Two days ago, the President of Thai Hotels Association and a spokesman of the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) were not very happy with the proposed policies at the “Tourism Policy … with New Government” symposium of 5 of the main political parties running for office in the upcoming July 3 election. They were actually totally disappointed since most of what they heard was the same old song and dance.

Thai Politicians and Tourism

I guess the politicians got an earful, as they met again yesterday at a different symposium – “Future Thai Tourism … and New Government” – and laid out a bunch of pie-in-the-sky tourism plans.

There are a bunch of a few great ideas proposed, but I am sure that tourism budgets were not considered.  The only thing that the political parties wanted to do was appease the Hotel business folks.

The symposium was headed up by the Tourism Council of Thailand, one of many Thai Government Tourism Agencies (part of the problem is too much bureaucracy).  Here is what they want from BIG Thai Government:

Piyaman Tejabaibul, council president, said yesterday that whoever comes to power after the July 3 election should work closely with the private sector to ensure the country remains competitive.

This has not happened in the past and will most likely continue in the future.  These guys meet with the Government Tourism Agencies once a year and nothing ever comes of it. The Thai Government Tourism Agencies don’t give a shit about the private sector and only concern themselves with hanging on to their government positions.

Khun Piyaman has the following six proposed areas of focus:

The council has prepared six guidelines and measures for the new government, covering national tourism strategy and positioning, sustainable tourism, innovative tourism, productivity improvement, integrated planning and implementation, and corporate governance.

Let’s take a look at all six:

1. national tourism strategy and positioning – There is no plan, no strategy, no nothin.  The Thai Tourism Government Agencies change their tune like the wind going after different sectors of emerging markets, putting up the same old generic videos of “Amazing Thailand” and using that old, lame motto for way too long, and continue to not understand how to market to overseas locations and various niche markets.
2. sustainable tourism – This will take a couple of generations to teach the local Thais the meaning of sustainable tourism since most Thais only live for today and could care less about tomorrow.
3. innovative tourism – Nothing new or innovative in Thailand lately.  The Government Tourism Agencies don’t seem to understand that people need different things to see if you want them to return.
4. productivity improvement – not sure what this one means.  Productivity where?
5. integrated planning and implementation – If this one means Thai businesses working together with Thai Government Tourism Agencies, good luck.  Hasn’t happened in the past and no indication that it will in the future.
6. corporate governance – in the Land of Scams this will definitely not happen – in the Government or local businesses.

She has this next part correct, but good luck in finding someone:

“In addition to all of these, industry needs a keen person to lead the sector, as there are many disturbing issues,” she said.

She is preaching to deaf ears on the following issue:

“We really hope that the new government will help and maintain tourism in the long term as well as anticipate the opening of the Asean Economic Community [AEC],” she said.

The ASEAN Economic Community will kick off in 2015 and most of the other 9 countries are leaps and bounds ahead of Thailand, which has done absolutely nothing the past two years in preparation.  Expect lots of job losses in the coming years and politicians blaming previous Prime Ministers.  The biggest problem is that the Thai Government doesn’t play well with others.

Now here is what the 5 major political parties are proposing – way different than two days ago:

Democrat Apirak Kosayodhin said his party has lined up several tourism projects, including creating tourism attractions such as World Heritage Sites and beach resorts in the city and more than 60 provinces. Others are to promote tourism products in communities and improve human resources with more than 3 million jobs at stake to get ready for the AEC.

The Democrats propose to invest in infrastructure such as high-speed trains from Bangkok to major provinces as well as China. It would expand connecting flights at airports in Bangkok. It would focus on emerging markets such as India, China and the Middle East. It would launch new events such as the World Expo.

These are from the current administration – you don’t just create World Heritage Sites – this is only mentioned because PM Abhisit was forced into defending the current border clash over the Preah Vihear Site.  A lost cause.

Beach resorts in the city?  WTF?  This makes no sense.  Beach resorts in Bangkok.  The Democrats must be on drugs.

Maybe in some of the provinces, but then again, many of these are already over-built (Pattaya, Phuket, etc) and sustainable tourism is a phrase that most Thais don’t comprehend.

They are right about the 3 million jobs at stake – jobs that the Thai people will lose to the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and others.

There they go again – with the focus on Infrastructure – throw a bazillion baht at a project doomed to fail and then claim success.

The Government Tourism Agencies and BIG government continues to talk about emerging markets from China to Estonia, but I have yet to see any sort of marketing strategy identifying what these markets want and how the Thai community will provide it.

Here is what the main opposition (and most likely new government) has to say – get ready:

Plodprasop Suraswadi, a deputy Pheu Thai leader, said his party would like to see Thailand as the world’s best destination in beach and religious activities and the best for long stays by foreigners.

It would boost arrivals from 15 million to 30 million tourists a year as well as domestic tourism to 60 million people. Convention centres would be built in the provinces and Pattaya would be turned into a tourism hub.

Thai restaurants overseas would be recruited as agents to promote Thai tourism.

Movie shoots in Thailand would be promoted and big events and contests would be organised all-year round.

The management of the Tourism and Sports Ministry would be reshuffled and Koh Chang would be developed as a quality destination. Diving centres would be increased and a speciality consulting firm would be engaged to help run tourism, he added.

I will take them one paragraph at a time:

• Everyone wants to see Thailand as the best beach and religious location to visit – but the beaches and water are filthy, the coral is bleached causing many dive sites to close, scams abound, and they are way too overcrowded.  Religious activities may work if people want to learn ThaiBuddhism and not real Buddhism.
• Looks like the Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor has brainwashed this party with his 15 million tourist arrival number (more like 10 million) and Pheu Thai Party will boost the number to 30 million!  Maybe in 50 years.  And, they want to turn the world’s largest brothel into a tourism hub.  Brilliant plan.
• Recruiting Thai restaurants overseas is one of the dumbest ideas yet.  Most of the “Thai” restaurants overseas are not run by Thais.  The restaurant may be a Thai restaurant in name only which sounds better to the local market than a Cambodian or Laotian restaurant.   Go to Hawaii and try to speak Thai to anyone working at a Thai restaurant.  Will the Thai Government pay these overseas agents?
• Looks like these guys also enjoy promoting Thailand as a place for the world’s biggest water gun fight or the Transvestite Tiffany Beauty Pageant and don’t want to promote Thailand for its culture and history.
• Looks like they also want to ruin Koh Chang – remember the big plan a few years back to make Phuket the upscale place to go for Europeans?  Koh Chang is still backpackers paradise.
• I already mentioned diving and am curious about the “Specialty Consulting Firm” – sounds like an opportunity for another level of bureaucracy and some graft.

From the minor parties – doesn’t really matter as they won’t get elected but fun to see what crazy ideas they have:

Goanpot Asvinvichit of Chart Pattana Puea Pandin said the party aims to help affected operators and produce tourism specialists who were adept in language skills and multimedia so they could cope with the fast-changing world of tourism.

The party also wants to end internal problems to reclaim and grow tourist arrivals.

The party is considering waiving visa fees for high-potential countries like China. Complimentary hotel shuttle buses are needed in Bangkok and key provinces to serve free individual tourists.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has a hard time coping with English (which should a pre-requisite for hiring) and now they have to learn  Chinese, Russian, Estonian, and more????  All the Tourism Authority of Thailand staff know is how to steal photos from other people’s web sites and post the pictures and text on their Facebook page.

Ending internal problems will happen about 100 years after I am dead.  As long as you have the big divide between rich and poor, it will continue.

Waiving visa fees for Chinese tourists is one of the few sensible proposals.  However, are there any hotels in Thailand prepared to take on a busload of Chinese travelers?  I think not.

Complimentary shuttles are a nice thought that will put a few hundred taxi and bus drivers out of business.  Smart thinking – not a good way to get votes.

Pradit Phataraprasit from the Chart Thai Pattana Party said the country should have a special institute to help train and groom human resources in order to improve people’s abilities.

The party would crack down on tourist scams and illegal tour guides along with improving service at the airport. Relief measures would be in place to assist operators when unexpected circumstances arise.

Training would be a good thing, but Thais tend to hire from within which means the blind will lead the blind.  Cracking down on scams is a fantastic start, but I haven’t seen a change since I have been coming here for almost 40.  Thailand is still the Land of Scams.

These guys must already figure that they are not going to win:

Sorayut Phettrakul from Bhum Jai Thai said tourism was one of four industries the party would focus on.

So, there you have it, a bit of a different tune played by the two major political parties.  But, no matter who wins, nothing will change for Thailand tourism.

Tags: overseas parties political restaurants scams tourism authority of thailand world heritage