Plan to boost tourism |makes titillating reading
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The newly announced 11-point strategic plan to boost tourism is stimulating, while an initiative to promote “Thai storytelling” is a particular incentive to visit. Offering Thailand as a major shopping paradise is another cute new idea.
The prospect of installing lighting for canals is imaginative and romantic (will they be cleaned first?) and the addition of “night-time activities” at market and food venues is immensely titillating.
Tax incentives and improved refund procedures will enable the more naive tourist to recoup money already lost in relentless rip-offs or unnecessarily handed over to the police for a variety of non-existent breaches of the law. A zero tax on imported wine is a lip-smackingly tasteful suggestion, as long as restaurants, bars and hotels are offered substantial avarice counselling. The reforming of laws (are there any?) and beefing up of safety (is there any?) are intriguing prospects, to say the least.
Offering certain guarantees to tourist is also worth considering. For example, a promise not to arrest foreigners travelling with more than 120 playing cards would do the trick. An assurance that people who comment on Thailand’s total lack of sustainability will not be automatically accused of defamation would be a good green initiative. And a pledge that tourists will not be blacklisted from the country after pointing out the existence of illegal luxury hotels would maintain current visitor numbers.
The future is looking very bright indeed.
John Shepherd
