OPINION

Big on Pride

Re: "Govt to chase pink baht after Pride nets B4.5bn", (BP, June 16).

Thailand's 2023 Pride Month celebrations demonstrate the substantial economic benefits of promoting diversity, generating 4.5 billion baht in cash flow. By positioning itself as a "pride-friendly destination," Thailand attracts LGBTQ+ tourists with significant purchasing power, reflected in the global market worth US$4.7 trillion (173 trillion baht).

However, sustaining these gains requires more than annual events. Countries like Canada (with policies like nationwide same-sex marriage) and Germany (with anti-discrimination laws protecting sexual orientation and gender identity) demonstrate that inclusive policies protecting LGBTQ+ rights foster long-term economic benefits by attracting diverse talent and businesses.

Thailand can build on Pride Month's success by implementing comprehensive anti-discrimination laws and collaborating with LGBTQ+ organisations to address community needs. Expanding Pride activities nationwide aligns with the "Ignite Tourism Thailand" policy, ensuring wider distribution of economic benefits. While Pride Month's immediate economic impact is significant, Thailand's long-term prosperity hinges on sustained inclusivity and equality. By embracing diversity as a core societal value, not just an economic strategy, Thailand can become a global beacon of inclusive prosperity.

Re: "Freedom to worship", (PostBag, June 17).

No one in his right mind would regard China as having freedom to worship. Michael Setter admirably has defined China's mammoth ills in this area.

But every coin has two sides. The sufferings of China during the century of humiliation received from Britain, Japan and others, beginning with the 1st Opium War (1839-1842) until 1945, cannot be easily erased from the mind of the Chinese of how one's dignity can be thrashed. One can only attribute the quaintnesses that Michael Setter's experiences to the phobias that China had experienced for a century and is now crying "no more".

Re: "20-baht rail network cap by 2026", (BP, June 14 ).

Congrats to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who has pledged to roll out the 20-baht cap across the Greater Bangkok rail network by March 2026. This is meant to ensure the city's rail network is accessible to all. Very laudable indeed.

However, don't get too excited. Implementation of the pledge appears to rest in the sclerotic hands of the Common Ticketing System Policy Committee, which can boast of absolutely zero progress in the last 10 years, and the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning (OTP), which is still studying various common ticketing systems, fare structures, and fare collection methods.

Of course, the major challenge for the 20 baht fare cap will be the total subsidy demanded by the multiple mass transit concessionaires, each of which will work hard to maximise their construction and operating costs to justify excessive subsidies. Here's where Mr Suriya needs to do some serious head bashing (read subsidy negotiations). Legally, the fares and regular inflation-linked increments are all specified in the multi-decade concession agreements, so concessionaires all feel protected.

But as we all know, all these concessions have been subject to multiple manipulations at various times, so some little retroactive concession adjustments in the public interest seem only fair. And to fund some reasonable level of subsidies, let's not continue with the current government's addiction to debt. Let's introduce a road pricing scheme for Bangkok, Singapore-style, so that motorists foot the bill for affordable mass transit for all. A virtuous circle indeed.