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digibum, on 2011-08-21 00:29:55, said:
rhiekel, on 2011-08-20 18:46:12, said:
Here is a free tip for Thailand. In Las Vegas , Nevada, the city " leaders" decided they did not want the reputation for the city to be sin and gambling. They then tried to redo all publicity to push for family tourism. Revenues fell WAY off, they came to their senses, and the new promotion became" what goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas". Thailand can certainly do whatever it wants, but if it kills off the sex trade just be sure to have regular jobs for all the girls from Issan...... This kind of government social engineering is made all the more funny by the fact that 80 to 90 percent of the sex trade is for the benefit of and used by Thai men. But I suppose that segment will not be going away. 
On a side note, if they really do want family tourism, the government is going to have to do something about the endless scams. Those do not go well with families. Kids watching their dad get beaten up by jet ski thugs could have a detrimental effect on future families visiting......
On a side note, if they really do want family tourism, the government is going to have to do something about the endless scams. Those do not go well with families. Kids watching their dad get beaten up by jet ski thugs could have a detrimental effect on future families visiting......
Despite the economy giving LV a proper beating over the last several years, LV casinos are way, way more profitable as family tourism centers. Your average Las Vegas hotel/casino makes more money off of room rates, food, beverage, and entertainment than they do from gambling. It's also built up a huge convention business and nearly anytime you're in Vegas you're sure to be there during some huge convention.
That was not the case 30 years ago and does show that even Sin City can change if given the right incentive (i.e. increased profits). Macau has taken over as the #1 gambling town in the world but that is mostly because they still cater to the hard-core gambling junkies. When the revenues from gambling flatten look for them to start building more family-oriented entertainment.
The problem for Thailand is that making that change from being a city known for vices to one known as a family tourism destination requires investment. Las Vegas didn't just declare themselves family ready. Casinos invested hundreds of millions of dollars into building non-gambling entertainment. They cleaned things up. They moved the hooker off the strip. The local government stepped up patrols in tourist areas.
These are all things Thailand has not done and doesn't seem likely to do anytime in the near future. You can't even walk down Sukhumvit Road without spraining your ankle on some broken sidewalk tile. There are no plans to build any mega resorts or world class entertainment.
Furthermore, there's no real change in the Thai attitude. What's the biggest shows you can take someone to see in Bangkok? Ladyboy cabaret? Thai dancing? Go to Singapore and you can see world-class productions of The Lion King, Swan Lake, and Richard III. Thailand had the opportunity to change its image a long time ago with us farangs. Thailand could have went upscale but upscale means farang standards which is something that Thailand has resisted in the past and still resists today.
For instance, TAT is desperately trying to lure Indians to Thailand. Of course, there are many businesses in Thailand that will straight out refuse Indian customers. Instead of massive campaigns by TAT and other government agencies to change the Thai attitude towards Indians they just sort of expect the Indians to put up with being treated like dirt.
The problem with Thai tourism and any sort of effort to shake the sex tourism reputation is that Thailand itself will need to change. As long as Thailand refuses to provide a reason for families or more upscale tourists to visit those people will continue to go to Hong Kong, Singapore, Maldives, Bali, etc.
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You can put a dress and perfume on a pig but it is still a pig. Thailand doesn't show respect for foriegners , only takes their money, is and politically backward- not to mention unstable, so recent from killing in the streets you would try to have me feel my children would enjoy and be safe, I don't think so.. I';ve seen how hotels in Phuket have become Family-friendly in their ads, but still let katoy and hookers hang in their lobbies day and night for a percentage. What amount of PR can change that?
. This article and the prospects is a joke. Tourists will make of Thailand what they want out of it or keep thier dollars and go to Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam if they want to be allowed the freedom of drink and pretty ladies.
