Editor:

I would like to commend Mr. Wood, G.M. of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort on his comments you published in the 6 July Mailbag about UBC. While he sheds light on a big problem, I totally disagree with his call to the Tourist Industry to support UBC. Let the chips fall where they may! UBC will never be reliable, competitive, or cost efficient if it is strapped with crippling regulations, questionable overhead, and government curbs to open competition from foreign companies. If UBC fails, just maybe there will have to be some changes!

For over 7 years now, I’ve watched Thailand become less “Investment Friendly” and equally less competitive in the global economy. This year, the ranking of Thai competitiveness slipped downward by 2 positions, and the baht has dropped 18% (to the US dollar) with many indicating another 10% is needed for Thai goods to be competitive on world markets again. Until Thailand realizes that protectionism, “Thai style” management, “tea money”, and corruption is crippling all Thai industry, Thailand will continue to die the slow death of currency devaluation.

If you want investment, you have to have an investment friendly environment. An investment friendly environment requires infrastructure of which cable TV is a part, but so is telephone service, Internet connections, good roads, an educated workforce, proper business practices, appropriate trade regulations, clean tap water, and reliable electricity. All of which are expensive or something considerably less than first-rate in Thailand.

An equally important issue is corruption and the lack of law enforcement in Thailand. Western business and governments are now demanding more than just “talk” about law enforcement, specifically in the area of intellectual property. Individuals look at laws related to safe living conditions, which include insurance law, zoning, low crime, and safe driving practices.

There is more at stake than just UBC or the Tourist Industry here. International businesses are looking at a better workforce, better law enforcement, and better infrastructure in places like Singapore, Malaysia, India, etc. Without these resources, readily available throughout Thailand, international business (and the big money) will go elsewhere.

Today, it takes a lot more than just cheap labor to attract business, as it takes more than just sex to attract tourists; that Bt300 billion in foreign currency receipt industry that some seem to take for granted. Yes, UBC is second rate and getting worse, but the real dilemma is that for many it’s all there is; which is at the heart of the real problem.

Regards,

Editor:

I’d like to thank Scott Benson for his response on 6 July to my letter of 30 June. I would, however, like to correct a couple of impressions he apparently had of my letter.

First, I am indeed a farang. I have written several letters to Pattaya Mail. When I say something positive about Thai people or this city I almost invariably am accused of being a Thai rather than a farang (as Mr. Benson did). Why is that? Is it really that difficult to believe that a farang could actually like and respect Thai people?

Mr. Benson then referred to the 200 baht National Park entrance fee as “a blatant rip-off”. He spent a lot of effort, as had a previous letter writer, denouncing this price as “outrageous”. Let me point out to Mr. Benson that 200 baht represents roughly 12 minutes salary to the average American. How is that “a blatant rip-off” or “outrageous”? Compare that with the fact that it represents roughly one *DAY*’s wage for the average Thai. As B. Scott pointed out in his letter, this is nothing to go ballistic about.

Yes, Mr. Benson, I’ve seen the Mercedes and SUVs on the highway. Do you really believe that those people represent the “average Thai”? Comparing the Mercedes owners to the average Thai is like comparing Bill Gates to you and I. Are we both billionaires just because Bill Gates is? Remember, the average Thai makes roughly the same amount in one month that the average American or Western European makes in a day. The average Thai can’t afford to ride in a Mercedes, let alone own one.

I agree with Mr. Benson that if he finds the double pricing at tourist venues offensive then the appropriate action for him is to boycott the businesses that offend him. Perhaps they will change. But he should not confuse the refusal of farangs living in Pattaya to patronize these places as a reduction in the number of tourists coming to Thailand. There is no evidence whatsoever that anyone has ever decided not to come to Thailand as a tourist because a national park charges a $4.00 entry fee (as Mr. Abbink had implied).

May I also comment that Sean Jehan’s suggestion of a token system for baht buses sounds like a great idea. This could possibly eliminate a lot of confusion and hard feelings. I don’t know if it’s practical. But it certainly sounds good.

I especially appreciate the Pattaya Mail providing a forum for people to discuss these issues.

Dear Editor,

“Everyone is entitled to their opinions” J. MacDonald (issue 28) generously advises us. Wasn’t his letter a little more than that though? Didn’t he deign to preach to other residents on how to treat the local populace? In so doing doesn’t he display precisely the sort of arrogance that T. Crossley referred to in his letter and which though commenting upon Mr MacDonald appears to have paid scant attention to. May I suggest he brushes up on his ‘farang’ social-skills before attempting to come to terms with Thai ones. When visiting Pattaya from Bangkok he must also walk around with his head in the clouds. How does he think Pattaya came to have the reputation it has and which justifiably or not is overly concentrated on in western media? Does he actually believe it doesn’t attract a certain type? “For decades a world centre for sex-tourism and prostitution” Pattaya was described as by one Mailbag writer some months back. On a recent visa run a fellow passenger told me that he doesn’t tell people where he comes from where he spends his free time.

What Mr MacDonald’s letter does tell us is that like many Thais his wife and her friends suffer from the ‘if it ain’t Thai it ain’t right’ attitude referred to in ‘Rory’s letter in the same issue. Some people forget that when having been drawn to a country they become customers and as such are entitled to say what they do and don’t like. Shrewd business people of the country take heed. The also rans don’t. A couple of sayings that might be appropriate for Mr MacDonald to teach his wife and friends when next reading out critical comment being made in letters are ‘if the cap fits wear it’ and ‘you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink’. Unlikely as it may be they just might grasp the meanings.