OPINION

Holidays take toll

Re: "Thailand still has chance to shine", (Opinion, July 31).

I remain a fan of Thailand, its culture and in many other ways. So I feel like contributing the following observations not addressed in K Peerasit Kamnuansilpa's otherwise great commentary.

Thailand has an astounding 19 full public holidays per year -- and if a holiday (unlike in Switzerland) happens to fall on any weekend, it's extended to the next working day. A tremendous productivity loss.

Just divide Thai GDP per working days in any one year and one can see the loss per day. This is understated because of the momentum loss via so-called "bridging", where many then extend their long weekends. Some of this is gained back through extra holiday spending, but it does not make up for the total loss.

After the long Songkran holiday, in the middle of a week at the end of April, we spent some days at an upscale resort in southern Thailand. Some 100 government workers were attending a seminar, dominating this entire resort.

In the evening, they had their speakers and microphones and music on full, which lasted until 3am, disturbing the sleep of other paying guests.

Too many holidays and too much government/bureaucracy are surely another contentious issue to be addressed if this great country wants to get beyond its middle-income trap, a big malaise.

Hands-free driving

Re: "Time for fair play in the taxi wars", (Opinion, July 16).

I have to say I have been using this Bolt app that offers ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery and car-sharing services.

I felt secure and happy with drivers using their quality GPS.

The last few months, drivers have been turning up and asking me, "Where you go?"

Then the driver holds the phone in his hands while driving as he controls the wheel.

The quality of many drivers has deteriorated.

Is it not illegal here in Thailand to hold your phone while driving?

Bolt must help check their cars' navigational aids to make sure they are up to standard.

Better use of money

Re: "More tourism stimulus possible", (BP, July 29).

We should stop our government's addiction to handouts -- like its 10,000-baht per person fiasco. It's your money and mine that the Paetongtarn government's being so generous with time and again.

Thus, rather than a one-shot co-sharing of travel costs in her 'Tiew Thai Khon La Khrueng' programme, suspended premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra should work hand in glove with entrepreneurs and institutions to upskill for quality tourism and service excellence.

They could also implement specialised language skills (such as Chinese and Russian) and niche services (wellness, eco-tourism) to attract high-spenders; (b) train locals in digital marketing, online booking systems and social media, and (c) certify guides, chefs and artisans in cultural heritage to enhance tourism experiences. In Kyoto, Japan, I could attend a tea ceremony; why not learn to make som tam in Isan?

Ms Paetongtarn should encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to integrate travel routes, for example, a multi-region tour, learning how to cook the cuisine of each region, and staying in local homes, to distribute income, especially in secondary destinations. She should also support startups, as in health/wellness or Thai food.

Any of the above would be far more effective than handouts.

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