Thailand professionals of tourism express their dislike to their Ministry of Tourism

BANGKOK- Newspaper Bangkok Post reported last week about the doubts of the travel industry in Thailand over competences of their authorities. Businesses are calling on the government to put the right man in the right job and embrace advice from the private sector. They say this will prepare the tourism industry for Asean economic integration in 2015.

Thailand’s three main private tourism organisations  -the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), the Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) and the Association of Thai Travel Agents- estimated on July 19th that the main weakness of Thailand’s tourism industry is a shortage of officials with sufficient knowledge and a devotion to the field. “Ever since the Tourism and Sports Ministry was set up, only a few people in authority have ever had real knowledge about tourism, service provision and marketing,” said TTAA president Suthipong Phuenphiphop. It is well known among professionals of the trade that the current Minister of Tourism, the 72-year old Chumpol Silpa-Archa barely speaks English and consequently avoid to go to important meetings where high rank officials are expected.

Thailand tourism organisations urged the government to consult the private sector before making decisions and allow the sector to participate in monitoring the transparency of megaprojects. Recently, Mr Silpa Archa raised the possibility to build a F1 in Chiang Mai with Thai media immediately questioning about the real purpose of such a high-cost project…

Government corruption is another serious problem that may see Thailand lose out to other Asean countries once the Asean Economic Community (AEC) kicks off in 2015, they said. “Take Suvarnabhumi airport. It should be a world-class facility, but its problems include structural cracks and poor performance,” said ATD president Yutthachai Soonthronrattanavate.

“We have to admit that Thailand is no longer an Asean tourism hub. The industry has declined over the past five years, and now other countries are catching up. That means Thailand could ultimately miss out under the AEC.”

Meanwhile, at a seminar entitled “The AEC and the Tourism Industry” last week, Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan advised the government and the private sector to join hands to create a new tourism growth model. He said to benefit from the AEC, Thailand must increase spending on research and development, create more intellectual property and come up with new exotic travel destinations that can be linked to other ASEAN countries. The government has drawn up several plans to prepare for the AEC, but their execution remains weak, said Dr Surin.

However, he urged small and medium-sized tourism enterprises to take proactive action in order to thrive under the AEC. Former tourism and sports minister Weerasak Kowsurat told the seminar the private sector should study which products and services are in demand of ASEAN market.

Sourced: traveldailynews