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"The Rounds" Thursday, May 29, 2003
Mekhong Kurt * * * * * * * * * * "Influential People" Targeted by P.M. The Prime Minister is setting his sights on "influential people" for his next target in his crusade against some of the evils plaguing society here. While the just-concluded anti-drugs campaign was controversial in a number of ways, its underlying goals were widely supported, even by many who questioned -- some outright condemning -- the methods used. There has been some concern about just who "influential people" are, a term reportedly not defined in Thai law. The P.M. is said to be including opinion leaders -- and that has caused alarm, as evidenced in a number of editorials and columns. My own guess is that most people think of "influential people" who are considered bad to be what has often been termed "dark forces" and "dark influences" -- and that columnists, editorialists, other journalists (including in the electronic media), and N.G.O.'s [the latter identified, speculatively, by some observers as possible targets in the campaign set to commence soon] don't qualify as "influential people" in any negative since, and that therefore the group "opinion leaders" ought to be excluded. The Bangkok Post has a story on the subject here. Other than that, there appears to be wide support for this campaign, too, given that the P.M. has identified people such as corrupt politicians and law enforcement officials as being among his targets. Some observers -- some might say "some cynics" contend if he succeeds, the entire government and civil service will be largely destroyed. Perhaps a fear of something along those lines is what has led to governmental calls, led by those from the P.M., for such public employees and political representatives to get their act together and start toeing the line. * * * * * * * * * * Continuing Devastating Effects of SARS and the Iraq War on Tourism The effects of the SARS scare and the lingering effects of the recently concluded war in Iraq continue to have an alarming great impact on Thai tourism. But there is some hope efforts underway to stimulate domestic tourism may help at least offset the heavy losses suffered by the tourism industry across the board. For one thing, the P.M. has proposed setting up a fund to allow members of local administrative agencies, teachers, and university students to take free, government-funded domestic holidays. Though controversial (see The Bangkok Post story here), some hope exists this may provide a bit of short-term stimulus, if nothing else. A highly successful recently-held Consumer Fair that generated 250 times in sales what it cost to hold and 40 times more than that in terms of money injected into the Thai economy is about to be followed up by a second Consumer Fair at Queen Sirikhit Convention Center June 5-8, with high hopes for similarly disproportional -- but desperately needed -- returns on investment. On the international front, a "roadshow" recently held in Japan has led to predictions a minimum of 100,000 tourists will visit Thailand from The Land of the Rising Sun during the June-September period, providing a significant boost to local coffers. Now that the SARS crisis seems to be diminishing (despite continued concerns in Taiwan), and with the Iraq War receding a bit, maybe international tourists can be convinced to return to Asia generally, and to Thailand in particular. For some operators, it's already too late; a story in the Pattaya newspaper Pattaya Today May 26 reported on the hit the popular island resort of Phuket has endured, forcing some places to close already and with quite a few folks already losing their jobs. [This newspaper is not yet actively online, but has a website-in-the-making at http://www.pattaya-today.com.] There are other issues that pre-date the SARS crisis and the Iraq War crying out to be addressed. For example, two-tier pricing other than in taxpayer-funded places needs eliminating -- and even in such taxpayer-funded places, foreigners employed and paying taxes here shouldn't be being charged foreign prices even now, as sometimes happens. I suppose the ages-old, global practice of overcharging foreigners will never be overcome, but with more enforcement it might be lessened here; even a little drop would help. Perplexingly, some regional air fares continue to go up. For example, 2-3 months ago I flew to Vientiane on Thai Airways, then, when I checked the fare for the same flight a week or so ago, it had gone up, to my great surprise. It hadn't gone up much, true, but to raise prices at a time the country's tourism sector is headed for the intensive care ward defies all logic. On another front, take the matter of no taxis available for local transport in the Jomtien-Pattaya area. It is rumored (but unsubstantiated, as far as I know) the police keep private taxis out because the police -- again, according to rumor -- run the baht buses. What about people with some physical impediment that makes it difficult or even impossible for them to climb up into a baht bus without considerable assistance? And let's not forget how uncomfortable these buses are when it's very hot or when heavy rains are pouring down. Ditto motorcycle-taxis and tuk-tuks. Recent tentative steps to crack down on various scams -- especially jewelry scams -- are encouraging, but results remain to be seen. To be fair, these steps are recent ones so can hardly be expected to have already had any visible result. But it is to be hoped the will is there to sustain present efforts to a successful conclusion. Such scams are one of the scourges of the Thai tourism industry, badly marring the Kingdom in foreign tourists' eyes. We all have to realize that the tourism sector isn't the government's sole concern, nor even its major one. But tourism, especially in the form of foreign tourists, is one significant source of income for the country, and given the still-felt effects of the mid-1997 Asia-wide economic crisis, a negative impact on tourism receipts is one of the worst possible scenarios for Thailand to have to suffer right now, so anything the government can do -- especially the Tourism Authority of Thailand -- can do to promote the sector are praiseworthy and merit encouragement. Similarly, the private sub-sector can take steps to help, and, laudably is doing so. * * * * * * * * * * Opposite Indications On the other hand, at least the odd place or two is doing well. A friend went to The Office Bar & Grill on Sukhumvit Soi 33 a few nights ago, and reports the place was more than full -- it was packed. My friend, himself a bar owner here in Bangkok, said there was a crowd numbering 250-300 places in the bar, packed tight. True, the owners of the place have been very successful, as they have proven yet again by making a go of it with their high-end The Piano Bar on Soi Ekamai (Sukhumvit Soi 63), which they took over a scant few months ago -- and have managed to keep consistently at least pleasantly full. Another friend is a fairly regular visitor to several bars in Nana Placa and says that some of them are doing a booming business -- even while neighboring bars, apparently every bit as good, are crying for trade. Go figure. * * * * * * * * * * But a Word of Caution . . . Having said that last, I am reminded to mention the subject of the never-ending parade of Westerners coming here looking to set up a bar, thinking of Thailand as a bar owner's heaven. While I've never managed, let alone owned, a bar anywhere, I know a *lot* of bar owners here, and all of them contend that the bar business is a rough one even at the *best* of times. For one thing, it's extremely time-consuming. For another, many a foreigner ends up frustrated very quickly due to an inability to adjust to -- and accept -- the Thai sense of time, which is very casual, including regarding what time one should arrive at work; it is not at all unusual for bar employees to show up half an hour or even more late for work -- consistently. Even experienced bar owners find out quickly they better have available repair/maintenance workers and alcohol suppliers lined up and dependable about coming when needed, including on an instant's notice. Then there's the business of leases. The land and buildings in Washington Square, for instance, are ultimately owned by a company; in that venue, when one "buys" a bar and its accompanying lease, what he's *really* buying is the right to run a bar business is those premises for the remaining time of the contract the previous owner has with his landlord -- the ultimate owner of the physical property. Further, that ultimate lease may in fact be in the name of yet another party or parties who have nothing to do with the existing bar. On another front, the legal pitfalls abound, as many foreigners have discovered to their sorrow. For example, as I understand it -- keeping in mind I am not a lawyer anywhere -- it is out-and-out illegal for a foreigner even to be behind the bar, especially not working the cash register or till -- even the foreign owner! And keeping straight with the local police station requires constant attention. Finally, business common sense can't be suspended, as so many try; if one doesn't have the financial wherewithal to survive a fairly long period of time without turning a profit, then he's in for a rough ride, at best, in most cases. * * * * * * * * * * American Independence Day Celebration July 5th, Redux Don't forget the annual celebration of American Independence Day will be held Saturday, July 5th this year on the ground of the New International School of Thailand (often referred to, simply, as "NIST") on SUkhumvit Soi 15. All the proceeds go to charity, making this a worthy event -- and one need NOT be American to attend. One of the activities at the Independence Day celebration is a chili cook-off, regarding which I'm pleased to print the flyer below:
Even if you don't wish to be a competitor, chili-lovers will be sure to want to drop by this happening! * * * * * * * * * * Clinton Plaza Soon To Be But a Memory While I haven't heard the precise final date, Clinton Plaza's days are dwindling rapidly, but I think it will be about mid-June when the final curtain descends on the venue. Already it is mostly gone. This coming Saturday The Living Room will be throwing a farewell party. The whole affair was somewhat shabbily handled, in my opinion. At least I would have felt I had been less than well-treated had I bought a bar there. Incidentally, The Living Room continues to be a very popular place, especially with Nanapongers -- the substantial group that regularly visit the Nanapong website and conribute to it's message areas (http://www.nanapong.com). Anyway, better hurry if you want to see the remaining bit of the venue. * * * * * * * * * * Maxx, Queen's Park Plaza Maxx, the restaurant-bar that opened in Queen's Park Plaza on Sukhumvit Soi 22 a few months ago didn't last long and has been sitting idle for 2-3 months now. I've just heard a rumor -- regarding the fact that even as I type the place is being physically demolished. The story making the rounds is that the intermediate landlord, himself leasing the land from Imperial Queen's Park Hotel, blocked several deals the owner of Maxx made to sell his lease and premises. Apparently, the owner of the Maxx paid for the physical building, and, finally giving up on being able to sell his business, told the intermediate landlord that since he had paid for the building itself, he was taking it away -- thus, the demolition. That's the story, anyway -- and in this town, it's not hard to believe! * * * * * * * * * * More Queen's Park Plaza News This venue should be making it, at least more than it is, even in these tough times. It's well-situated near several hotels, and is easily accessible. Yet overall, it's not. Curiously, I rarely see it mentioned in influential sources of information such as Bernard Trink's "Night Owl" column in every Friday's "Real Time" section of The Bangkok Post or in Nanapong's website. I don't see how the place will make it in the long run, though given that I have a few favorite places there, I certainly hope to be proven wrong. * * * * * * * * * * New E-mail Address for New Square One Pub New Square One Pub in Bangkok's Washington Square (Sukhumvit Road and Sukhumvit Soi 22) has a new e-mail address; write them at newsquareonepub@yahoo.com. * * * * * * * * * * Playskool A-Go-Go Closing Temporarily I've learned that the ever-popular Playskool A-Go-Go in Nana Plaza is being forced to close for the entire month of June for allowing dancers to expose more of their bodies than the law allows. This forced closing brings to mind once again the mystery of how the authorities decide to close Bar X for a certain violation but *not* to close a neighboring establishment guilty simultaneously of precisely the same offense, though the police visit both at the same time. (I'm not saying that happened in Playskool's instance, but the incident does bring the situation to mind.) Expect a successful re-opening come July 1st. * * * * * * * * * * E-mail Change Notification Sign-up Sign-up here for e-mail notification when I add or change something on the site. Just go to the sign-up page. * * * * * * * * * * Travelers' Tales Got a "Traveler's Tale"? -- send me a line! MekhongKurt@BangkokAtoZ.com * * * * * * * * * * Link Exchange If anyone reading this has a website and would like to place a link there for BangkokAtoZ.com, you can copy-and-paste the banner and text link below into your site; they are live links to this site's homepage:
I'll appreciate an e-mail telling me the URL of where you placed it. If you want me to put a link on BangkokAtoZ.com for your site, do tell me where you have placed our link, and I'll give you a link in a comparable position, of the same nature (i.e., banner-for-banner, text-for-text). * * * * * * * * * * Until next time -- Sawasdee khrap! Mekhong Kurt
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