Stories tagged with holiday
-
Protesting taxis jam Bangkok airport
Passengers arriving at Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi airport were greeted with an unwelcoming wait Tuesday as taxis refused to pick anyone up. Sudden changes to the parking and pickup permits prompted about 2,000 taxi drivers to stage a protest at the airport which was eventually dispersed at 3pm.
The protesting drivers gathered at the Public transport Centre after the Airports of Thailand (AOT) suddenly introduced a trial plan that cancelled their permits. They were expected to now park and wait at an off-site facility which is no longer provided free of charge. Getting to and from Bangkok airport
The taxi drivers became furious when the AOT management begun allowing unlicenced taxis in to alleviate the problem, which developed shortly after 8am. AOT has been paying an outsourced company 700,000 baht a month to manage the taxi queuing system, as well as paying 300,000 in upkeep of the parking facility.
At 3pm the standoff finally ended when representatives of AOT agreed that the plan would be suspended and to first consider proposals from the taxi drivers, whom the AOT wants to assume responsibility for managing the queuing system. It claimed to have already consulted a committee who apparently were representing the drivers.
AOT’s management of transportation at the airport has been previously criticised for its lack of transparency and fairness. Their own, grossly overpriced, limousine service is unfairly promoted in the arrivals area, where passengers are warned not take the metered taxis for their own safety, despite having been awarded permits to pick up from the airport. Numerous complaints continue to pour in about the aggressive AOT-approved touts who accost visitors in the arrivals hall offering the limo service. Only recently AOT reluctantly agreed to move the taxi pick up to the ground floor and move their limos to the basement.
Info on Bangkok airport
Posted by: Andrew on 26 Dec 2007, 21:12 -
Thai elections but no government
As tourists sunned themselves on the beaches Sunday, Thais across the country went to the polls to choose the first democratically elected government since the Sept 2006 Coup. But despite all results being announced by Monday, it remains uncertain just who will lead the country, and an outcome is only due long after the holiday season is over.
The average tourist may be oblivious to the meaning of this election nor the background but most Thais and local experts are keenly watching the results. The eventual outcome will result in two very different directions for the country beset by political uncertainty since former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military Putsch 16 months ago.
The telecoms tycoon, who is exiled in London and recently purchased Manchester City Football club, appears to have made a giant leap forward in his quest to return to the power-frame. The People’s Power Party (PPP), widely acknowledged as Thakin’s proxy and formed out of the ashes of his banned TRT party, has won 232 of the seats in the 480 seat parliament. It now needs just one or two minor parties to form a governing coalition. And if so, the party has pledged to ‘bring back Mr Thaksin’.
But this is not a foregone conclusion. Despite it’s stunning victory, which surprised the second placed Democrats who managed just 165 seats, there is still a good chance the old power clique will succeed in denying them a return to power. The three largest other parties have so far ruled out joining a coalition, and the PPP is likely to lose some of seats when red cards are dished out by the Electoral Commission this week for vote buying offences.
At stake is the principles of justice. As the new government, the PPP will push to overturn the banning of the TRT and 111 of its executives, following a ruling for cheating in the April 2006 snap poll. It also intends to drop the multiple corruption charges against Thaksin and will probably try to disband the Assets Scrutiny Commission. This will reverse progress on many of the issues that lead to the coup, and is likely to return the country to the mass protests experienced in Bangkok prior to the crisis when Thaksin’s ethics came under the spotlight.
But the PPP have gained an overwhelming mandate from the poor masses, mainly in the North and Northeast, who are keen for a return to the populist policies of the Thaksin era, regardless of his background. Should the Democrats manage to form a government by cobbling together a six party coalition, they too are capable of initiating a boost to the sluggish economy and addressing the needs of the poor, but a fractious coalition will mean they will be less effective and might not last a full term.
For the next few weeks the country will have to wait in suspense as the usual backroom dealing takes place. Either the country will end up with a weak multi-party government, or more of the protests and disunity that Thaksin’s party seems to elicit. Although both options will still kick-start economic growth and investor confidence, promoting tourism in the process, most commentators agree that government stability will remain elusive this year. However, the security situation for visitors remains safe and unchanged.
Posted by: Andrew on 26 Dec 2007, 11:21 -
Thailand Christmas in full swing
When in Thailand over this holiday season it might be difficult to imagine you’re in a Buddhist country with all the Christmas decorations everywhere, but Thais actually love Christmas.
Although less than 1 percent of people in Thailand are Christians, the country as a whole has taken wholeheartedly to this festival, with sparkling tinsel, Christmas trees and carols or Christmas music heard everywhere a tourist might venture.
“The commercial aspect of Christmas has gripped Thailand for years, they love an excuse for a party and celebration�, says one long-standing local expat resident. “I think many foreigners come here to escape it all, but they can’t, it really drives them mad�.
All the shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and even bars in Bangkok and tourist areas have entered into the spirit of Christmas with decorations, trees, music and specials commonly associated with Christmas. Some are even offering mulled wine in the tropical climate, others all have Christmas dinners planned for the 25th.
But Thais themselves don’t actually exchange gifts, and despite all the commercialism of shopping, the actual turnover is small. According to the retail financial services firm GE Money, Thais and Japanese are among the least spenders on Christmas among seven Asian countries surveyed.
However, with the Thais love of any fun celebration, Christmas has become a big hit, and they certainly love dressing up as Santa, listening to the good cheer music and having fun decorating their stores. In areas with big tourist numbers or large expat populations the department stores and malls do experience a larger turnover and that’s important to them.
With Christmas being the height of the tourist season it’s also a nice welcome to Christian tourists, who make up the bulk of the numbers. And even if the ‘cotton wool’ fake snow is a little out of place in the tropical sun, visitors can enjoy the Christmas atmosphere among temples and Buddhas.
Thailand, with its cheap shopping, is also an ideal place to buy Christmas gifts, even decorations, and the Thai are fabulous gift wrappers!
Posted by: Andrew on 21 Dec 2007, 08:35