PHUKET – French Consul supports proposed Red/Yellow card system for law-breaking tourists

The bizarre, and probably unworkable, “Yellow-Red” card scheme, cooked up by Phuket police officials two weeks ago, immediately vanished from the news – mostly accompanied by foreign doubters and critics on social media.

The card system, if implemented, would have recognised unlawful acts by foreigners with a yellow card and kicked them out of the country. More than one offence, presumably a red card, and they wouldn’t be able to return. For those not aware of the English Football penalty system, the Phuket police appear inspired by the umpires using yellow and red cards as warnings for errant players.

In the original proposal there was no explanation of how the penalties would be dispensed and if alleged law breakers could take the matters to court.

At the time the police were suggesting that something as simple (and regular) as not wearing a bike helmet could earn the bare-headed rider a one way trip to the airport. The details were sketchy and haven’t been made more plausibly clear since.

Until last Thursday.

The Consul of France in Thailand, Mr. Christophe Hemmings, headed to the Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Major General Sermpan Sirikong, to discuss French tourists breaking laws and causing “legal problems” in the area. The meeting took place on Thursday, March 9.

Over recent weeks a number of French citizens have made unscheduled and unwelcome appearances in local media, mostly relating to attacks, motorbike ‘gangs’ marauding around Patong making noise, and numerous smaller offences.

According to The Phuket Express, Mr. Hemmings started by expressed “his admiration” for the Phuket police and urged them to take serious legal action against French nationals who were breaking local laws, particularly on the roads and by being public nuisances. He also backed the controversial “Yellow-Red Card” system, where the names of offenders would be listed with the Thai Immigration Office, and them passed on to French police to potentially take further action against them when they returned to France.

Mr. Hemmings emphasised that the French embassy was concerned with France’s image in Phuket and Thailand and wanted French and other national tourists to follow Thai laws to prevent problems. He also noted that most French expats living in Phuket were law-abiding, while those causing problems were often French tourists on short holidays.

Major General Sermpan welcomed the co-operation, stating that there’d and yellow warning cards were still under consideration.

“We are still considering proposals for listing names under a so-called red and yellow card proposal.”

At this stage the laws that would be included in any yellow or red card system have not been clarified or if there would be a system of redress for people that wanted to challenge their earning “cards” that would leave them sent out of, or banned’ from Thailand.

Given that the court system can take many months and that a link between the databases of the police and immigration offices would have to be devised, it is unlikely that anything will happening soon.

Source – Phuket-Go

Why Thailand has attracted more foreign tourists than Vietnam

A friendly visa policy and diverse entertainment services have made Thailand more attractive than Vietnam in the eyes of foreign tourists.

Grant Wilson, 61, an Australian who has been living in Vietnam for six years, said he had traveled to Thailand more than 30 times.

Though Vietnam has beautiful scenery, delicious food and friendly people, Wilson said that Thailand has been developing tourism better than Vietnam, especially the quality of tourism services.

In Thailand, shopping centers and night markets are diverse and suitable for Westerners with better quality of goods.

In Thailand, there are various modes of public transport, including buses, taxis, tuk-tuks and songtaews, a taxi or bus adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck, which make it convenient for tourists to explore the country of golden pagodas. Meanwhile, in Vietnam Grant only knows to take xe om (motorbike taxis) or buses.

From Suvarnabhumi Airport, tourists can take a train for 35 baht ($1) to reach the downtown area in Bangkok. The Bangkok Skytrain (known as the BTS) and the Bangkok Subway (known as the MRT) are the two most convenient ways to travel around the Thai capital.

In Vietnam, traveling by public transport is still limited.

Though Vietnam’s first metro, the Cat Linh-Ha Dong line in Hanoi, went into service in 2021, it has failed to connect many of the city’s main tourist attractions. Ho Chi Minh City’s (HCMC) first metro line has not begun service yet due to repeated delays.

Grant said further that Vietnam has a poor nightlife scene while Thailand has built up its tourism reputation with “red light districts” in places like Pattaya and Bangkok.

“Vietnam has more beautiful natural landscapes than Thailand but conservation in Vietnam is underdeveloped,” Grant said. “In Thailand, you can go to national parks and easily see wild animals like tigers and elephants. In Vietnam, tigers are almost extinct and wild elephants can only be seen in some places like Yok Don in Dak Lak (in the Central Highlands).”

Leoni Becker, a German travel blogger who has been to both Vietnam and Thailand, also agreed Thailand has been attracting more foreign tourists than Vietnam thanks to its “diversified travel experiences” such as the “full moon party,” an all-night beach party that originated in Hat Rin on the island of Ko Pha-ngan in 1985.

Despite tourism reopening earlier in Vietnam, the country received only 3.5 million foreign visitors last year, almost a quarter of Thailand’s figure of 11.5 million.

In 2019, Vietnam received a record number of 18 million foreign tourists and earned $18.3 billion from international tourism, far below Thailand’s respective figures at 39.8 million arrivals and $60 billion in income.

Nguyen Tien Dat, CEO of Hanoi-based AZA Travel Co., said Vietnam is falling far behind its neighbor in developing tourism services and earning money from tourism.

Thailand’s popular resort paradises Phuket and Pattaya are full of entertainment shows and cultural performances to serve Western tourists every night.

Though Bangkok lacks long, sandy beaches like those in Vietnam’s Nha Trang, Da Nang or Phu Quoc, the capital boasts various nightlife hubs such as night markets and streets like Nana and Soi Cowboy, which are crowded from midnight until the early morning every day, Dat added.

In Hanoi, the walking street is only open on weekends and there are not many entertainment activities for foreigners while bars and dance clubs in backpacker streets like Bui Vien in HCMC or Ta Hien in Hanoi have to close at 2 a.m.

Tourism insiders said a friendly visa policy also makes Thailand a top choice of many Western tourists who prefer long-stay vacations.

Thailand currently offers visa exemptions for over 50 countries, including the United States and European countries, for stays of up to 45 days.

The Southeast Asia’s second largest economy last year launched its Long Term Residence Visa, which allows foreigners to stay in the country for up to 10 years with multiple entries.

Pham Hong Long, a tourism expert at Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said Thailand and Vietnam have many common geographical and cultural characteristics but the former’s approach to tourism has made a difference.

While many countries around the world still struggled with the pandemic crisis in 2021, Thailand was the first Southeast Asian country to reopen tourism with its “Phuket Tourism Sandbox project,” which eased quarantines and Covid restrictions for foreign tourists.

According to statistics given at the Vietnam Tourism Summit 2018, international visitors spend nine days on average while visiting Vietnam and Thailand. However, tourist spending per day in Thailand was $163 per person while the figure in Vietnam was only $96.

This year Vietnam targets 8 million foreign arrivals as the government starts seeking ways to revive its tourism industry while Thailand is eyeing 30 million international visitors.

Source – VN Express

Russian tourists lend a hand by cleaning Koh Samui beach

A group of Russian tourists demonstrated their environmental responsibility this week by lending a hand to clean up a beach on Koh Samui. On the morning of January 31, a group of Russian tourists helped to collect garbage from Baan Mae Nam Beach before enjoying their day swimming, sunbathing, and exercising. The Phuket Express reported the cleanup yesterday.

The tourists found a variety of waste items including plastic bottles, glass bottles, and seaweed. One of the tourists, Mike Michael, spoke to Thai media and expressed his love for Samui Island, which he and his family have been visiting for nine years.

He stated, “Samui local people are very nice and the island is very beautiful,” and added that, “We don’t want to see a dirty beach. It is dangerous for other beachgoers too if they step on glass bottles.”

Pumin Nakpetpoon, a bungalow operator at the beach, took the garbage that the tourists collected to a nearby bin near the road. The actions of these responsible tourists serve as an inspiration for others to be mindful of the environment and to help preserve the beauty of Samui Island for future generations to enjoy.

Garbage is a problem on several of Thailand’s beaches. The country struggles to maintain its environment while also remaining a tourist hub.

Last year, it was reported that Phuket’s Nai Harn Beach was continuing to struggle with its refuse problem. At Nai Harn beach, plastic trays are often left near the water, and sometimes, people even leave their rubbish right next to a garbage bin (instead of in it). One unnamed local said that even though street cleaners go to the beach every day, they only sweep leaves, and don’t pick up rubbish. He said watching the cleaners sweep the leaves, while completely ignoring the litter, broke his heart.

Source – The Thaiger

Americans spend more in Thailand than Europeans

Americans spend an average of 96,269 baht (US$2,887) per person while traveling in Thailand, higher than European visitors, who spend $2,684, a survey shows.

U.S. tourists spend an average of 2,000-3,000 baht on accommodation a night and they always stay in the country up to 15 days per trip, according to the survey conducted by the Tourism Council of Thailand, which polled 200 Western tourists during the final quarter of last year.

The survey also showed that European tourists spend 1,000-2,000 baht per night on accommodations and stay in Thailand for 13 days on average.

In Vietnam, foreign tourists spent $117.80 a day in 2019, the year before the onset of the pandemic, according to statistics from the General Statistics Office (GSO).

On average, foreign tourists in Vietnam spent about $35.50 for accommodations, $25.80 for food, $18.90 for transportation, $19.70 for shopping and about $18 for other expenses, such as sightseeing and medical services.

Vietnam welcomed a record 18 million foreign tourists in 2019. The country reopened its borders in March 2022 and received 3.6 million foreign arrivals for the year.

Thailand welcomed 11 million foreign visitors last year thanks to its open visa policy, making its tourism industry among the fastest to recover in the region following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sourse – Bangkok Jack

Why so many Thais have Chinese ancestry

With the Chinese New Year wrapping up, those who venture out onto Thailand’s streets will see just how much the country’s history has been shaped by China.

Modern-day Thai people are thought to have emigrated from China over 1,000 years ago. The Tai ethnicity originally consisted of those who spoke a common Tai language. Those same people migrated from China down through Southeast Asia, with many ending up calling their newly-discovered land “home.”

As they initially settled in Thailand’s northern areas, they eventually spread throughout the kingdom, making up the majority of the Thai population today.

Thailand’s second-largest ethnic group, however, is thought to have the most influence on the country. That group consists of those whose ancestors were Chinese traders that came to the Kingdom of Ayutthaya for business.

In the 13th century, Siam (Thailand’s previous name), and China shared a common enemy: Burma (now called Myanmar). As the Burmese military was considered a threat to both countries, China sent armies to Ayutthaya to help Siam.

Their efforts were successful with the Burmese military backing down, paving the way for a new wave of Chinese settlers who came for business. Chinese investors became common, with their capital gradually influencing Ayutthaya.

Fast forward six centuries where Chinese migrants married Thai women in what was the beginning of the Thai-Chinese ethnic group. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the number of Chinese people in Thailand more than tripled.

But, the size of the Chinese population was further bolstered by their ever-increasing influence on businesses and industries in Thailand. From shipping and exports to fish, rice, sugar, and rubber, the Chinese had a hand in almost every major industry.

By the mid-20th century, just 50 Thai-Chinese families controlled between 80-90% of Thailand’s overall economic, market capitalisation.

It was only a matter of time when Chinese migrants began to influence the political arena. Now, many politicians are said to have Chinese ancestry. Yingluck and Taksin Shinawatra were both former prime ministers of Thailand, And, if you can’t tell by their names, they are Thai-Chinese.

Throughout Thai society, China’s influence is tangible. From stunning Chinese temples to Bangkok having the largest Chinatown in the world, the fusion of the two countries clearly goes back in time.

Source – The Thaiger

Thailand beats foreign arrivals goal for 2022

Thailand has reportedly beaten its goal for foreign arrivals in 2022 after seeing a total of 11.15 million tourists enter the country last year. Initially, the Kingdom had set a goal for 10 million tourists to arrive in 2022.

But, as the world opened up after the Covid-19 pandemic, the country saw a significant jump in arrivals compared to 2021’s 428,000 visitors.

According to the National News Bureau of Thailand, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports says the new data signifies a strong recovery for Thailand’s tourism industry, which was heavily impacted by strict entry and quarantine measures during the coronavirus pandemic.

Last December, alone, saw 2.24 million tourists arriving in the country, compared with 230,497 the year before. Before the Covid pandemic wreaked havoc worldwide, Thailand saw a record high of almost 40 million foreign tourists in 2019.

In 2022, the Ministry reported that India, Malaysia, and Singapore accounted for the top three countries supplying tourists to the Kingdom.

This year, Thailand is setting a goal of 25 million international arrivals, with a focus on attracting at least five million from China alone. The government has made steps towards supporting this goal by approving a budget of almost four million to be spent on boosting domestic travel and international tourism in secondary cities nationwide.

Part of the budget includes hotel room subsidies and food vouchers at participating businesses in the country.

Under the government’s “We Travel Together” campaign, 560 hotel room nights would be available at a discounted rate for Thai applicants, according to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

Anucha says the government will use that allotted money to provide a 40% discount on room rates as long as the discount is not over 3,000 baht per night, per room.

Each discount applicant can book no more than five nights in a hotel that participates in the campaign. Those who are 18 years and older will also receive a daily 600 baht voucher to spend on tours and food. The offers are available throughout the country.

The reopening of China is also expected to boost Thailand’s arrivals. Before the pandemic hit, the country’s vital tourism sector accounted for 12% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

Source – The Thaiger

Thailand’s dependence on tourism means losing passport wars

For foreigners from the so-called ‘global north’ traveling to Thailand, for the most part, they can just come whenever they please without the need of a visa for stays ranging from 45 to 90 days.

Yes, this includes travelers from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Schengen member states, whose governments all make it an ordeal for Thais to get a visa to go the opposite direction. The European Union claims that its policy is to achieve full reciprocity with non-EU countries so that citizens of both parties can travel easily.

While EU citizens have been able to travel to Thailand visa-free for as long as I can remember, there has been absolutely no signs that the EU intends to begin liberalizing visa requirements to the Schengen area for Thai nationals.

Why are some people more privileged than others simply based on their passports?

It’s not as if travelers with powerful passports never violate their entry conditions. Every year tourists in Thailand overstay their visa-free entry stamps, even if their governments have explained that there are consequences, and Thai authorities have reminded them that they cannot do so with impunity.

Of course, some tourists are a little smarter and choose to extend their stay through the well-known process of “visa runs” instead of overstaying. It would be simply too much to apply for a proper longer-term visa. This is in stark contrast to what Thais endure when they travel to the countries these overstayers and “visa-runners” are from.

The privileged stance with which some foreigners exhibit towards Thailand having the audacity to enforce some rules even include long-term residents who are perplexed to have to pay for a re-/multiple-entry visa or even something as minor as a departure tax—a 700 Baht fee levied on all travelers, not just foreigners, which is nothing compared to the United Kingdom’s 82 Pounds (~3,400 Baht) for long-haul flights.

Despite all this, Thailand has no intentions to curtail its liberal visa-free program and probably never will. Our economy is too dependent on tourism to impose stricter requirements for foreign travelers.

In other words, the Thai government cannot afford to reciprocate to their citizens similar draconian visa regimes that Global North countries impose on us. For what it’s worth, keeping the visa-free system is the right thing to do.

I believe that we should have the doors to our beautiful country as wide open as possible to share our culture, our beaches, our mountains, our food, and even our traffic, with the world. Perhaps eventually the foreign ministry will figure out how to negotiate better traveling conditions and visa-free agreements for Thais, which is difficult as Thailand has already given up its bargaining chip. In the meantime, we can hope that Fortress Europe, the British, Americans, and others, will one day live up to promises that they will review visa requirements regularly with some sense of respect and common humanity.

Source – Thai Enquirer

Thailand makes it into list of 23 “best travel destinations” for 2023

An American online news and lifestyle publication has included Thailand in its list of the world’s best travel destinations for 2023. Alesandra Dubin, News and Lifestyle editor at Insider.com also singles out an American music festival that will be held in Thailand for the first time this year.

“Coming to Thailand for the first time in 2023 is America’s hip-hop music festival, Rolling Loud, which will be held at the Legend Siam Amusement Park in Pattaya in April. At the same time is Songkran, the festival of water that symbolises the cleansing of spirit and body.”

Nation Thailand reports that Thailand was the 12th destination to be mentioned in the article, following Bhutan, Western Australia, the Cayman Islands, Dubai, France’s Loire Valley, Japan, Las Vegas, Bali in Indonesia, Merida in Mexico, Canouan Island in the Caribbean, and Turkey. In her article, Dubin also praises the choice of luxury hotels in Bangkok.

“I’m also continually impressed by the number of luxury hotels in Bangkok, and Rosewood Bangkok recently re-opened in the prime business and retail district of Ploenchit, which I think is an ideal destination for shoppers and foodies.”

A government spokesman has responded on behalf of the Thai PM, saying Prayut Chan-o-cha is delighted that Thailand has featured in the American publication. According to Anucha Burapachaisri, the PM says Thailand has long been popular with tourists and he’s grateful to the Thai people for making international visitors feel welcome.

“The PM believes Thailand has the potential to attract as many as 20 million tourists this year. This will bring income to the provinces and help make the Thai economy expand more sustainably.”

Source – Phuket News

Luxury #Cambodia getaways win worldwide deluxe resort awards

Cambodia used to have the unwanted reputation of a “land of conflict and sorrow”. But that has dramatically changed in recent years. The Kingdom is now known as the place where you can find dome of the best and most alluring luxury destinations in the world.Last week, that new reputation was strengthened with reports that Shinta Mani Wild and Song Saa Private Island bagged more than a few recognitions in the Destination Deluxe Awards 2019.

The Destination Luxury Awards are the brainchild of Destination Deluxe, a travel and wellness publication that picks and recognizes the top hotels, spas, treatment, skincare and wellness brands in the world. This is the inaugural edition for the awards.

There are 28 categories for the awards. The winners are chosen by a group of distinguished industry experts based on quality, transparency and originality. There are three ranked winners for each category.

Song Saa Private Island is the top awardee in the Eco-Hotel of the Year category. Soneva Fushi in Maldives and Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge in Nicaragua are also on the list.

The Khmer Tonic Spa in Shinta Mani Wild is number one in the Eco-Spa of the Year category. The others in the list are Fivelements Retreat Bali in Indonesia and FieldSpa GoldenEye in Jamaica.

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Shinta Mani Wild itself is the runner-up in the New Hotel of the Year and Hotel Design of the Year awards.

 

The other winners in the New Hotel of the Year category are Rosewood Hong Kong in Hong Kong and Amarla Boutique Hotel in Colombia.For the Hotel Design of the Year, the others on the list are Datai Langkawi in Malaysia and Joe Lalli Resort Hotel in China.

“It is both an honour and very humbling that Bensley Collection-Shinta Mani Wild has been the recipient of ten awards in its first year of operation and a tribute to the GM and his team for their dedication, commitment and hard work on a daily basis,” Bill Bensley, the world-renowned designer behind Shinta Mani Wild, said.

“Shinta Mani Wild has an important eco and sustainability message, especially with our Wildlife Alliance partnership and their daily patrols to protect the forest and its inhabitants. These awards also bring much-needed awareness to the work we do in this regard,” he added.

The two Cambodian luxury destinations have reaped numerous international awards between them in recent years.

Shinta Mani Wild, which sits on 160 hectares of land between the Cardamon, Bokor and Kirirom national parks, said that it “provides the highest level of luxury while also working to protect the environment around it”. It opened two years ago.

Last year, it was included in the National Geographic Traveller (UK) Big Sleep Awards 2019, Time magazine’s “100 Greatest Destinations on Earth”, Condé Nast Traveller (UK) Hot List 2019, Harper’s Bazaar Ultimate Travel Guide 2019 (UK) : 100 Greatest Experiences in The World, among other recognitions. Located in Preah Sihanouk province, Song Saa Private Island is an ultra-exclusive and luxury getaway said to be frequented by some of the richest and most famous people in the world.

Last month, Luxury Travel Intelligence named it as among the “top 10 best luxury hotels built this decade”.

Source – Khmer Times

 

 

#Laos Saw More Chinese, Less Korean Tourists in Past Six Months

The number of tourists visiting Laos has increased 5 percent in the past six months thanks to a rise in the number of Chinese visitors.

 

More than 2.2 million people visited Laos between January and June, according to Laos’s Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

 

The number of Chinese visitors jumped by 13 percent while that of Vietnamese visitors increased by 11 percent. The number of visitors from Thailand also rose by 1 percent.

 

Vientiane Times quoted an unnamed government official as saying that he believed visitor numbers were up because of the ongoing Visit Laos-China Year campaign.

 

However, the number of South Korean visitors plummeted by 20 percent while that of Japanese visitors sank by 13 percent.

 

The official told Vientiane Times that the decline in arrivals from some countries was due to circumstances beyond the authorities control.

 

“Some people stayed away because they were unsure of the quality of services here. And although Laos has many enticing tourism products there are several inconveniences, such as poor road access to tourist sites,” the official added.

 

Laos attracted more than 4.1 million foreign tourists last year, an 8.2 percent increase from the previous year. Tourism generated revenue of more than USD 755 million in 2018.

 

Meanwhile, it is expected that at least 4.5 million people will visit Laos this year, generating revenue of more than USD 700 million.

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More Chinese tourist expected

 

Officials believe that, out of 4.5 million expected tourists, 1 million would come from China.

 

To achieve such a goal, Laos is currently intensifying its efforts to improve services and create more facilities for visitors.

 

Vang Vieng, one of the most famous tourist destinations in Laos, for instance, has improved the quality of services and made changes to the price of food, accommodation, and the fees charged at tourist attractions.

 

In Luang Prabang, meanwhile, restaurants have added Chinese dishes to their menus and installed signs written in Chinese at popular tourist sites.

As for Luang Namtha Province, the authorities are encouraging officials to supply useful information to Chinese visitors.

 

There have also been some other positive developments that might boost the number of Chinese visitors to Laos.

 

Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL) has recently teamed up with Chinese payment service provider UnionPay International (UPI) to roll out new QR code payment services in Laos.

 

The move will enable UnionPay app users to make payments by scanning QR codes at local stores in the country.

 

UnionPay currently operates one of the most popular mobile payment apps in China, and this means BCEL’s collaboration with UPI would help Laos’s local businesses to reach out to more Chinese visitors, who make up one of the largest sources of tourists.

 

Separately, Thailand is currently preparing to launch the country’s first bullet train that will run between Bangkok and Beijing, China, with Laos as one of the intermediate stations.

 

In particular, the first route, a Thai-Sino project linking Bangkok, Nong Khai, Laos and a Chinese city Mohan in the far Northeast, is currently under construction and is scheduled to be completed by 2023.

 

Where are the Koreans?

 

Laos has been one of the most popular destinations for South Korean tourists thanks to the reality TV show, “Youth Over Flowers,” which aired in 2014.

 

The number of visitors from South Korea to Laos grew in 2015 and 2016, finally beginning to plateau in 2017. The overall market share of South Korea rose to 4.4 percent in 2017, however, according to a report by Laos’s Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. The number jumped from 96,085 in 2014 to 170,571 in 2017.

 

However, local tourism experts have repeatedly suggested that such a number is decreasing, but there had been no official number released by the Lao government until now.

 

Confirmation from the tourism ministry that the number of South Korean visitors plummeted by 20 percent in the first six months is therefore highly significant.

 

One Vientiane-based tourism expert cited a lack of promotional efforts as one of the reasons to contribute to the drop in such number.

 

“The TV show that led to the surge came out five years ago. Out of sight, out of mind. No one made any more major Korean TV shows or films, to my knowledge,” the expert told The Laotian Times.

 

As he pointed out, several South Korean broadcasters released similar shows to repeat the success of “Youth Over Flowers,” but none of them was able to attract similar viewer numbers.

 

The expert also noted that not enough has been done to promote and encourage people to return to Laos.

 

According to the latest survey conducted by the tourism ministry, only 7.9 percent of respondents said it was their returning visit to Laos. In contrast, first-time visitors accounted for 75.2 percent.

Time for a Diversification?

 

The Lao government invited 12 representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan and South Korea to Bolikhamxay and Khammouane provinces, in a bid to promote other parts of the country.

 

The familiarization trip to the two provinces took place between July 12 and 17 and was designed to publicize some of Laos’ tourist attractions and encourage the tour operators to include some of these locations in their package tours.

 

It marked the Lao government’s latest effort to promote lesser-known tourist sites to foreigners, and this work is expected to continue in the coming years.

Source – The Laotian Times

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