http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye An Outsider Inside Thailand Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:37:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2011/10/bangkok-loses-international-airport-to-flood-waters/ http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2011/10/bangkok-loses-international-airport-to-flood-waters/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:50:08 +0000 Garry http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/?p=988 http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2011/10/bangkok-loses-international-airport-to-flood-waters/feed/ 0 http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2008/12/back-to-my-future-ticket-thoughts/ http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2008/12/back-to-my-future-ticket-thoughts/#comments Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:30:42 +0000 Garry http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/?p=131 Having saved up for the holiday of a lifetime and aimed to stay in Thailand as long as financially possible, let's say you're budgeting about £2,000 all-in, and sensibly keep checking the Internet and Teletext for bargain flights. Making the right savings on your airfare can mean the difference between a 2-week and a 4-week holiday, in my case it freed up an extra month's expatriate living costs. During the UK summer (Thai rainy season and therefore not tourist high-season), flight-only, return-ticket deals to Thailand, can still be bought for as low as £285 + airport taxes. These cheaper flights do not include accommodation or transfers, and normally require at least one change of aircraft.]]> http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2008/12/back-to-my-future-ticket-thoughts/feed/ 0 http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2008/12/international-airlift-begins-for-stranded-in-thailand/ http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2008/12/international-airlift-begins-for-stranded-in-thailand/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:16:13 +0000 Garry http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/?p=152 http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2008/12/international-airlift-begins-for-stranded-in-thailand/feed/ 0 http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2003/01/shot-in-the-foot/ http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2003/01/shot-in-the-foot/#comments Tue, 28 Jan 2003 02:00:01 +0000 Garry http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/?p=5 COMMENTARY - Shot in the Foot Xenophobia & Nationalism Retard Tourism Growth in Northern Thailand CHIANG MAI, Thailand - 28 January 2003 - Recent national and regional press coverage has printed conflicting reports concerning the tourist arrivals dilemma in Northern Thailand. The Aviation Department has released detailed statistics showing exponential growth in the number of airlines and flights bringing people into the kingdom, but admits that Chiangmai is having difficulties increasing its passenger load due to slow growth of inbound flights. In this respect, the Prime Minister's aim to promote his home city as a regional hub may be more suitable than the inaccurate mass interpretation that it is to become a global hub. Private tourism industry leaders have complained that returnees are dropping, as they don't want to see the same, degraded, sights each trip. ]]> http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2003/01/shot-in-the-foot/feed/ 0 http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2002/06/a-new-social-order/ http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2002/06/a-new-social-order/#comments Thu, 27 Jun 2002 02:00:05 +0000 Garry http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/?p=63 Published in Chiangmai City Life Magazine - August 2002 Rebuilding Lan Na - Part 1 CHIANG MAI, Thailand - 27 June 2002 For many years, Thai governments have developed and promoted inbound tourism, to level the country’s balance of payments, and to sustainably generate employment. Notwithstanding seasonal pressures, this has generally been successful, and the announcement that over 10 million arrivals were recorded in 2001, boosted euphoria and confidence. However, for the peoples of the North, there is uncertainty coming from that success. During August 2001, the Thai Interior Minister initiated a clamp down to enforce old laws, and make night-entertainment places close variously between midnight and 2:00am. This campaign has been largely successful, but has affected northern Thai citizens, and foreign investors, whose income opportunities are during the hours of darkness. Initial reactions to the Social Order Policy came from entertainment venue owners and their staff. Reduced opening times meant reduced earning opportunities, and there were some cases of severely curtailed incomes. Yet by no means did only suffering come from this...]]> http://www.gazlannathai.com/eye/2002/06/a-new-social-order/feed/ 3