Another worthless article in today’s Bangkok Post regarding the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), TAT sharpens green focus.

I keep seeing the same old song and dance by the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand about the amazing amount of tourist arrivals to Thailand but no one in the Thai media has the balls to ask for any proof.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Buffalo

Here is what really needs to be challenged – the assertion by the Tourism Authority of Thailand that the numbers of tourists are up:

Amid the tourism boom and the growth of international tourist arrivals, Thailand should pause and think carefully about serious protection of tourism environments and attracting quality tourists.

There is “NO TOURISM BOOM OF INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS”.  Go to Pattaya right now and see that it is basically a ghost town.

I do agree that the environment needs to be protected but that starts with PLANNING which no one in Thailand seems to know how to do.  Certainly, the Tourism Authority of Thailand doesn’t know the meaning of the word “PLAN”.

Popular tourist locations are over-built, unsustainable, filthy with trash, overrun with vendors, and rife with scammers.

Now, this may be the very first time that the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand has spoken the truth:

“We can’t deny that Thai tourism still needs marketing campaigns, but they can be done in parallel with environmental preservation to create sustainable development over the longer term,” said Surapol Svetseni, the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

MARKETING CAMPAIGNS – holy shit!!!  The Tourism Authority of Thailand wouldn’t know what a marketing campaign was if it smacked them in the face.  All the Tourism Authority of Thailand knows how to do is promote Thailand to Thais who don’t give a shit about the environment.  To a Thai, any location outside of their front door is considered a trash dump.

Mr. Governor, calling something “GREEN” does not mean that there is any kind of plan to clean up the current tourist traps or to make newer locations sustainable.  It would take about 200 years of education to convince the Thai people that they have to plan for tomorrow.

Here come some more lies and unsubstantiated numbers by the Tourism Authority of Thailand:

Thailand has done well in recent years to promote the country abroad. Last year, tourist arrivals stood at 15.9 million and local tourists made 86 million trips. But when there are a lot of tourists travelling to these destinations, many of them become spoiled.

The number of tourist arrivals is more in line with 10 million arrivals, but that number would cause the BIG BOSSES to get fired.  The 86 million trips by locals is in no way verifiable, so the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand can just toss out a number and the reporters write it down and no one asks any questions.

“Spoiled” is too calm a word.  “Trashed”, “ruined”, “ugly”, “shitty”, “polluted” – are more appropriate.  First off, it isn’t only the tourists.  The blame begins with the hotel owners, vendors, taxi drivers, and anyone else that works in the area.  Second, you can go to the local Province, Governor, or Mayor and see that they also do not give a hoot about the environment – they only are concerned with their Government position and trying to move higher up the money ladder.

Yes, tourists, local and foreign, contribute to the UN-GREENING of Thailand – but – if there were trash cans available, if the local operators cared enough to clean their areas, and if the Thai POLICE would enforce the law across the board, maybe things would start to be cleaner. But, the Tourism Authority of Thailand apparently doesn’t get it.

This is so typical – Political Speak – from a Government Employee of the Tourism Authority of Thailand:

“We need to build the importance of environmental protection awareness in the minds of tourists, tourism operators and community people. Time is running out. We have to act now otherwise we won’t have anything left,” he said.

He left out the GOVERNMENT, the POLICE, and unless tourism operators includes hotel and restaurant owners, street and beach vendors, taxi drivers, and the local mafia scam artists, it ain’t gonna work.

Once again, the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand talks a good game to the reporters (who must be hanging on to his every word) – but where is the REAL PLAN?

I think this next part is the TAT Governor’s job to do and then to sell to the Politicians to enact laws for the Thai people to ignore:

He noted the trend of green tourism was spreading globally and Thailand can’t ignore it. He wants the government to outline clearer tourism rules to help protect the environment.

And, yes, green tourism is spreading – spreading away from Thailand to countries that actually have plans in place and are taking ACTION to do something.  The net result will be fewer tourists to Thailand and more to Laos, India, Vietnam, and the rest of Asia.  Someone needs to explain the “NO SPIN ZONE” to the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.  Action, not talk, is required.

I think the Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor realizes that tourism to Thailand is on the downward slide, but won’t admit it publicly, and is grasping at straws to try to save his job.

He noted Australia has strict land use, zoning and carrying capacity laws, but tourists still want to visit the country. On some islands in Australia, hotel building is limited and so room rates are quite high.

Yes, Australia has laws that people, local and foreign, obey.  They have police that enforce those laws without bribes.  They have Government Officials that actually do their job.

Here is an example of Thailand going ECO-Friendly according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand:

In Thailand, some operators have taken up eco-friendly concepts. An executive of Dusit Resort Pattaya said it now uses cotton for all its bedsheets, pillowcases, blanket covers and gowns. After switching to a natural fibre, its washing and laundry expenses have dropped by 10% per year.

Good on the Dusit – but Pattaya is a cesspool – sewage, eroding beaches, trash everywhere – so cutting expenses by 10% is great.  But, what the GOVERNOR of the Tourism Authority of Thailand doesn’t stress is the savings in electricity and water consumption.  But, see, this is Thailand and the concern isn’t really about the environment, it is about saving a few baht.  He also didn’t mention the initial cost to change the linen to natural materials.

Here we go again – money savings:

“Going green is not difficult and doesn’t require as big a budget as you think. You can apply small things first and then expand to others. Over the long run, it’s worth your investment,” said Mr Surapol.

Really going green is difficult, takes time, money, education, and training and the secondary result is cost savings – the primary gain is a better Thailand.  But, the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand keeps stressing money.

The TAT recently launched its “Seven Greens” campaign to build environmental awareness among local tourists. The goal is to ensure people don’t damage the environment when travelling and try to consume less energy.

And the Tourism Authority of Thailand has not announced this via their Amazing Thailand Facebook page showing that they are inept in social media again.  Where does the Tourism Authority of Thailand aim their focus?  At local tourists.  Fine, but educate the operators at the tourist locations first.

And, finally, the Bangkok Post article gives a URL to get more information:

The agency provides information related to green tourism and services on its website, www.tourismthailand.org/7greens, and allows tourists to share their stories and pictures after making an environmentally friendly trip.

The correct link is HERE.

The web site is all in Thai (except for the navigation tabs) and there is an “English” tab to click – but – it isn’t the same web site translated from Thai to English – all the English page has are 4 documents to download and one video to watch in English.

I guess the Tourism Authority of Thailand is just too lazy to translate the entire web site from Thai to English.

Tags: 7green arrivals bangkok post eco-friendly environment fabrications governor reports TAT tourism authority of thailand tourist