The Great Bargain
Soon it’s all over, be it with a whimper or bloody beats of drums. Doesn’t really matter. The Tourism Authority has anyway quite a task ahead. The good news? Without great bargains the crisis will linger on even longer. The PAD turn out to be next year’s tourists’ biggest friend. Finally you’ll have again beaches again for yourself with prices, just splendid.
Weren’t we all complaining about Thai tourism’s yearly price inflation without really adding value? In 2009, expect some prices in the tourism industry you haven’t seen for some years. The Asian financial crisis, bird flu, Sars, the tsunami and coup, they all were a lesson for Thailand’s tourism industry. But nothing comes close to the PAD factor.
Hidden behind is a truly sad story. Thailand once was somebody. A proud tiger economy, a model for problematic states and regimes around the region. Today Thailand teeters on the brink of a failed state, with – sad to say – one of Thailand’s greatest assets in the eyes of the world, her women, becoming even cheaper, as dictated by falling incomes and increased misery and competition.
For generations Thailand was not only a proud tiger economy and aspiring democracy of the region, Thailand was a promised land amidst refugee crises and political turmoils. The boom had begun with the arrival of the Vietnam-fighting Americans and their dollars flowing into the country. Thailand sold her riches and exported her best and grew stronger.
Over time Thailand even brought to perfection the dubious art of profiteering from the crises of others. A ruined Cambodia of the Khmer Rouge and impoverished Burma of the generals only strengthened the kingdom.
Later on, during the various political troubles in the Philippines and Indonesia’s final struggle with Suharto, Thailand even managed to steal tourists who were looking for paradise nature and stability.
Since some time though Thailand doesn’t manage to profit any longer from the crises of others. Thailand is herself at the very center of own crises – with the current mother of all crises originating in the rise of populist and demagogue Thaksin Shinawatra in 2001.
The rest you all now. Now the kingdom’s at the bottom of the ladder. Proud Thailand is reduced to a farce, turning into a caricature of a nation overtaken by even Cambodia in terms of economical outlook and stability.
Won’t be an as easy climb back up again.
Blame … blame whom?
The blame game and conflict will go on and on as long as both the PAD and Thaksin stalwarts are allowed to continue in one form or another.
Meanwhile, get ready for some great bargains. Thailand’s on sale.
“PAD Factor.” I like that.
However, I think you’re not going far enough.
For generations Thailand was not only a proud tiger economy and aspiring democracy of the region, Thailand was a promised land amidst refugee crises and political turmoils. The boom had begun with the arrival of the Vietnam-fighting Americans and their dollars flowing into the country. Thailand sold her riches and exported her best and grew stronger.
This boom was not caused by the inherent qualities of Thailand. You said it: Vietnam.
At that time, SEA was a burning battle field (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) … Insanity.
In the middle, Thailand. Untouched. Pristine. An island in the middle of an inferno.
After 1975, they had ALL THE CARDS IN THEIR HANDS.
All the cards to make Thailand a real tiger, something amazing, with the strong support of the Western countries (at that time, dominos … communism threat and all the stuff).
But like dirty little bratts, they spoiled everything.
Oh sure, we did have improvements: materialistic ones. Condos, BTS, even an underground line. And a new airport. Great.
And? What’s more on social level? Education? Politics?
Not very impressive. And even appalling for the political parts.
Now we start to understand that all those years were just a “theater stage.”
Democracy? Ah ah ah.
But now the stage is crumbling. Too old. Now we’re looking at the backstage. And it’s not very nice …
I just don’t get it. How can any of you say that the “westernised” development in recent years is the benchmark for judgment. Thais were doing very nicely, thank you very much, before all the shopping malls (for the tourists) and the hotels (for the tourists) and they don’t mind catching buses (how many tourists are on the buses?) Re the latter – its not to do with money its to do with convenience. For the Thais, it’s a convenience to catch a bus – for the tourists – it’s grubby and cheap. Take a look at the Thai people – those who don’t shop as a pasttime, don’t watch violent movies (not much else on offer here). They work. Hard. Something Westerners have left to those on the rung beneath them.
Well Judy, that’s exactly my point!
When I say “great” at the … underground line and new airport it’s of course ironic …
But anyway that’s not the issue.
The issue is: With all the super golden opportunities Thailand had just after 1975 … did they achieve a good job. Or not?
I say: no.
What do you think?
Judy, Judy, Judy, been to America lately? There are certainly some hard working folks there. Now I will give you that there are not as many as there used to be, but that seems to be a trend related to age, rather than nationality. Have you worked with some of the young twenty-something Thais? Not much different than the twenty-something Americans.
Westerners are absolutely outnumbered on the BTS/MRT, so that is not for the tourist, but the middle class with some sense who would rather not sit in traffic just to prove they can.
“Life here is great.”
Hotels start giving in.