logo
A courageous article

A courageous article

Bangkok Post5 days ago
Re: "Corrupt monks have lost their way", (Opinion, July 14).
I read with interest Santisuda Ekachai's article lamenting the shocking behaviour of some corrupt monks in Thailand. As a foreigner, yes I am shocked by the greed and corruption committed.
Personally, my birth country, the USA, is no stranger to outrageous acts of sexual, financial and moral wrongdoing by members of the clergy. Multiple, well-documented cases of illegal acts committed by (Western) religious leaders have left the public somewhat numb, due to the frequency of those despicable acts. Mega churches are led by cult-like figures who have no shame and aggressively defend perks such as private planes to make their travel more "efficient".
I think many foreigners wish to believe that all Buddhist monks are somehow more pure and would never engage in the behaviour Ms Santisuda called out in her most recent and excellent Opinion piece. Sadly, all religions, races and countries have both good and bad with respect to the clergy. We are all susceptible to temptation and convincing ourselves that we are entitled to a few perks. After all, we deserve it, don't we?
I commend Ms Santiduda for speaking out and calling this despicable behaviour to the public's attention. It's convenient to turn one's head away and "not get involved"; it takes courage to publicly condemn those who flaunt the system and have gotten away with it.
Bill Clarke
Survey is no good
Re: "Poll finds rising economic anxieties", (Business, July 18).
I've never seen such a seriously flawed survey -- and the conclusions drawn from it -- than described in "Poll finds rising economic anxieties", on July 18. It is bad enough to conduct such a survey based on only 500 Thai adults aged 16-74; such a small number makes impossible the kind of representative sampling (by age, gender, social-economic status, geographic region, etc) upon which any reasonable conclusions must be based. (Such standard sampling, for example, would likely result in a total cohort of 10 females aged in their 40s, living in the South, and coming from the middle class).
Even worse is the author's constant generalising from this sample to the entire population -- as in the first sentence, "Thais fear for the future" and as to percentage results such as "nearly one-third of Thais (28%) are concerned about losing their own jobs" -- in other words, a generalisation based on 140 responses from the sample, a number which would further be reduced by subtracting those too young and too old to have jobs.
Sheldon Shaeffer
UN corrupt to the core
Re: "Asean importance", (PostBag, July 18).
Ioan Voicu has hauled out his flowery spray can of fluff stuff and painted his favourite topic of multilateralism on the backsides of the UN and Asean in a hopeless effort to make them look lovely.
"Asean's voice and action are expected to consistently support the world organisation's (UN) thesis that global solidarity remains essential to safeguard progress and save lives." The UN is corrupt at its core. Remember their oil-for-food programme that suffered from widespread corruption and abuse?
"Save lives"? Right. Since 2015, there have been 209 accusations across all UN peacekeeping missions, according to Al. These involve 346 peacekeepers, both military and civilian personnel, and 388 survivors, including 171 children, according to Al Jazeera's report "Why do some peacekeepers rape?" The full report was released in Aug 10, 2017.
Then there is the World Health Organization, which has been trying to usurp the sovereignty of free nations since 2020 with their "pandemic treaties".
Contrary to the authoritarian globalist import of Ioan Voicu's letter, Asean member states would be better off staying as far away from UN "doctrine" as possible.
Michael Setter
Tourism perils
Re: "Holiday hazards", (PostBag, July 17).
Citing a study by the Every Life insurance company -- which rated Thailand the world's 9th-most dangerous country (PostBag, July 17) -- Paul writes in his PostBag letter dated July 17, arguing that this must be the reason many Chinese tourists are avoiding Thailand. These Chinese tourists are reacting to sensational reports on social media. Calling Thailand "dangerous" is patently ridiculous.
Since the study was carried out by an insurance company, Thailand's high rate of traffic accidents is the probable cause for this finding. Just be careful while crossing the street.
Frank Scimone
Stick to the facts
It is quite amazing, to say the least, that the Bangkok Post has published pro-Palestine or anti-Jewish letters, based on lies, lack of knowledge, yet refuses to accept factually presented letters.
The continuous hammering of Jews in letters to the editor needs some more perspective. Israel is fighting every day for its existence. The myth of the occupation of Palestinian lands is just like that: a myth. Never ever was there a Palestinian state. In 1948, the Palestinians were offered their own land, but this was not accepted by the Arab countries, causing the wars instigated by these countries. In 2005, they got a second chance from Israel itself, which gave full autonomy to Gaza.
Israeli settlers were forcefully removed from Gaza. Instead of developing the economy, they chose war, and Israel reacted. Talking about a real genocide is in the Hamas charter, which states, "kill all Jews". How many terrorist attacks have taken place in Israel on false grounds of occupation?
To be clear, I am not a fan of Israel, but the facts speak for themselves. Moreover, is there even one Arab country that offers the Palestinians a domicile? Must be a reason for that. The critics are lopsided in their view on the conflict. They seem to forget Hamas started the war, committing acts not seen in recent times. Moreover, there is no genocide. War crimes don't equal genocide.
E L Wout
Thailand still amazing
Re: "Signs and symptoms of Thai stagnation", (Opinion, July 18) & Safer tourism needed now", (Editorial, July 11).
In recent months, the tone surrounding Thailand's tourism economy has shifted, drifting from buoyant optimism to a more cautious outlook. Concerns over softening arrivals have sparked speculation about long-term growth and viability, but for those of us who have observed this sector closely over the decades, the picture is more nuanced.
I was quoted in an editorial back in 1996, during my time with Siam Express, saying that "Thailand's tourism industry is facing tough times with consumer choice, internet disruption and geopolitical impact." Jim Reed of Tour East echoed similar concerns at the time. Even then, we were speaking about patterns, waves of popularity, moments of saturation and the inevitable dips that follow. The current downturn, while real, is far from unprecedented.
Analysis by the Kasikorn Bank Research Department tracks the decline in visitor arrivals to Thailand in the first half of 2025 and projects total arrivals for the year will reach 34.5 million. That figure is down from 35.5 million in 2024 and still well below the 39.9 million recorded in 2019, the final full year before the pandemic. These numbers reflect a measurable slowdown, but also a reminder that cycles, rather than collapses, define the tourism economy.
History offers us perspective. Spain provides a compelling case study of cyclical tourism dynamics. Since 1946, the country has experienced at least two clear "life cycles" of tourism growth, first during the 1960s boom, and again from the mid-1990s into the early 2000s. Each phase of expansion was followed by a contraction, typically linked to wider economic pressures or geopolitical events. Tourism scholar Richard Butler's widely cited TALC model (Tourism Area Life Cycle) captures this rhythm well. His framework outlines six stages a destination typically moves through, from exploration to development, consolidation, stagnation, and ultimately either decline or rejuvenation. It's a theory that maps almost precisely onto Spain's S-shaped curve of international arrivals.
In 1950, Spain welcomed fewer than a million overseas visitors. By 1973, that number had soared to 34 million. Following intermittent downturns during the oil crises of the 1970s and the global recession of 2008–09, Spain rebounded spectacularly. In 2024, the country welcomed a record-breaking 94 million international arrivals, generating €126 billion (4.7 trillion baht) and contributing more than 12% to its GDP. Yet this revival has not come without consequence. Overtourism protests have gripped the Balearics, the Canary Islands and Barcelona, with locals demanding restrictions to protect their quality of life and environment. Popularity, as ever, walks a fine line with pressure.
Thailand today finds itself in a similar moment of reflection. The recent slowdown in arrivals is shaped by shifting consumer preferences, the appeal of emerging destinations, digital platforms fuelling niche travel, and lingering global uncertainties. But rather than viewing this as a sign of decline, it's more accurately a natural pause, a moment of recalibration in line with Butler's TALC theory. As tourists increasingly seek out less crowded, more meaningful, and more sustainable experiences, destinations everywhere are being forced to evolve.
Spain adapted by diversifying its appeal, developing rural escapes, staging cultural festivals, promoting shoulder-season travel, and marketing events beyond the traditional summer crush. Thailand is more than capable of doing the same. The country boasts strong infrastructure, deep cultural roots, a warm sunny climate, rural richness, and a well-established tourism ecosystem. With the right strategy, emphasising sustainability, digital innovation, and more diverse offerings, Thailand's tourism sector can pivot, refresh and thrive anew.
This moment is not a crisis, but a call to adapt. As markets recalibrate and the industry innovates, demand will return. Tourists are not abandoning Thailand; they are simply exploring elsewhere for now. But they'll be back.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Benefits to axeing bulbul's status: govt
Benefits to axeing bulbul's status: govt

Bangkok Post

timean hour ago

  • Bangkok Post

Benefits to axeing bulbul's status: govt

The government has pointed out what it sees as the "benefits" of removing the red-whiskered bulbul, or nok krong hua juk, from the list of protected wildlife species. It aims to support both conservation and the economy, says Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on. A working group has been set up by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to study the bird's population, control illegal hunting, and prevent captive birds from returning to the wild. The group will assess potential impacts over the next three months before making recommendations. The move aims to allow for regulated breeding and ownership of the bird, which is popular among Thais. Mr Chalermchai said responsible ownership can help prevent extinction and stimulate a bird-related economy. Addressing concerns that de-listing may lead to increased poaching, he said officials would be able to verify whether a bird was bred in captivity or taken from the wild. "If we continue to ban it completely, people may capture wild birds secretly," he warned. "Instead, we should engage with bird lovers, support their efforts, and work together on conservation." If any rules are violated, the species could be reinstated as protected, he added. DNP Director-General Atthapol Charoenchansa said the working group will survey wild populations and propose safeguards against poaching and escapes. Their findings will be submitted to the Wildlife Conservation Committee and then the cabinet for final approval. He said the red-whiskered bulbul trade is estimated to be worth over one billion baht. With proper regulation, wild birds can be kept separate from those in captivity, allowing Thailand to benefit from both conservation and economic opportunities.

Tariff talks are unlikely to go as planned
Tariff talks are unlikely to go as planned

Bangkok Post

time2 hours ago

  • Bangkok Post

Tariff talks are unlikely to go as planned

It is only a week away from the Aug 1 deadline when the 36% reciprocal tariff levied on Thai exports to the US will take effect. However, US President Donald Trump has left the door open for countries to negotiate for lower tariffs. Several countries have reached agreements with the US after receiving tariff rate notification letters on July 7th, such as Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines. All have to yield to the US demand for more access to their economies, plus other conditions. Even Japan has agreed to allow more access to its closely guarded rice market. Indonesia is an important case study for Thailand as its 32% reciprocal tariff was reduced to 19%. Thailand is looking for a similar tariff reduction deal. Much like Vietnam and the Philippines, Indonesia has given free export access to its 280-million people market. Moreover, products exported to the US will be taxed differently between Indonesian-made products (19%) and transshipment products (19%+ reciprocal tariff rate for transshipping countries). Open access and two-tier tax rates are not the only conditions, though more than US$200 billion in purchase pledges for American goods, ranging from energy products to 50 Boeing jets, is included. I am surprised that nobody asked why Indonesia agreed to such strict conditions, particularly compared to Vietnam's which has no purchase pledge. Indonesia has a small trade surplus of $17.8 billion (572.5 billion baht) with the US while Vietnam has a $123.5 billion trade surplus. Based on the size of the trade gaps, Indonesia should have had much softer conditions, not harder. The $200 billion purchase alone is able to close the US-Indonesia trade gap for 10 years. This is my own reading of the situation. The reason why Indonesia went all out to win a lower tariff rate was not about trade, but to gain investment appeal for the country. With a 32% tariff rate compared to Vietnam's 20%, foreign investors would have been more likely to by-pass Indonesia for Vietnam. Thailand has not gone that far yet to worry about international competitiveness. The negotiation team is still focusing on protecting the domestic market, particularly on agricultural products. The team seems to ignore the fact Thai exports to the US total about 2 trillion baht per year. Even after deducting "transshipment" products, Thai export value to the US market would still be around 1.2 to 1.5 trillion baht. The value of the US market is many times larger than the domestic agricultural market that the government wants to protect. Unfortunately, some Thai farmers, such as pig farmers, could be severely hurt as US pork is 30% cheaper. The efficient US pig farming industry has wiped out pig farmers in many countries and it is likely to do so in Thailand. The smart solution is not to close our doors to US pork products but to compensate Thai pig farmers for damage caused while encouraging them to move to another profitable industry. It is the job of the government to balance the benefits of the economy as whole against the losses of certain industries. Adequate and fair compensation should be the answer to making affected farmers happy while exploiting robust export opportunities. Unfortunately, the government probably does not think like me about winning the big ticket first and compensating the affected concurrently. The negotiation team, as it appears in the news, will offer about 90% access to the Thai market. I do not think such partial access is acceptable to the US in light of the free access to the Vietnamese, Indonesian and Philippine markets. Japan, to get tariff rate reduction from 25% to 15%, would have to not only open its rice market but also commit to a $550 billion investment pledge. After free market access with a zero import tariff, the second issue in the eyes of the US is transshipment penalties. This is a burning issue and probably not negotiable. However, the public has never heard about commitments on the issue from the Thai negotiation team. In the Vietnamese and Indonesian cases, both accepted the imposition of much higher tax rates for transshipment products. The rates are set high enough to discourage transshipments. To illustrate the severity of the issue, I will need to give some numbers. Mr Trump's first term in office began in January 2017. He then gradually raised the import tax on Chinese products from 3% to 20%. To avoid paying higher taxes, Chinese manufacturers diversified their production bases, notably to Thailand and Vietnam. As a result, direct exports from China to the US dropped from $538.5 billion in 2018 to $428.7 billion in 2024. Is it logical to see China exported less to the US over time? Should it be the other way around? After all, it is a known fact that China has been building more factories. While direct exports from China to the US dropped by $110 billion during this period, exports from Vietnam and Thailand to the US rose by $87.4 billion and $31.5 billion respectively. Add the two numbers and readers will understand where the $110 billion in Chinese products went. Transshipments are a big issue in this negotiation game. Peter Navarro, White House trade adviser, told CNBC that "Vietnam's 0% tariff offer is not enough, it's the non-tariff cheating that matters." Some optimistic critics point out that Thailand ought to have a milder "transshipment" penalty, compared to Vietnam. Therefore, Thailand will get a better reciprocal tariff rate cut from the US. I used to think like that too until I saw the Indonesian case where the country has almost no transshipment volume, but received almost the same tax rate as Vietnam. This is more of a preventive measure as all Asean members have a free trade agreement with China where products can be shipped tax-free from China to any member country and transshipped to the US later. In short, if it has not happened yet, it could happen any minute. A penalty tax rate is therefore essential regardless of present transshipment volume. Before I conclude, I have an observation about Indonesia. I think Indonesia has a tighter deal compared to Vietnam. Vietnam was literally Mr Trump's first successful negotiation case. He wanted a conclusion before the July 7 deadline to put pressure on other Asean countries if they want to be competitive with Vietnam in international markets. Indonesia certainly wants that and quickly joined the negotiation process. Now the pressure is on Thailand. But Thailand does not have such ambitions. We live our lives one day at a time. We are acting like we have the bargaining power. Therefore, "no total access" and "no transshipment penalty" are on the table. Undoubtedly, this will translate to "no deal" for Mr Trump.

Stepping back from chaos
Stepping back from chaos

Bangkok Post

time2 hours ago

  • Bangkok Post

Stepping back from chaos

Ta Muen Thom temple, situated in an overlapping area of Thailand and Cambodia, has emerged as another conflict hotspot between the neighbouring countries, fuelled by angry scrapping at the border by locals from both sides. On Monday, Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, 2nd region army commander, threatened to close the Surin-based temple for at least seven days if tensions in the area keep rising. While it remains unclear if the planned closure will also include the Cambodian side, this cannot be good. Ta Muen Thom, as well as the nearby Ta Kwai, are the centre of competing territorial claims after Cambodia included the temple in a petition to be filed with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), following a border clash at Chong Bok in Ubon Ratchathani late in May. Since then, locals from both sides have headed to the temple to flaunt their claims and face down the other side. The number of visitors has increased lately, particularly after nearly two dozen buses from Phnom Penh turned up over the weekend. The Thai side has reciprocated with locals turning up to taunt the other side. There are reports some Thai influencers will turn up at the end of this week. The rivalry on social media is intense, as netizens exchange curses and press their claims. Given its strategic location, Ta Muen Thom temple is under the army's jurisdiction. Yet suspended PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra's phone conversation with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen has thrown the border into sharp relief after details were linked to the media in which she appeared keen to appease Hun Sen, also a family friend. Ms Paetongtarn was suspended from the top job by the charter court but has yet to show political responsibility for putting the country, including the army, in such a difficult situation. The mistake has also exposed Pheu Thai Party's poor leadership on the Cambodia issue. It has been playing second fiddle while the army takes the lead. The military alone may not be able to get relations back on a stable footing, as suppressing any confrontations at the border is likely to have repercussions. It's time those involved started thinking about diplomacy, allowing it to work to ease tension, and getting the two countries to the negotiation table. This, of course, requires cooperation and goodwill from Cambodia which may not be easy to obtain. Hun Sen's family has been successful in playing the nationalist card against Thailand as the Vietnam issue -- Cambodians' anger over an alleged land grab by Hanoi which haunts Hun Sen and his son -- has effectively disappeared. They have also drawn the spotlight away from Sam Rainsy, the opposition leader in exile. At the same time, tight media control has resulted in huge popularity for Hun Sen and his son's government as mainstream media channels play along, portraying Thailand as the enemy, sometimes through disinformation, if not blunt distortion. However, the Hun family needs to rethink whether such tactics are justified given the potential long-term damage to the relationship. Restoring damaged ties between the neighbours will not be easy, given the competing claims over the ancient temple and the recent landmine explosion at Chong Bok.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store