OPINION

The dark side of island investment

Re: "Samui tourism banks on TV show", (Business, Oct 23, 2024).

The government has spent US$4.4 million attracting The White Lotus to film in Thailand, but the island itself is struggling with basic infrastructure issues like mountains of waste and drought. This could be worsened by the likely wave of tourists that will come to the island after the show airs.

As a journalist and documentary filmmaker, I thought this film (youtube.com/watch?v=MMGyLmcLxIE) may be relevant to your readers.

Can Koh Samui balance the demands of modern tourism while preserving the island's natural beauty?

Re: "Tour guides press for govt assistance", (BP, Feb 15).

I agree that we should help Thai tourist guides, but it should be in ways that make them competitive in the world market.

For instance, instead of banning other nationalities from being guides, we should reimburse Thais for skills learned when they pass certification tests, like TOEFL for English or university-designed courses on local history.

Ride-hailing services like Bolt or Grab reassure tourists that fares are at market rates, drivers have been vetted, and so on. The SRT and hospitality firms should promote rail tourism. Tourists, especially fully independent travellers, rely heavily on honest traveller feedback, which should be protected from lawsuits intended to intimidate frank critics.

Re: "Australian health workers suspended for threatening Israelis", (World, Feb 14).

The article, which I believe was first published in the New York Times, also correctly identifies various anti-Semitic episodes and attacks in Australia since the Hamas terrorist attack started the war in Gaza.

However, the piece also states "...the war in the Gaza Strip, which has also spurred Islamophobic episodes in Australia". That is a false claim; there have been no public Islamophobic episodes in Australia since the war began.

There have been some pro-Israeli and pro-Jewish demonstrations, which have been peaceful in character. Unlike the pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which have been threatening Australian Jews, they have been held away from heavily Muslim districts.

They have simply been held to show solidarity and concern for the Jewish population. There has been zero Islamophobia, and no organised attempt to provoke or threaten Muslims in Australia.

Re: "Aid freeze a blow to global efforts", (Opinion, Feb 7).

The latest move by President Donald Trump to dissemble USAID is a big blow to Thailand and other developing Asian countries, particularly South Asia.

Needless to say that during the past few decades, developing and least developed countries in this region have been helped to stand on their feet by USAID. It remains to be seen how far and wide the effect will be for poor nations, where healthcare and education rely on USAID grants. It can only be hoped that economists urge US policymakers to revitalise and restore USAID.

CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 Fax: +02 6164000 email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th

All letter writers must provide full name address.

All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.