a day ago
Why tourists baulk
Why tourists baulk
Re: "Israeli market poised to contract amid war", (Business, June 21).
Thailand has been frequently in the news of late regarding its tourism drop-off. The stated reasons are only part of the story.
Setting aside food and some hotel prices, Thailand has one of the world's lowest inflation rates, but you may not know this as a tourist, as its currency is strong.
China's outbound tourism is down just about everywhere, while many Europeans are staying home due to their ongoing wars, poor economies, and inept politicians. Japan is "in just now" in part due to its depreciating currency of late, despite, in my opinion, rather difficult-to-navigate public transport, bland food (fish and mostly white rice), and no garbage bins.
Paul A Renaud
Who comes next?
Re: "Don't rush censure bid, BJT told", (BP, June 26).
I, too, feel that PM Paetongtarn gravely lacks the expertise necessary to lead us, but before we kick her out, who's a better alternative? We should ensure we're not jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
For example, 99 leading Thai economists, including former central bank governors, wrote an open letter opposing her 10,000-baht digital wallet handout, citing issues like the recovering economy and a fiscal multiplier below one. Poor results from the first two tranches of the handout supported the opponents' arguments.
Who would have the vision and expertise to do better than Ms Paetongtarn, and what would they have done with the funds?
Being constructive in our criticism would be very persuasive in convincing MPs that Ms Paetongtarn could have done much, much better and should exit the stage.
Burin Kantabutra
Calm before creed
Re: "Analysis: US military pulled back into Middle East wars", (World, June 22).
Like Hamas, Iran's disdain for peaceful coexistence with Israel needs to be contained. But when US President Donald Trump's Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth boastfully proclaims regarding his country's allegedly pre-emptive attack on Iran that "We give glory to God" (Pentagon briefing, June 22), he sounds as nutty as Iran's theocratic leaders in same vein as thuggish as Zionists claiming Israel has a divine right to all of Palestine, and too disturbingly like Osama bin Laden following his vile terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on Sept 11, 2001.
Pope Leo XIV's prompt response urging peaceful resolution and respectful tolerance sounds more like what Christianity and its fellow Abrahamic religions should aspire to, rather than their habitual warmongering lust of many centuries for violence and suppression.
Felix Qui
Rainbow overkill
Re: "Gender recognition law next big step", "Srettha bangs drum for LGBTQ+ rights", & "Thailand records 4.24% drop in foreign visitors", (BP, June 25).
You know, as an older gay man, when I picked up a copy of the Bangkok Post which had been closed in haste and placed back on the newspaper rack at a popular straight expat pub where I read the Post everyday over a beer, I couldn't help but notice that on page one there was a big "gay" news story, and then on page 2 there were more "gay" news stories...
...as in gay, gay, gay, and by the way, did I mention the word "gay"?
I noticed that families are starting to choose other countries instead of Thailand. My tourist neighbourhood has few tourists of any sexual orientation, and is now on the brink of financial collapse as tourism crashes despite a month-long LGBTQ+ push.
...my, what a "dimming rainbow"?
