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Published on February 23, 2008

The recent surge in investment on Koh Samui is primarily oriented toward the high-spending luxury demographic, which successive governments have said they wish to attract. The private sector has taken the lead and invested huge sums to develop luxury tourist facilities, and the government has failed to provide any support or even basic infrastructure such as roads, drainage and waste management.

Successive governments have viewed tourism as a cash cow and have failed to re-invest a sufficient portion of tourist-generated tax income to sustain and upgrade the product. Koh Samui is an extreme case, as the failure endangers its status as an emerging top-end, global destination.

Continued government under-investment in tourist facilities and infrastructure is damaging the medium- and long-term prospects for the tourist industry. All of the fancy consultants and slick marketing campaigns in the world won't disguise grossly deficient infrastructure.

T Mercer

Koh Samui

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Sinister implications of education research

Re: "Thailand falls behind", News, February 21.

In this article there is a statement that the research suggested the government "encourage students to be more nationalistic and protect them from improper culture from foreign countries".

I wonder if we could get some clarification on what this means? It sounds like a slippery slope to me.

Forrest Greenwood

Nakhon Sawan

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Thailand must protect its rights at heritage site

Re: "Phnom Penh to discuss Preah Vihear with Bangkok", News, February 22.

I opine that the request from the Phnom Penh government for Thai support of Cambodia's re-submission to Unesco - for the third time - for the Preah Vihear shrine to be declared as a World Heritage site is understandable since our support is a precondition of Unesco. This was made known to the Cambodian government on their previous failed submissions.

Even though Thailand and Cambodia have not settled a demarcation agreement on the land area around the ruins, it is irrefutable that the only natural climb to the site can be made from the Thai border district of Kantharalak in Si Sa Ket province. Therefore, Unesco has the right sense in questioning the previous lone submission of Cambodia since it is one of the conditions for any site to be declared as a World Heritage site that convenience of approach is one of the important qualifications.

I therefore find the January statement made by the spokesman of the Thai Defence Ministry, Lt-General Pichasanu Putchakam, of the utmost relevance: without a joint-submission by the two countries, Thailand may lose its land yet to be demarcated if Unesco accepts a lone application by Cambodia.

I totally accept the court's verdict that the shrine belongs to Cambodia. Also, without an iota of doubt, the only sensible and natural approach to the shrine has to be made via Thai territory.

I write because of the concern that in the chummy atmosphere of playing golf in Cambodia, some Thai leaders may unwittingly concede things that could be detrimental to our nation.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok

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If it's so safe, build it in Bangkok

If the powers that be are convinced that nuclear energy is the way forward and are confident of its safety, may I humbly suggest that the power plant be built in Bangkok? This will reassure all of us in the rest of Thailand of the sincerity behind the project's advocates regarding its safety.

Pim Kemasingki

Chiang Mai

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Are we a Taleban nation or a tolerant nation?

The total alcohol ban [during this election period] by Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Suebwonglee is a Taleban-type edict rather than the Buddhist Middle Way. This will create a situation similar to the prohibition era in the United States with speakeasies, the Mafia and cops on the take. People will take their moonshine in private places and there will be no changes in the statistics.

Perhaps these measures are to take our attention away from the real issue, vote-buying?

MB

Bangkok

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The law is an ass; no interest in the election

The ban on alcohol sales during the senatorial election this weekend and next is, frankly, ludicrous. Most Thais are not even aware of the election and, it seems, they could hardly care less. With a public holiday just this Thursday, many have taken Friday as an extra holiday and simply made a long weekend of it. They'd rather go to the beach than vote for a bunch of corrupt opportunists. In addition, Bangkok and other places are still packed with tourists. This is just the kind of stupid restriction that angers visitors and drives them away. A message to the government: stay out of people's private lives. Some laws deserve to be openly flouted.

Johnnie Walker

Bangkok

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We need a mirror to see what others see

Now we are appointing known criminal entities to our government. It could only happen in our country. What is wrong with us?

Can we really not find any people who are more suitable? Do we really have to put up with this type of pressure exerted from these powerful families and their criminal offspring? A leopard never changes its spots!

No one has been found responsible for the mass murder committed during the "war on drugs". There were over 2,500 killings, but no one is responsible? This is a joke and a whitewash. Someone must have given the orders to kill at random.

We are moving backwards at a rapid pace, not forward. Again we appear to be a definite banana republic, a backward nation in the eyes of the international community. Shame on us.

Noppadon

Bangkok