
A courageous article
I read with interest Santisuda Ekachai's article lamenting the shocking behaviour of some corrupt monks in Thailand. As a foreigner, yes I am shocked by the greed and corruption committed.
Personally, my birth country, the USA, is no stranger to outrageous acts of sexual, financial and moral wrongdoing by members of the clergy. Multiple, well-documented cases of illegal acts committed by (Western) religious leaders have left the public somewhat numb, due to the frequency of those despicable acts. Mega churches are led by cult-like figures who have no shame and aggressively defend perks such as private planes to make their travel more "efficient".
I think many foreigners wish to believe that all Buddhist monks are somehow more pure and would never engage in the behaviour Ms Santisuda called out in her most recent and excellent Opinion piece. Sadly, all religions, races and countries have both good and bad with respect to the clergy. We are all susceptible to temptation and convincing ourselves that we are entitled to a few perks. After all, we deserve it, don't we?
I commend Ms Santiduda for speaking out and calling this despicable behaviour to the public's attention. It's convenient to turn one's head away and "not get involved"; it takes courage to publicly condemn those who flaunt the system and have gotten away with it.
Bill Clarke
Survey is no good
Re: "Poll finds rising economic anxieties", (Business, July 18).
I've never seen such a seriously flawed survey -- and the conclusions drawn from it -- than described in "Poll finds rising economic anxieties", on July 18. It is bad enough to conduct such a survey based on only 500 Thai adults aged 16-74; such a small number makes impossible the kind of representative sampling (by age, gender, social-economic status, geographic region, etc) upon which any reasonable conclusions must be based. (Such standard sampling, for example, would likely result in a total cohort of 10 females aged in their 40s, living in the South, and coming from the middle class).
Even worse is the author's constant generalising from this sample to the entire population -- as in the first sentence, "Thais fear for the future" and as to percentage results such as "nearly one-third of Thais (28%) are concerned about losing their own jobs" -- in other words, a generalisation based on 140 responses from the sample, a number which would further be reduced by subtracting those too young and too old to have jobs.
Sheldon Shaeffer
UN corrupt to the core
Re: "Asean importance", (PostBag, July 18).
Ioan Voicu has hauled out his flowery spray can of fluff stuff and painted his favourite topic of multilateralism on the backsides of the UN and Asean in a hopeless effort to make them look lovely.
"Asean's voice and action are expected to consistently support the world organisation's (UN) thesis that global solidarity remains essential to safeguard progress and save lives." The UN is corrupt at its core. Remember their oil-for-food programme that suffered from widespread corruption and abuse?
"Save lives"? Right. Since 2015, there have been 209 accusations across all UN peacekeeping missions, according to Al. These involve 346 peacekeepers, both military and civilian personnel, and 388 survivors, including 171 children, according to Al Jazeera's report "Why do some peacekeepers rape?" The full report was released in Aug 10, 2017.
Then there is the World Health Organization, which has been trying to usurp the sovereignty of free nations since 2020 with their "pandemic treaties".
Contrary to the authoritarian globalist import of Ioan Voicu's letter, Asean member states would be better off staying as far away from UN "doctrine" as possible.
Michael Setter
Tourism perils
Re: "Holiday hazards", (PostBag, July 17).
Citing a study by the Every Life insurance company -- which rated Thailand the world's 9th-most dangerous country (PostBag, July 17) -- Paul writes in his PostBag letter dated July 17, arguing that this must be the reason many Chinese tourists are avoiding Thailand. These Chinese tourists are reacting to sensational reports on social media. Calling Thailand "dangerous" is patently ridiculous.
Since the study was carried out by an insurance company, Thailand's high rate of traffic accidents is the probable cause for this finding. Just be careful while crossing the street.
Frank Scimone
Stick to the facts
It is quite amazing, to say the least, that the Bangkok Post has published pro-Palestine or anti-Jewish letters, based on lies, lack of knowledge, yet refuses to accept factually presented letters.
The continuous hammering of Jews in letters to the editor needs some more perspective. Israel is fighting every day for its existence. The myth of the occupation of Palestinian lands is just like that: a myth. Never ever was there a Palestinian state. In 1948, the Palestinians were offered their own land, but this was not accepted by the Arab countries, causing the wars instigated by these countries. In 2005, they got a second chance from Israel itself, which gave full autonomy to Gaza.
Israeli settlers were forcefully removed from Gaza. Instead of developing the economy, they chose war, and Israel reacted. Talking about a real genocide is in the Hamas charter, which states, "kill all Jews". How many terrorist attacks have taken place in Israel on false grounds of occupation?
To be clear, I am not a fan of Israel, but the facts speak for themselves. Moreover, is there even one Arab country that offers the Palestinians a domicile? Must be a reason for that. The critics are lopsided in their view on the conflict. They seem to forget Hamas started the war, committing acts not seen in recent times. Moreover, there is no genocide. War crimes don't equal genocide.
E L Wout
Thailand still amazing
Re: "Signs and symptoms of Thai stagnation", (Opinion, July 18) & Safer tourism needed now", (Editorial, July 11).
In recent months, the tone surrounding Thailand's tourism economy has shifted, drifting from buoyant optimism to a more cautious outlook. Concerns over softening arrivals have sparked speculation about long-term growth and viability, but for those of us who have observed this sector closely over the decades, the picture is more nuanced.
I was quoted in an editorial back in 1996, during my time with Siam Express, saying that "Thailand's tourism industry is facing tough times with consumer choice, internet disruption and geopolitical impact." Jim Reed of Tour East echoed similar concerns at the time. Even then, we were speaking about patterns, waves of popularity, moments of saturation and the inevitable dips that follow. The current downturn, while real, is far from unprecedented.
Analysis by the Kasikorn Bank Research Department tracks the decline in visitor arrivals to Thailand in the first half of 2025 and projects total arrivals for the year will reach 34.5 million. That figure is down from 35.5 million in 2024 and still well below the 39.9 million recorded in 2019, the final full year before the pandemic. These numbers reflect a measurable slowdown, but also a reminder that cycles, rather than collapses, define the tourism economy.
History offers us perspective. Spain provides a compelling case study of cyclical tourism dynamics. Since 1946, the country has experienced at least two clear "life cycles" of tourism growth, first during the 1960s boom, and again from the mid-1990s into the early 2000s. Each phase of expansion was followed by a contraction, typically linked to wider economic pressures or geopolitical events. Tourism scholar Richard Butler's widely cited TALC model (Tourism Area Life Cycle) captures this rhythm well. His framework outlines six stages a destination typically moves through, from exploration to development, consolidation, stagnation, and ultimately either decline or rejuvenation. It's a theory that maps almost precisely onto Spain's S-shaped curve of international arrivals.
In 1950, Spain welcomed fewer than a million overseas visitors. By 1973, that number had soared to 34 million. Following intermittent downturns during the oil crises of the 1970s and the global recession of 2008–09, Spain rebounded spectacularly. In 2024, the country welcomed a record-breaking 94 million international arrivals, generating €126 billion (4.7 trillion baht) and contributing more than 12% to its GDP. Yet this revival has not come without consequence. Overtourism protests have gripped the Balearics, the Canary Islands and Barcelona, with locals demanding restrictions to protect their quality of life and environment. Popularity, as ever, walks a fine line with pressure.
Thailand today finds itself in a similar moment of reflection. The recent slowdown in arrivals is shaped by shifting consumer preferences, the appeal of emerging destinations, digital platforms fuelling niche travel, and lingering global uncertainties. But rather than viewing this as a sign of decline, it's more accurately a natural pause, a moment of recalibration in line with Butler's TALC theory. As tourists increasingly seek out less crowded, more meaningful, and more sustainable experiences, destinations everywhere are being forced to evolve.
Spain adapted by diversifying its appeal, developing rural escapes, staging cultural festivals, promoting shoulder-season travel, and marketing events beyond the traditional summer crush. Thailand is more than capable of doing the same. The country boasts strong infrastructure, deep cultural roots, a warm sunny climate, rural richness, and a well-established tourism ecosystem. With the right strategy, emphasising sustainability, digital innovation, and more diverse offerings, Thailand's tourism sector can pivot, refresh and thrive anew.
This moment is not a crisis, but a call to adapt. As markets recalibrate and the industry innovates, demand will return. Tourists are not abandoning Thailand; they are simply exploring elsewhere for now. But they'll be back.

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Bangkok Post
an hour ago
- Bangkok Post
Time for this unnecessary war to end
It was a war everyone saw coming. After weeks of provocations and inflammatory rhetoric across the Thai–Cambodian border since May 28, the failure to de-escalate tensions finally erupted into deadly border skirmishes. Despite diplomatic efforts, no fruitful progress was made. As diplomacy faltered, ultra-nationalism made inroads, and rhetoric gave way to border clashes beginning last Thursday. The militaries on both sides now face mounting public pressure to defend their respective motherlands. In such a climate, a tit-for-tat escalation was almost inevitable. Talk of a ceasefire has yet to be translated into meaningful action. Thailand has agreed in principle, while Cambodia wants an immediate ceasefire, but no cessation of hostilities has occurred on the ground. Beyond the battlefields, domestic challenges in both countries have further fueled the conflict. In Thailand, the Pheu Thai-led coalition is struggling to maintain stability. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's political future now hangs in the balance after the Constitutional Court suspended her from office following a leaked, deeply damaging phone conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. Once seen as a diplomatic asset -- thanks to her father Thaksin's long-standing ties with Hun Sen -- that connection has turned into a liability for the Shinawatra family. Their private feuds have become a public liability that severs diplomatic channels. In Cambodia, Hun Sen, though no longer prime minister, remains the country's power centre as he backs his son, Prime Minister Hun Manet, much to the chagrin of the ruling Cambodia People's Party's old and young apparatus. But the economic headwinds are more intense. Cambodia faces a potential 36% tariff hike from the United States, reduced from an earlier proposal of 49%. If Phnom Penh fails to secure a deal with the Trump administration by Friday, Hun Sen's legacy and Cambodia's growth prospects will be thrown into jeopardy. Against this backdrop, President Donald Trump has phoned both Thai and Cambodian leaders, urging them to hold ceasefire talks; otherwise, ongoing trade negotiations with the US will be halted. Once again, Mr Trump is weaponising tariffs as diplomatic leverage, with his team hoping the ultimatum will bring an end to the fighting. Since Cambodia's independence in 1953, Thailand has always regarded it as a close neighbour and an integral part of the Asean family. Thailand also played an important role in the peace process, nation-building and development through the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements and Cambodia's membership in Asean in 1999. At the special private meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) last week, the two countries brought their cases for all to see. For many council members, the speed and ferocity of the conflict -- given the relatively stable ties that followed the 2011 border clashes -- came as a big surprise. That period, particularly during the Prayut Chan-o-cha government, had been marked by cordial relations and personal rapport between leaders. However, relations gradually turned sour after Pheu Thai returned to power in 2023. Initially, optimism prevailed. When Ms Paetongtarn assumed office in September 2024, it signalled a fresh chapter with Cambodia's new premier, Hun Manet. Both leaders, bolstered by the backing of domineering influential fathers, promised deeper ties. That hope vanished after their fallout over the leaked private phone call between Hun Sen and Ms Paetongtarn. Tensions rose further after Thaksin proposed cuts to the defence budget, arguing the military had consumed too much public funding. Then came Thursday. According to Thai officials, Cambodian artillery shells struck civilian areas in Thailand's Surin province early that morning, hitting community areas and a hospital. The attacks killed more than a dozen villagers. The Thai military quickly retaliated with precision airstrikes on military targets by deploying F-16s to target military installations across the border. Thailand's response was formally outlined by Ambassador Cherdchai Chaivaivid, its Permanent Representative to the UN, during the UNSC briefing. He emphasised that Thailand was the victim of Cambodia's "indiscriminate attacks" on civilians, and that its retaliation was defensive, proportionate, and limited to military targets. In a related move, Thailand submitted letters to the United Nations Children's Fund and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urging them to condemn Cambodia's strikes that endangered civilian lives, especially children. As Thai armed forces mobilise further, nationalist sentiment is intensifying. With over 130,000 civilians evacuated and artillery still falling on Surin and nearby provinces, a real ceasefire appears remote. Given the current public sentiment, the Thai military is unlikely to agree to any truce unless Cambodia halts all attacks on civilians and commits to negotiations in good faith. At the global level, Cambodia utilised its diplomatic adroit skills to internationalise the conflict further. Phnom Penh made a pre-emptive request for a UN Security Council meeting within hours after launching its dawn assault. It was a calculated attempt to shift the blame to Thailand. Finally, the UNSC meeting was held and concluded without a resolution. Overall, the council members expressed concerns, but some of them deemed the armed clashes as not yet a threat to international peace and security. As such, the issue was neither placed on the UNSC agenda nor referred to the International Court of Justice for further action, as Cambodia had demanded. While Thailand has consistently said it prefers bilateral resolution, it has not completely rejected third-party facilitation. Asean Chair Malaysia, under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has offered a potential path forward. Mr Anwar, seen as a neutral and principled actor, is well-positioned to serve as an honest broker who can create an environment in which Asean members can begin to mend ties. As of this writing, Thai and Cambodian delegations were set to meet in Kuala Lumpur on Monday to negotiate a ceasefire under the Asean chair, as host and observer. It is hoped that the two sides will agree to return to the conditions that existed before May 2025. The ceasefire must also cover the protection of civilians, cultural heritage and humanitarian access. Most importantly, they have to adhere to international humanitarian law. 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Bangkok Post
an hour ago
- Bangkok Post
Ceasefire, but not online
It is welcome news that peace negotiations in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday resulted in an agreement between Thailand and Cambodia for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Despite such progress, the fight in cyberspace continues with "keyboard warriors" from both sides continuing to use fervent nationalistic rhetoric, propaganda and fake news to shape public sentiment. Examples are abundant from both sides. Needless to say, social media content from Cambodian netizens portrays Thailand as the villain that initiated the attack, and Cambodia as the victim. It is also no surprise that there is a lot of fake news. And even if the fighting ends, it is hoped that the Royal Thai Army (RTA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will collect granular details and satellite records to convince the world that Thailand and its army are defending the country. After the conflict ends and diplomatic relations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh resume, the Thai army and the foreign ministry, as well as the National Security Council, must pursue cases against the Cambodian army over the use of landmines and the launching of indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets, including hospitals. But for now, the Thai government as well as the media regulatory body must work harder to tackle propaganda, fake news and ultra nationalism narratives that will sow racism between the two neighbouring countries. There are reports and warnings from police about racism and discrimination against Cambodian workers in Thailand. Indeed, police must investigate such cases and guarantee full protection for Cambodian workers here. Meanwhile, the media must work harder to authenticate content and rumours from social media. Indeed, over the past week, online and traditional media have rushed to publish content from social media without verifying the facts. One glaring example was a Channel 9 news programme on Friday, which had a clip showing an unknown person being attacked. Despite the clip not providing the name of the street, news anchors were quick to say the clip showed Thai staff working at a casino in Poipet, Cambodia, being attacked by Cambodians. Questions have been raised about whether this news clip is real. What is more worrying is the impact on public perception. Likewise, an online news website in Thailand ran a video clip with a caption that Thai police warned Thais not to attack Cambodian workers. The video clip shot from a wide angle only shows a teenage hooligan beating an unknown person. There are no details of the place, names or even a police investigation. The news editor of this news site explained to the Bangkok Post that the content was sourced from the social media platform X, and they did not conduct a background check with the police. Needless to say, this news post attracted eyeballs from Cambodian netizens who shared the clip. Now, with the prospect of an end to the fighting, people of both nations, especially those living along the border, will engage in trade and interact with each other as governments and their diplomatic corps also re-engage. Yet, hate speech and fake news in cyberspace will only incubate anger and fear. An end to the hostilities on the border is not enough. The government must instruct netizens and media outlets to produce and share factual content, made in good faith and in the public's best interests.

Bangkok Post
an hour ago
- Bangkok Post
Analysts advise not to stoke proxy war
Prominent security and foreign affairs scholars have raised red flags about the escalating Thai-Cambodian conflict, warning that it risks descending into a regional proxy war between the US and China. Panitan Wattanayagorn, an independent national security scholar, said the Trump administration's use of tariffs as leverage in ceasefire negotiations shows the US president's broader campaign promise to act as a global peacemaker. By linking economic tools to security matters, the US gains influence in both spheres and keeps domestic political interests in play. Mr Panitan warned that China's early move to offer mediation had triggered a US urgency to act first. "Cambodia was smart -- they invited China early. Now Beijing's involvement has deepened the geopolitical complexity," he said. The academic urged the Thai government to communicate more clearly on global platforms that it does not welcome external mediation but supports coordinated cooperation and called on Thai negotiators to propose a temporary military freeze, a safe zone, and Cambodian troop withdrawal as preconditions for talks. Meanwhile. Dulyapak Preecharush, deputy director of the East Asian Studies Institute at Thammasat University, said that military survival and territorial control outweigh economic concerns for both countries. He believed that even with a ceasefire framework, fighting may continue as a means to gain a territorial advantage. "Cambodia has deployed heavy weapons like the BM-21 rocket system, targeting civilians in violation of humanitarian norms. Thailand had no choice but to respond militarily," he said. "Looking at other global conflicts, peace often comes only after one side suffers major losses. This situation may still end in a temporary ceasefire, not lasting peace," he said. Both Mr Panitan and Mr Dulyapak agree that the current fighting is not yet a full-blown proxy war, though it shows early signs. "Nationalism and territorial claims still dominate," Mr Dulyapak said of the skirmishes so far. He concluded that if the US and China resist taking sides, they may still find a way to de-escalate. "It won't be sustainable peace, but short-term calm is still achievable."