Would you like war and war insurance?
By Hans Bosch
It goes with Thailand in the right direction…. There will be quite a few rules, also in favor of foreign guests. To begin with, they can again obtain free tourist visas (from 1 April), if desired in combination with war and war insurance. A war insurance policy? Of course! Upon payment of USD 1, the tourist receives a maximum of 10.0000 'greenbacks' if he/she becomes disabled, has to go to hospital or dies as a result of civil disturbances.
The Thai government knows that a lot travel insurance does not pay out in case of molestation and tries to reassure foreign guests in this way. Quite apart from the fact that 10k in dollars is just a drop in the ocean if something does indeed happen to the tourist, I wonder if such insurance is the right way to promote tourism.
burning garbage chiang mai
This is evident from the latest figures Thailand attracted about seven percent fewer tourists in 2009. At least if the data is correct, because also in Thailand is the paper patient. In the fiscal year to September 2009, Chiang Mai attracted a whopping 12,3 percent fewer tourists and things don't look much better for this year. In addition, many expats leave the 'Rose of the North' literally 'breathless'. The burning of forests, rice fields and garbage takes on such grotesque forms that the sky in northern Thailand is no longer hard. And no rooster crowing about it and no cop issuing a ticket or warning.
Which brings me to the next new rule: the extension of the smoking ban, which already applies to most air-conditioned places and buildings. The most remarkable part of the new rule is that you are no longer allowed to smoke on the balcony of your condominium (apartment), but only inside. Many an expat (and probably Thai too) wonders who the hell should check this fuss. The police are already unable (or unwilling) to enforce simple matters such as riding with a helmet on a moped/motorcycle, let alone checking smokers on balconies. Rules are necessary, but it is equally necessary to ensure that people follow them.
Air pollution can be called the 'Silent killer' and affects all Chiang Mai residents' health without their realizing it. Prof Sumittra Thongprasert claims that the incidence of lung cancer in Chiang Mai is ranked second highest in the world. In addition, admissions for respiratory problems has almost doubled in the past eight years.
Bangkok, won't be much better I guess?
The air is much cleaner in Bangkok. The Bangkok Post lists the place in the city where pollution is highest every day. Today the air was very clean, Din Daeng with 43. In the right corner, so. Probably because of the strong wind. The problem with Chiang Mai is that it is in an area surrounded by mountains. The smoke and smog cannot escape.
Those figures are very reliable - they are just the computer printouts of all that entry + exit data - so they only count what people have entered on them. It will also be understandable that it will differ from place to place.
Here in BKK it has been since the beginning of Feb. '10 was very well attracted and sometimes old west full again.
That reassurance is mainly for the anxious Asians—who seem to be very much put off by anything that smacks of disorder. As if, by the way, an ordinary strike (from baggage packers or air traffic control) at any airport in the world could not lead to the same results as the yellow shirts here: everything flattened.
Another problem is the drought in the North. As a result, the air quality is getting worse day by day.
TheNation:
Meanwhile, with the arid season in full swing, smog in the North remained severe with five provinces shrouded in fine dust particles exceeding the standard for a week now.
Tourism associations in Chiang Rai and Lampang admitted the haze was hurting their business. Chiang Rai saw a 20-per-cent decline in tourists both local and foreigners, while Lampang said the region was suffering rather than one particular province because tourists usually visited several neighboring provinces in one trip.
The northern province of Mae Hong Son and 20 districts in Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum and Surin have been declared drought disaster zones, while some areas of Nakhon Ratchasima are also hard hit.