visit Thailand anyway, just the lower end package tour types who may do it once and then have to save again before they can go somewhere else.

[digibum]

9 hours ago, Prbkk said:

Whilst it's true that there are lessons from Spain for Thailand, the article is not very accurate in respect of the current situation: the tourism industry in Spain is booming. In fact the latest unemployment numbers ( still dreadful @20%) , released just yesterday, show that the services sector and tourism specifically has shown the greatest employment growth. Spain has managed to turn around its image and the tourist experience there is no longer the nightmare it once was.

Can Thailand do the same? Not if the big mouth mama minister continues with the mushroom strategy, in full denial. Seriously, how did they expect the Chinese to respond? The idiot running the monument to bad taste white temple and his proposal to ban Chinese over dirty toilets...what a moron. Everyone else around the world is seeking out the Chinese ( warts and all) because they represent about 20% of potential clients: Europe is full of Chinese tourists ( and without them the economics for the sector would be woeful, particularly in France).

For decades now Thailand has made the same mistakes :don't believe your own PR and don't assume that people will be repeat visitors if they are treated poorly. 

 

I don't think the OP article meant to indicate that tourism can never, ever turn back around.  Yes, Spain is rebounding but it pretty much required wiping out what was there before in terms of attitudes.

 

 

[digibum]

5 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

The Chinese have fairly quickly learned that Thailand holds no special magic for them and in most cases is more expensive than what they have back home.  They go back and tell their friends that Thailand is a filthy and lawless place and that they did not feel particularly welcomed.

 

How do i know this you will ask ?    I have several old friends who live in China that i speak to regularly and they keep me up with all the travel gossip.   Of course; the 'better class of Chinese tourist' does not visit Thailand anyway, just the lower end package tour types who may do it once and then have to save again before they can go somewhere else.

 

This is what I hear as well.  

 

There's an old saying, "There are no customer satisfaction surveys in Thailand" and that has worked for the Thais for many years.  They could keep ripping people off, providing poor service, refusing to adapt their businesses to their customers, etc because:

 

1)  They didn't care

2)  More dumb tourist keep coming anyway

 

But the internet has created the ultimate customer satisfaction survey.  People can go on the major travel sites and swap details about hotels, restaurants, tour operators, etc.  People do a lot more research online and bad reviews can kill local businesses.  It doesn't matter if that local business has bought off taxi drivers and other local businesses to promote them because the tourist already knows their bad reputation before they even get off the plane.  

 

While that wasn't 100% of the reason in the drop of farang tourism (global recession helped) but many farang tourists are skipping on Thailand due to so many negative reviews.  

 

Likewise, the same is starting to happen in China and India.  Believe me, Indians have heard about how disliked they are in Thailand and the humiliation they are often subjected to.  I've heard Chinese friends mention that they've read online that Thailand isn't really friendly to Chinese.  

 

Thailand has had a good ride but they got greedy and complacent.  They thought the supply of stupid tourists would never end so the concept of customer satisfaction is totally foreign to them.

 

 

[IMA_FARANG]

I fist came here in 1977.

I have been back at least once a year since then.

I finally retired here in 2011.

Every year i read a story about Thai tourism and how it is going to die soon.

Now i am not deneying that Thai tourism  has it's problems, especially in the "tourist areas" like Phuket, Pattaya, and even Chaing Mai.

in addition places ;ike Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia are competing directly with Thailand for the same Tourtst visitors.

For that reason Thailand has to increase it's attractions to foreigners if they wish to compete for the Tourist business.

Thailand's real problem is that they have had the Tourism business easy for to long, and so they will have to get to work to get their place back a number one.

Whether they can actually do that or not, we shall see.

Now Thailand is old and has young and agresssive competition.

Nd for Thailand the "old same same" isn't going to work any more.

 

Edited August 3, 2016 by IMA_FARANG
added a comment to the end

[jeffreysearch]

On 03/08/2016 at 11:26 AM, poohy said:

The guy was being perfectly law abiding personally would have just paid the 1500 baht fine rather than 1900 and 4 hours to extend a visa seems a bit much takes less than 10 minutes here although we are more rural than the metropolis of CNX (and here is infinitely more pleasant as ex wife resides in CNX)

yes i think the rest of the Rabble here missed your point......  yes they should have more understanding ,,, not all tourists are up to date like Expats..... yes a long wait and silly really ... at the end of the day ... but thats Thailand ....

[jeffreysearch]

17 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

The Chinese have fairly quickly learned that Thailand holds no special magic for them and in most cases is more expensive than what they have back home.  They go back and tell their friends that Thailand is a filthy and lawless place and that they did not feel particularly welcomed.

 

How do i know this you will ask ?    I have several old friends who live in China that i speak to regularly and they keep me up with all the travel gossip.   Of course; the 'better class of Chinese tourist' does not visit Thailand anyway, just the lower end package tour types who may do it once and then have to save again before they can go somewhere else.

yes very true .. i feel the same .....and i am not Chinese.. really what is there that is so Special ?   except for the obvious ... young women and temples ..... the beaches are pretty ordinary i think ,,,,

[spidermike007]

Yes. Why? Countless reasons. The completely non-visionary Tourism Minister continues to focus on the Chinese market, rather that encourage improvements, that will attract Western tourists with cash to spend. This will end up being the death blow to Thai tourism. The zero baht Chinese tourists cannot sustain the market. Period. If you really want to increase tourism, try some of the following steps:

 

1. Hire some competent people, within your administration. Make sure their background, is related to the field of expertise they are directing, or participating in. Hiring a man who owns a chain of shoes stores, to run the transportation department is not going to save lives, nor lead to innovation. You want to be innovative? Get rid of nepotism, and install an administration founded upon the concept of a meritocracy. That would be a first for this nation. That is innovation. If you want the tourism industry to thrive, hire a minister with a background in tourism, rather than design and business. It just makes sense, does it not? It is called the application of common sense and reason. 
 
2. Start arresting high level men and women who are involved in trafficking. Not low hanging fruit. Anyone can do that. That is akin to the B2 case on Dark Tao. No, actually accomplish something. That would be innovation. Tourists do not like visiting a nation that is famous for human trafficking, and slave labor. 
 
3. Stop talking, and start acting.  Jawboning does not convince anyone of anything. Action speaks far louder. That is something we have seen very little of, from you lately. Now, that would be an innovation for you. Actions that improve the environment for tourists would really help. How about focusing on improving public and traffic safety, as a place to start? 
 
4. Abolish some of the punitive duties in certain areas of the import sector. A good place to start would be with the wines. Instead of a duty of 350-450%, which has all but killed the wine industry here, lower the tariff to 100%. The amount of wine bought here would go up by 1000% overnight. This would effectively double, or triple the amount collected by the government, and would create a vibrant industry that would employ tens of thousands. And it would boost tourism. Nobody likes to visit a dinosaur nation, with antiquated, protectionist, nationalistic policies, and a complete lack of innovation. It would not only make alot of people happy (moving the country forward?) but, it would be an innovative way to stimulate the economy you have done such a great job of stifling. 
 
5. Hire a really good foreigner as a P.R. person. You certainly need it. You have dug yourself quite an impressive hole, with your immature hyperbole, and nationalistic nonsense. Filter everything you say through this person of experience. People who are planning trips do not enjoy hearing ridiculous nonsense from the leaders of that nation. Your approval throughout the world will go up dramatically. Never, ever talk spontaneously. If you did that, this would be really innovative.

 

I believe Thailand will fall from second to sixth place within ASEAN within 15 years, behind Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Burma. It's tourism industry may fall further than that. 

[digibum]

10 hours ago, IMA_FARANG said:

I fist came here in 1977.

I have been back at least once a year since then.

I finally retired here in 2011.

Every year i read a story about Thai tourism and how it is going to die soon.

Now i am not deneying that Thai tourism  has it's problems, especially in the "tourist areas" like Phuket, Pattaya, and even Chaing Mai.

in addition places ;ike Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia are competing directly with Thailand for the same Tourtst visitors.

For that reason Thailand has to increase it's attractions to foreigners if they wish to compete for the Tourist business.

Thailand's real problem is that they have had the Tourism business easy for to long, and so they will have to get to work to get their place back a number one.

Whether they can actually do that or not, we shall see.

Now Thailand is old and has young and agresssive competition.

Nd for Thailand the "old same same" isn't going to work any more.

 

 

So true.  So true.  

 

And yes, there are been many premature reports of the death of tourism in Thailand but Thailand's two main strengths as a tourism destination were:

 

1.  It was cheap

2.  It was the most western-friendly destination in the region

 

Thailand isn't cheap anymore.  Especially in the tourist areas.  For some thing, like nightclubs and drinking, I'm not so sure you couldn't do the same cheaper back home.  600+ baht cover charges for dance clubs?  <deleted>?!  And when compared to Thailand's neighbors, the prices are ridiculous.  

 

And Thailand was never western-friendly.  It was simply the most western-friendly.  Some might argue that it's become increasingly hostile to foreigners recently.  

 

Regardless, Thailand's neighbors are throwing the doors open, learning English, and trying the best they can to accommodate westerners.  

 

Several years ago I went to Cambodia for a visa run and spent the night in the capital.  I walked around the city and I was spoken to more times in English, good English, by Cambodians than I would hear in a week in Thailand.  Little kids trying to sell me water saying stuff like, "Hey, it's hot out.  You better drink some water.  It's cold."  

 

Would a Thai even put in that much effort to sell you a bottle of water?  Even on Sukhumvit you would be lucky if they could be bothered to look up from their phones let alone speak English well enough to do anything more than quote you a price.  And gawd forbid you want two bottles and they have to break out the oversized calculator to tally it up.  

 

I know when I write stuff like this it sounds like I'm bashing Thais but I really do root for them.  But it's just so painful to watch them constantly screw themselves.  

 

Thailand's biggest problem is that they're not hungry.  They got handed the market for tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, and regional distribution by virtue of having avoided a war with the US, a crazy dictator who slaughtered an entire generation of educated people, and communism.  They never fought for it or earned it so now that other countries are taking it away from them they have no clue as to how to counter it.  They think simply being Thai entitles them to it.  

 

I don't know if they even have it in them to change course.  I mean, they're still blaming the tourists for not understanding Thai culture.  

 

 

[jeffreysearch]

19 hours ago, MyFrenU said:

It seems to me there is some very eloquent and constructive criticism of the way the tourist board had handled foreign and especially Western tourism abysmally for many,many years now.For me the average hard-working,non-complaining Thai person is actually what does keep people coming back over and over again.
Non-acceptance of the fact that there are problems with the mega-corruption from politicians,the BiB etc. that are ruining tourism for these good people seems churlish and naive to me as I'm sure the average Westerner would like to see a lot of these problems fixed.
Of course it will never be perfect,no country will ever be but what is wrong with wanting to help to recover what is as plain as the nose on your face?The tourist industry in Thailand IS going downhill fast and xenophobia from various successive governments plus mistreatment of many foreign tourists is largely to blame.

yes but it only take ~One bad experience or seeing something Unlawful... and they go back with Bad news for friends and relatives etc.... yes and the Chinese have many places to visit.. it just seems Thailand is Cheap for them .....

[jeffreysearch]

On 03/08/2016 at 2:20 PM, seajae said:

unfortunately the fact that Thailand does nothing about sustainability of what was a diverse natural country doesnt help. They have beautiful islands that have been trashed in their chase for the almighty dollar, the waters once teaming with aquatic life have been decimated, again for the almighty dollar, forests have been cut down, there is no sign that any govt is prepared to stop the greed and try to turn all this around. You go diving anywhere you rarely see anything bigger than a few inches in the water, spend a couple of hours throwing lures around and not even a follow in, all the fish have been netted out with extremely small illegal mesh. Rubbish is just tossed everywhere, there are no conservation efforts being pushed, the stench from open drains/canals and even gutters along main roads can be very sickening, add the mafia figures involved in the tourist industry, the attitude of many locals and the reason people are becoming less likely to holiday here are obvious. Living here is a different matter, while many of us will raise the bad we also stand up for the good, we see first hand the problems that are caused by the greed but we also see the better side of the country as well, tourists dont get to see what we do and if all they see is bad then that is what they tell everyone else. The attitude of the govts and the people need to change if they want to maintain a good tourist industry here, making all tourists out as criminals doesnt help, allowing the mafia to do as they please is also a big problem, change has to start at the top but it is very doubtful, maybe when they no longer have the billions coming in from the tourists they will see their mistakes but it will be too late to save it

very well put.. covered most of my thoughts too.... when you think about the dirty beaches and crazy traffic and people,, im sure it makes them think,, if they want to visit again.... but they are in a Good central location.. as Countries are placed .. so they get the numbers ...

[elgordo38]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Yes. Why? Countless reasons. The completely non-visionary Tourism Minister continues to focus on the Chinese market, rather that encourage improvements, that will attract Western tourists with cash to spend. This will end up being the death blow to Thai tourism. The zero baht Chinese tourists cannot sustain the market. Period. If you really want to increase tourism, try some of the following steps:

 

1. Hire some competent people, within your administration. Make sure their background, is related to the field of expertise they are directing, or participating in. Hiring a man who owns a chain of shoes stores, to run the transportation department is not going to save lives, nor lead to innovation. You want to be innovative? Get rid of nepotism, and install an administration founded upon the concept of a meritocracy. That would be a first for this nation. That is innovation. If you want the tourism industry to thrive, hire a minister with a background in tourism, rather than design and business. It just makes sense, does it not? It is called the application of common sense and reason. 
 
2. Start arresting high level men and women who are involved in trafficking. Not low hanging fruit. Anyone can do that. That is akin to the B2 case on Dark Tao. No, actually accomplish something. That would be innovation. Tourists do not like visiting a nation that is famous for human trafficking, and slave labor. 
 
3. Stop talking, and start acting.  Jawboning does not convince anyone of anything. Action speaks far louder. That is something we have seen very little of, from you lately. Now, that would be an innovation for you. Actions that improve the environment for tourists would really help. How about focusing on improving public and traffic safety, as a place to start? 
 
4. Abolish some of the punitive duties in certain areas of the import sector. A good place to start would be with the wines. Instead of a duty of 350-450%, which has all but killed the wine industry here, lower the tariff to 100%. The amount of wine bought here would go up by 1000% overnight. This would effectively double, or triple the amount collected by the government, and would create a vibrant industry that would employ tens of thousands. And it would boost tourism. Nobody likes to visit a dinosaur nation, with antiquated, protectionist, nationalistic policies, and a complete lack of innovation. It would not only make alot of people happy (moving the country forward?) but, it would be an innovative way to stimulate the economy you have done such a great job of stifling. 
 
5. Hire a really good foreigner as a P.R. person. You certainly need it. You have dug yourself quite an impressive hole, with your immature hyperbole, and nationalistic nonsense. Filter everything you say through this person of experience. People who are planning trips do not enjoy hearing ridiculous nonsense from the leaders of that nation. Your approval throughout the world will go up dramatically. Never, ever talk spontaneously. If you did that, this would be really innovative.

 

I believe Thailand will fall from second to sixth place within ASEAN within 15 years, behind Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Burma. It's tourism industry may fall further than that. 

Quit already your giving me a headache with your long read on common sense. I am not used to common sense in such large doses. I tend to go into a "it does not compute" stage where my eyes start to spin and smoke comes out of my ears. Please get a work permit and become Prayuths right hand man. Chubby cheeks needs some competition.