Thailand’s tourism private sector wants the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to provide more detailed and better tourism data.

TTR Weekly’s Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit has written a follow up article to the 2 February article Fudging allegations flatly denied.  In that article, an unnamed spokesperson from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Department of Tourism answered questions regarding the “alleged” inflated numbers of foreign tourist arrivals.  The answers were non-answers and just beat around the bush.

Khmer Ruins

This is another good article on  the Ministry of Tourism and Sports by TTR Weekly, but it appears that the private tourism sector is trying to be politically correct and not piss off the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.  An undercover, investigative report is needed.

BANGKOK, 6 February 2012: Tourism private sector leaders say the Ministry of Tourism and Sports needs to raise creditability on its data collection and arrivals statistics.

You have to have creditability first in order to raise it.

Association of Thai Travel Agents president, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, told TTR Weekly that the categories and breakdown for tourist arrivals needed to be improved.

I agree with this – more honest data is required.  Just having more columns with inflated numbers helps no one but the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

“I don’t want to comment on collection itself because the tourism ministry has a duty to build the country’s image and that is a factor when collecting data,” he said.

This is polite-Thai-speak for “Inflating the foreign tourist arrival numbers is OK since it makes Thailand look good”.

“Whatever we recommend the result as we know will be the same.”

Meaning that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports will continue to publish bullshit numbers – if they ever get around to publishing them.  Today is February 7, 2012, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Department of Tourism still hasn’t published December 2011 numbers.

But he touched on the controversy saying the ministry should be mindful that it has a responsibility to support the industry and to achieve that classification and data interpretation should be clear to strengthen travel agency marketing plans and strategy.

In theory, yes.  In reality, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports only supports the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the private sector.

“The private needs the department to divide tourist arrivals into categories to gain a real tourism business figure rather than just counting all the people who pass through the border checkpoints as is the case now.”

Well, they do have some categories:

• INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS TO THAILAND (BY NATIONALITY)
• INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS TO THAILAND (BY NATIONALITY ) AT SUVARNABHUMI INTERNTIONAL AIRPORT )
• Tourism Receipts from international Tourist Arrivals
• Tourism Expenditure By Outgoing Thai
• Tourist Profile

1. Inter_Tourist_2011
2. Outgoing Traveller_2011
3. Sex-Travel_2011

• Mode Of Transport
• Tourism Receipts from international Tourist Arrivals
• Tourism Expenditure By Outgoing Thai

But, the numbers are inflated or just made up by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.  There are claims of surveys with a 2% sampling conducted, but I have yet to see one.  And, even if conducted by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, how reliable are they and are any numbers checked independently.

There is has been consistent criticism of the ministry’s ability to deliver credible and accurate tourism data and so far ministry officials have declined to comment.

Because the Ministry of Tourism and Sports just makes up the numbers.  The Ministry of Tourism and Sports saying that tourism was UP during the November 2011 floods compared to November 2010 is ludicrous.

Some of the categories that travel agencies would like to see in the data fields includes FIT, group tours, VFRs, business, investment, meeting and incentive as well as niche market travellers such as weddings where one of the partners is Thai.

FIT=Free and Independent Travel, VFR=Visiting Friends and/or Relations.  The Ministry of Tourism and Sports would actually have to work to get REAL numbers so, it won’t happen.

Association of Domestic Travel president, Maiyarat Pheerayakoses, said the tourism department’s data is limited in scope and needs to be upgraded.

This is more polite-Thai-speak for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports publishes crap.

“The tourism department collects tourist data according to theory, while we need detailed information that can be used to supplement the data supplied by Thai Hotel Association and Association of Thai Travel Agents that run their own accurate research.”

Interesting.  Theory?  The Ministry of  Tourism and Sports theorizes the total number of foreign tourist arrivals?  No one actually uses a calculator and counts the number of foreign tourist arrivals at the airports and border crossings?

Association leaders admit there is a gap between the tourism department’s figures and the reality in the business market.

And the gap is HUGE.  Reality is about 1/2 of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports number of foreign tourist arrivals. 20 million claimed is really 10 million.

“Although tour operators need to use the tourism department’s data to make marketing plans, we still need in-depth data that gives us background on the real tourists not every person who crosses borders,” Ms Maiyarat said.

I would like to see the Ministry of Tourism and Sports come with a definition of the word “tourist” as it applies to Thailand.  I am heading out to Ubon Ratchathani, Mukdahan, and Kalasin this month – will I be counted?

Tourism Council of Thailand president Piyaman Tejapaibul admitted there is a lot of controversy over tourism data, but the TCT still “respects the tourism department criteria” based on United Nation World Tourism Organisation guidelines.

The criteria may be valid, but inflating the numbers helps no one but the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

“I think tourist arrivals data collected can be trusted because the ministry is using the same company, Excellent Business Management Company Limited, that worked for the Tourism Authority of Thailand before the transfer of responsibilities in 2008.”

HAHAHA.  It was bullshit before, it is bullshit now.  If the Excellent Business Management Company Limited is so “Excellent” – where is their web site?  Why don’t they post data online for all to see?  The Department of Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports are obviously challenged at how to do this.

TCT president added: “If there are adjustments in the tourism collecting data method it has to comply with Ministry of Interior law.”

Too many bureaucracies is one of the other problems.  Why does the Ministry of Tourism and Sports have to comply with the Ministry of the Interior?  Shouldn’t tourism collecting data method fall under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports?

The council says it has set up a committee to work with the tourism department to check the accuracy of data as well finds way to build creditability with the private sector.

Ahhhh.  The Thai answer to everything – establish a committee.  Next, they will schedule meetings.  Then, funds will be allocated.  Then, nothing will happen. Nothing will change at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

I hope that TTR Weekly continues to ping the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and finds a way to get to the truth.

Thailand Tourism Private Sector Challenging Ministry Of Tourism And Sports is a post from: Khon Kaen

Incoming search terms:

• Thailand tourist expenditure

We have yet another false report by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the official Thai Government News Web Site, National News Bureau of Thailand Public Relations Department, PM: More countries lift their travel warnings for Thailand.

Someone needs to direct Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to the America Embassy web site to the Emergency Messages and Announcements page.

Yingluck Shinawatra

Once at the American Embassy web site, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra can read the Emergency Message to U.S. Citizens: Possible Terrorist Threat that has been in the exact same place as it was when it was posted on January 13th 2012.  Nothing has changed.

BANGKOK, 6 February 2012 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said many countries, including the United States, have now lifted their travel warnings for Thailand following a widespread terror scare in Bangkok last month.

Not.  See above Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

After meeting with the chief of the U.S. intelligence unit, Prime Minister Yingluck said that several foreign countries have already canceled their travel advisories on Thailand due to their better understanding of the situation in the Kingdom. She revealed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now trying to convince the remaining 7 countries with warnings still in effect to follow suit.

Khun Surapong, the Foreign Minister will also have to convince the American Embassy – so make that 8 countries.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has expressed his gratitude to the U.S. for terminating the terrorist alert in the Kingdom. He added that the U.S. intelligence unit also agreed to Thailand’s request that consultation be sought first if any warning is to be issued in the future.

HAHAHA.  The United States and/or the American Embassy is not going to consult with Thailand first – they will issue warnings to its citizens when deemed appropriate and will remove them when appropriate – not just because the Foreign Minister is trying to help the tourism industry.  The travel advisory is still in effect.

During the meeting, the intelligence unit also congratulated Thailand for its improved relationships with Cambodia and Myanmar.

Sounds more like it was a grip and grin meeting and nothing official from the American Ambassador, Kristie Kenney.

So, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, you have fallen for the nonsense that your Foreign Minster has been falsely preaching.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Gets It Wrong is a post from: Khon Kaen

With the dwindling numbers of foreign tourist arrivals in December 2011 and January 2012, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has been relatively quiet the past few weeks.

Add to this the false belief that countries have lifted their travel advisories, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand has crawled back out of the woodwork to make some stupid forecasts for 2012.

Thai Beach

This time it is the Tourism Authority of Thailand Deputy Governor for Asia and South-Pacific Markets Sansern Ngaorangsi making the wild ass guess predictions for the benefit of the Official Thai Government online news source – National News Bureau of Thailand Public Relations Department – TAT to attract 13.4 million visitors from Asia and South Pacific Region.

BANGKOK, 5 January 2012 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has welcomed the news that more and more countries are cancelling travel advisories against Thailand while pointing out that the warning that remains in some countries is at a low level and is only contained in markets with less significance.

Not true Tourism Authority of Thailand.  This is based on the Thai Foreign Minister misinterpreting information on the American Embassy web site.  The EMERGENCY MESSAGE is still valid and HAS NOT BEEN REVOKED.  The Foreign Minister incorrectly has told Thailand that the Worldwide Caution posted on 24 January, which is very generic, has superseded the 13 January terrorist travel advisory.  Apples and Oranges comparison that the Thai Foreign Minister is trying to manipulate into something totally false.  I do hope that the American Ambassador in Thailand, Kristie Kenney, slams the Thai Foreign Minister

TAT Deputy Governor for Asia and South-Pacific Markets Sansern Ngaorangsi stated that the TAT aims to boost the number of tourists from the Asia and South Pacific markets up to 13.5 million this year, which will generate revenue of THB400 billion. It is speculated that tourists from India and Australia will rise to more than one million. Their numbers were previously 900,000 and 800,000, respectively. The number of tourists from China, Japan and South Korea should remain over 1 million as usual. Meanwhile, the TAT will also be focusing on new potential markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia.

Thai Government Officials, especially the Tourism Authority of Thailand, love to throw out numbers based on absolutely nothing because they know that no news reporter, especially one from a Thai government news site, would dare ask a question or dare ask Mr. Big Shot to verify or justify the wild ass guess prediction.

The TAT has plans to increase the average expense per day of tourists from the Asian market from THB4,500 baht each to THB5,000 to create more income for the country. The main focus will fall on four quality tourist groups, namely golf enthusiasts, honeymooners, medical tourists and ecotourists.

Number 1 – the Tourism Authority of Thailand has absolutely no idea how much money a foreign or domestic tourist spends daily.  Supposedly, TAT conducts surveys of 2% of tourists to conduct this analysis.  I have never seen anyone from TAT anywhere in Thailand since 1973 doing anything.

Number 2 – There is NO focus on those 4 groups by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.  Show me an advertisement for any of those niche markets.  Show me anything on the main tourismthailand.org web site that promotes specific events for these big bucks tourists.  Show me a video on YouTube.  Show me a promotion on Facebook.  None exist.

Number 3 – If the Tourism Authority of Thailand is trying to attract eco-tourists, they need to read this article from today’s Bangkok Post – Eco-tourism still brown in Thailand and respond to this quote: “Tourism operators and local tourists pay little attention to eco-tourism.”

Mr. Sansern stated that this year’s marketing budget for the Asia and South Pacific region is THB400 million. However, complementary budget is expected to be extended by the government to stimulate tourism in order to meet its THB2-trillion goal for the tourism sector in 2015.

The answer to all of the issues put forth by the Tourism Authority of Thailand – throw more money at it.

Mr. Sansern added that the ongoing Royal Flora 2011 is helping boost tourism as well. So far, the event has welcomed 1.4 million visitors, 80% of whom are Thais. Most foreign tourists attending the Royal Flora 2011 come from Asian countries which have direct flights to Chiang Mai, such as South Korea.

I seriously doubt that 1.4 million folks went to Chiang Mai and there is no way for the Tourism Authority of Thailand to even get a rough estimate.  The 80% number may be relatively close to reality since the Tourism Authority of Thailand does not know how to market to foreigners.

Just more of the same old bullshit from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Tourism Authority Of Thailand Making More Unsubstantiated Predictions is a post from: Khon Kaen

This all started on 30 January 2012, with an article from Phuketwan, US Terror Alert Ending With A Whimper, a very deceiving headline that implied that the US emergency travel advisory for Thailand had been revoked.  They went so far as to say: “The US Embassy in Thailand has now quietly removed the terrorist warning to tourists in Bangkok from the front page of its online site . . . and perhaps it’s better that the misguided alert went with a whimper rather than a bang.”

Removed from the front page – yes – but all that was on the front page originally was a link to the Thailand emergency warning – which is still in effect.  The Phuketwan article is more an opinion piece and a place for the author to air his views on the country-specific travel alert system.

Thunderbirds

Then, on 2 February 2012, The Nation came up with an article, 13 nations urged to withdraw their travel advisory, which had this to say about the Thailand travel advisories:

Of the 21 countries that issued travel advisories, nine – namely the US, China, Germany, France, Israel, Brazil, Norway, Netherlands and Denmark – have either withdrawn or eased their warnings.

Now, this came as a huge surprise to me as I had not received any email messages from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok that said that the travel advisory had been revoked or lessened.  Also surprising, is that if this were true, where is the HUGE HEADLINE proclaiming it.  With all the bitching and moaning that has gone on since it was issued on 13 January, one would think that this would be a major story at The Nation and/or The Bangkok Post.

This was followed up by another article in The Nation on 3 February, Withdraw travel warning, that was almost a word-for-word copy of the 2 February article.

Also on 3 February, the official Thai News Agency for the Thai Government, National News Bureau of Thailand, Public Relations Department, ran this article – Foreign Affairs Ministry: U.S. lifts terror alert in Thailand which stated:

BANGKOK, 3 February 2012 (NNT) – The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that the United States revoked the terrorism alert in Thailand. Nine countries still warn their citizens of possible terrorist attacks.

This was also broadcast by the Thaivisa forum web site

I kept going back to the American Embassy web site and checked out the page with ALL the warnings – Emergency Messages and Announcements, and I see no change.  I still see the Emergency Message dated 13 January.  I don’t see anywhere listing a revocation or a downgrade of the alert.

The Nation continued with its daily message, Nine nations urged to lift travel – I guess they forgot how to spell alert or advisory – but this still falsely shows that the USA has removed its alert:

Britain, Australia, Austria, Taiwan, South Korea, Italy, Japan, Romania and Canada are still warning their citizens to be careful when visiting Thailand.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office are doing more than telling Brits to “be careful”.

The Phuket Gazette joined the party on 4 February with Phuket update: US lifts terror alert:

PHUKET: Good news for the Phuket tourism industry has come with the US warning of a possible terrorist threat in Bangkok having been removed from its website, where it had been on the main page.

It has NOT been removed from its website but it has been taken off of the front page – where it was only a summary with a link to the article in the first place.

The warning was replaced with a more general alert for East Asia. The new warning does not name any specific countries or places, but 14 other countries still have either travel advisories or alerts for Thailand.

Sorry, I don’t see this.  I do see a “World Wide Caution” issued on 24 January, but nothing else has changed.

OK, I just went to the horse’s mouth – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web Site and here is the LATEST from the MFA – – Developments regarding travel advisories and alerts issued for Thailand (as of 31 January 2012):

On 31 January 2012, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, gave an interview to the media on developments regarding travel advisories and alerts issued by some countries about the possible terrorist threat in Bangkok. Gist as follows:

1. Pursuant to the alert issued by the United States Embassy in Bangkok warning its nationals of a possible terrorist threat, at present the U.S. Embassy has removed the said warning from the main page of its website. On 24 January 2012, the United States has instead issued a worldwide caution on security threats and terrorist activities for various regions of the world. For East Asia, a general alert was issued without specifying any particular country including Thailand. This is considered a positive development.

2. As for other countries, over the past 2-3 days, three countries, namely, Austria, Norway and Brazil, have also revised their travel advisories and alerts for Thailand, removing reference to the said issue.  At present, there remain 14 countries which still retain their travel advisories and alerts on this matter. It should be noted, however, that these countries have not advised their nationals to avoid travelling to Bangkok or Thailand, but only provided information about the matter to their nationals.

3. In this connection, the Foreign Minister has directed the Ministry to provide the latest information on the current situation to countries which have retained their travel advisories and alerts for Thailand in order for them to consider revising their advisories and alerts. This matter has already been raised with some countries. In addition, the Foreign Minister and the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs will also raise this issue with Ambassadors and/or Representatives of the European Union (E.U.) Member States in Thailand during their upcoming meeting on 2 February 2012.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is mixing apples and oranges.  The Worldwide Caution issued on 24 January is just that – a worldwide caution.  The EMERGENCY MESSAGE for Bangkok, issued on 13 January, is still in effect. One does not cancel or improve the other.  The Worldwide Caution DID NOT replace the EMERGENCY MESSAGE.

More misinformation from the almost English online news media in Thailand.

Thailand English News Media Ganging Up On American Embassy? is a post from: Khon Kaen

Incoming search terms:

• bangkok us terror alert
• foreign affairs ministry: u s lifts terror alert in thailand
• US lifts terror alert in Thailand Bangkok Post

One of the many sites that I enjoy reading is Not The Nation for their satire on Thailand.

However, today, I noticed that one of the Not the Nation stories about beer gardens contained a photo I took In Khon Kaen.

Khon Kaen Beer Garden

Above is the photo that was stolen by Not The Nation from this post – Khon Kaen Seven Dangerous Days Campaign Sending Mixed Signals.

Not The Nation posted it in this article – Khon Kaen Seven Dangerous Days Campaign Sending Mixed Signals.

Here are screen shots taken today, 4 February 2012:

Here are the two photos side by side – mine on the left and the stolen photo from Not The Nation on the right:

You can see that they are identical.  You can also see the date of the blog posts that mine was made (30 December 2011) over one month prior to Not The Nation.  And, I have the original.

So, now what do I do?  I could try to contact the folks at Not the Nation – but they have no contact info on thier web site.  I did a Whois search and found out that they registered their domain via domainsbyproxy.com which hides everything and when I looked at their web host, godaddy.com, everything is hidden there also.

So, about all I can do is post this and maybe they will see it and take any or all of the following actions:

• Pay me for the photo
• Remove the photo
• Provide a link and credit for the photo
• Issue an apology

I will give this a little time and do some more DMCA research and see what all of my options are.  I know I can contact GoDaddy, but I would rather settle this with the folks at Not the Nation.

Oh, Not the Nation – the photo was shot in Khon Kaen, Thailand, at the park across the street from CentralPlaza – not Bangkok.

Not The Nation Stole My Photo is a post from: Khon Kaen