OPINION

Save the golden eggs

We are killing more and more tourists, both on land and at sea (Re: "Tourist safety at stake", BP, June 13).

I propose that the Thai Hotels Association (THA) lead the private sector in cooperating with (and monitoring) PM Prayut and Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn, who has been one of the cabinet's most effective ministers, to make Thailand safer and thus more enticing for tourists.

The THA has every incentive to want its prime markets to keep coming, and THA president Supawan Tanomkieatipume reports that key problems include unlicenced operators, overloading of boats and reckless drivers. Land transport has its own set of problems, but again the THA is close to the problem.

THA should require that all tours, travel agents, etc, which work with THA members meet its standards -- which shall be those which its clients can expect in developed countries like Japan or Singapore. The THA should work with the government to boost random inspections for licences, with heavy penalties for unlicenced operators, overloaded boats, reckless driving, etc. The THA should regularly survey tourists and require each tour firm to post that firm's survey results online and at its hotel desk.

Yes, the above will cost lots of money, but tourism provides a full 10% of our gross domestic product, and we must care for the goose that lays the golden eggs. Also, Thais like you and me will benefit from having safer roads and seas, so the life you save may well be your own.

Just what will it take for President Obama to admit the fundamental truth and face the sickening facts about 9/11, the Boston bombing, San Bernadino and now Orlando. Mr Obama refers to the latest mass murder of gay people in Orlando as "an act of terror" by a "killer" filled with hate. He refuses to admit that all these horrors were inspired by fundamental Islam. By so doing, he is not helping to prevent these atrocities. Until a problem is openly identified, it cannot be resolved.

This mass murderer in Orlando, Omar Mateen, was inspired by the IS to which he pledged allegiance. The IS claims to follow fundamental Islam in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad as written in the hadithat. They are Islamic fundamentalists.

A speaker on CNN claimed that the IS was a mutant of Islam when all the writings on Islam would suggest they are true to the ideology.

Based on documentation it would appear that it is the majority of reasonable, peaceful Muslims who are in fact not following the diktats of fundamental Islam. They do not wish to be identified with the IS, but only by openly denouncing fundamentalism en masse will they isolate it out of existence. Until that happens, it is unfortunate that all Muslims will be seen in the same light.

The world was a different place in the 7th century and perhaps Islam should now embrace 21st century values. Holding to 1,400 year old practices will backfire with the loss of support. It is happening increasingly with disillusioned Muslims losing faith.

The pictures of the utility pole and pedestrian bridge in Nonthaburi published on June 13 are a stark reminder of the need to reform state bureaucracy.

Another very recent example is the lack of cooperation between the agencies looking after the railway and expressway operations.

When the SRT finished construction of (but did not make operational) the Red Line between Bang Sue and Taling Chan, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) started building the Srirat-Kanchanaphisek sector in the West of Bangkok parallel to the rail tracks.

Currently, new fences and roads built by the SRT have had to be torn down by the Exat. Also, some pedestrian bridges erected by the BMA had to be rebuilt to make way for some entry and exit points for the new expressway. This clearly shows how taxpayers' money is not being used effectively and efficiently by the various state agencies.