Tourism in Thailand -- an unregulated industry notoriously awash in the lowest forms of human garbage
from letters to the Nation
Unlike other tourism agencies, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has no enforcement powers
...
Sagittarius's letter makes some admirable points in pleading for improvements in the behaviour of those who intimidate or cheat tourists. He also rightly pleads for a clean-up of tourist sites and an end to the infamous double-pricing of tourists. After all, visitors who feel they have been fleeced will not only decide not to return, but also encourage others not to come.
The pursuit of these goals is something few could argue about. However, it needs to be clearly understood that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is primarily a government marketing agency, promoting Thailand's tourist industry abroad and at home, through often well-hidden resort offices. Unlike the government tourist organisations of Hong Kong and Singapore, for example, the TAT has no enforcement powers to redress the complaints of tourists who find themselves at the end of dishonest deals. The TAT, of course, does license travel agencies to provide guidance for tourists.
Neither does the TAT have any power or willingness to ensure good environmental standards at tourist sites. Those are issues for provincial governors and tambon heads.
Thailand has laws on the statute books for almost every offence, but such is the tolerance (and some might say lethargy) of the law-enforcement agencies and local authorities that tourists remain alone and at the mercy of the unscrupulous.
International standards, where they are present, are set by the better representations of the private sector, not that pathetic excuse for a government in Bangkok. It's sad that despite the presence of mobile phones, Mercedes cars and five-star resorts, Thailand remains seriously behind the most of its competitors in the way it maintains its tourist assets.
Unlike other tourism agencies, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has no enforcement powers
...
Sagittarius's letter makes some admirable points in pleading for improvements in the behaviour of those who intimidate or cheat tourists. He also rightly pleads for a clean-up of tourist sites and an end to the infamous double-pricing of tourists. After all, visitors who feel they have been fleeced will not only decide not to return, but also encourage others not to come.
The pursuit of these goals is something few could argue about. However, it needs to be clearly understood that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is primarily a government marketing agency, promoting Thailand's tourist industry abroad and at home, through often well-hidden resort offices. Unlike the government tourist organisations of Hong Kong and Singapore, for example, the TAT has no enforcement powers to redress the complaints of tourists who find themselves at the end of dishonest deals. The TAT, of course, does license travel agencies to provide guidance for tourists.
Neither does the TAT have any power or willingness to ensure good environmental standards at tourist sites. Those are issues for provincial governors and tambon heads.
Thailand has laws on the statute books for almost every offence, but such is the tolerance (and some might say lethargy) of the law-enforcement agencies and local authorities that tourists remain alone and at the mercy of the unscrupulous.
International standards, where they are present, are set by the better representations of the private sector, not that pathetic excuse for a government in Bangkok. It's sad that despite the presence of mobile phones, Mercedes cars and five-star resorts, Thailand remains seriously behind the most of its competitors in the way it maintains its tourist assets.
posted by realthailand at
4:19 AM
