In an article in The Nation the writer is asking why Singapore that is a much smaller country can have 20 millions visitors a year when Thailand only will have 14 million.
If he has asked me I could have told him why Thailand is only ranked 43 on the tourist scale.
It all pretty easy but we can start with the Transport system where Singapore already have built subways to part of the city that are going to be populated soon. They are 5 years ahead of the planning not 10 years behind.
Then the city planning they have planned and they do not allow a petrol station open next to a school and such. They have a well planed city and they do not let greed come over them when it comes to approval of buildings that does not fit in.
Thailand hotels are very good but why keep the own system? Did you know that Thailand have their own system or rating? So if a hotel is 5 stars in Thailand does not mean it 5 stars anywhere else then in Thailand. They also keep their own airport approval system so even if Thailand airport now is not approved for international standard Thailand made its own approval system. Even North Korea has more approved airports then Thailand.
Culture and things to see is there? I had 10 groups of people here in a tour they have babies and after 3 days they where bored with Bangkok there was nothing more to see. Sure there is beaches and other cities but there is far away and to travel in Thailand is not fun.
Transportation in form of a non approved airports and low priced airlines that lift of when they are full so you maybe have to wait for 10 hours in a airport. The rail way system is one way have and have not been updated for years, sure it is charming but the wooden benches in a 12 hour trip to Chang Mai leaves much to wish for.
The busses are so cold that you need a blanket to not freeze to death and the drivers drive so fast that accident are most of the time lethal. If you happened to loose your luggage when you arrive they just laugh at you and tell you relax it just a bag and leave you stranded with out help.
I have not started talking about the double pricing, the scam tours, the drugs, the corrupt Tourist Police and all other things that make Thailand number 43 on the list, and they ask why?
