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Thailand: Tourism And The Truth (Documentary)

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A few folks from the UK emailed me about a documentary they had seen broadcast on the BBC – Thailand: Tourism And The Truth.

At first I thought, Oh here we go: another misrepresentation of Thailand, sensationalising topics in a bid to paint a distorted view of everyday life.

Surprisingly though, this is actually a good documentary that gives would-be tourists a genuine look behind the scenes at the way those smiley-faced service industry people really live.

For those of us already living here, the low wages and huge gulf between the rich and the poor will not come as any surprise.

The plight of the sea gypsies, however, is a story most won't have heard; the documentary is well worth watching just to follow the film crew as they take this case to the top brass.

A Holiday of Privilege Courtesy of the Poor

It's that age old story really: the privileged enjoying the fruits of developing countries while being waited on hand and foot by the poor.

Thing is: it isn't like we walk around thinking these workers are going home to a comfortable living. We know outside of work the majority have lives that we'd consider unlivable, yet many still grumble about tipping and complain at the slightest error in customer service.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say; ‘Why are you tipping someone for just doing their job!”

Of course, while documentary is a stark reminder of how the “other half live”, the control of living standards and wages paid ultimately lie with the employers and the government – who are in charge of minimum wage setting and setting out employment standards and regulations.

We, as expats and tourists would most likely argue that the prices being charged in hotels such as those featured in the video should mean that the staff are paid a wage that would afford them a decent standard of living in Thailand.

I think we'd all agree that more should be done to ensure workers are rewarded with a wage that supports a fair standard of living. And this can be said for many countries the world over, I might add.

Anyway, this documentary really deliver a sharp reminder of what a privilege it is just to see your kids or partner each day, and have a room of your own to sleep in.

I found the presenter, Stacey Dooley, a little annoying at first, if not a little patronising as well. But then her ditzy, naive persona grew on me somewhat.

I've seen her present a number of documentaries since, and while she really annoys a lot of people, her approach always seems to get those being interviewed to open up and feel comfortable.

I'd love to know what you think of the documentary. Just press play on the video below.

Note: If you can't watch the video because the content is blocked in your country, you will need a VPN to pretend you are in another country. Find out how to get one of those by clicking here. 

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  2. First of all, every issue she “tackles” is already common knowledge:

    Greece & Ireland in an economic crisis? You don’t say.
    American Border Wars? Wow, what news.
    Muslim Extremists in the UK? Oh my gosh, what a scoop.

    Plus, every time I’ve seen her, she comes across as a fake – I have never seen any “empathy” or “courage” from this hack.

    Her fakeness began when she appeared as a participant on the TV Show Blood, Sweat, And T-Shirts (she wasn’t a “journalist” back then). Directly because of that show, and because she was seen as popular by the twats in charge of BBC Three, she got her own series. As far as I’m aware, she didn’t study hard to get where she is, she is on TV because of a fluke. If she does have a Degree in Journalism, I doubt she was head of her year or that she received a First Class Degree with her meagre skills. Either way, I’m sure there are thousands of people who:-

    1. Are greater campaigners for causes
    2. Are more qualified to have their own show
    3. Better at presenting
    4. Less annoying

    She is hardly the next Michael Apted, Errol Morris, Steve James or even Nick Broomfield.

    Reply

  3. People like Stacey Dooley are cowards and weak of will. First she is a coward because she cannot admit that Islam is a problem. If she admits Islam is a problem then she has to do something about it, and she doesn’t want to get her hands dirty. Second, she doesn’t have the courage (strong of will) to face the unpleasantness of Islam. She is staring a mortal threat in the face, and she turns to look the other way.
    People like Dooley disgust me to no end, and I love to confront them every chance I get. People like Dooley live to be on their knees orally servicing the Islam. It is what they do best. Do not expect Stacey Dooley to ever see the light and help face Islam. She is a gutless Dhimmi of the first order.
    ———————-

    She is *the* most annoying person I have had to watch in my entire [profanity removed] life.

    Naive, talentless, annoying, repetitive, over emotional/dramatic are words that come to mind for me. Seriously the way she responds to situations makes me think she was born yesterday. And oh god, her god damned ‘commentary’, which you also mentioned, is in no way insightful/smart/something that isn’t already blatantly [profanity removed] obvious.

    I also cannot stand this woman’s constant crying. Maybe the first time it happened I was like “oh, yeah, right, okay, it *is* a kinda sad situation….”, but Jesus Christ, the more of her ‘investigative journalism’ (enjoyed that part in your review too, lmao) you watch, the more you realize that BBC must be paying her for each teardrop she produces. Her crying probably got good ratings in the first episode, so they told her to keep it up. That’s my theory at least.

    I am an American watching her shows from my favorite TV torrent website; as you might have guessed they don’t play BBC here. I do generally enjoy BBC documentaries very much, and the topics for Stacey Dooley’s documentaries are generally quite interesting. That’s how I started watching her documentaries. The first one, I could watch without cringing, but my conclusion at the end was still on how much of a dumbass the host was. But now, I’ve watched maybe 4 or 5 of her episodes, and it’s *literally* unbearable. I cannot stand her crying, stupid comments, and just generally having to watch someone on TV do something that I could fucking do a million times better.

    I was just watching her Sex in Cambodia episode, and about 10 minutes in I decided I just couldn’t put up with this bitch anymore. So I went to Google and typed in “Stacey Dooley Annoying”, and there your review was. Keep up the good work.

    Reply

    • I’m no fan of organised religion, but the large majority of Muslims are born into the faith and it forms part of their cultural heritage. The majority are just everyday people like me trying to make a better life for their family.

      Stacey is no Louis Thereoux, but to be fair she did do a documentary where she explored the different facets of Islam in the UK. She followed Tommy Robinson (leader of the English Defence League at the time), who started the movement because he was upset about how his community had been changed due to the growing Muslim population.

      in the documentary, Stacey looked at certain areas of the UK that have seen an influx of Muslims in recent years and how this has affected local culture and community. She spoke with everyday Muslim people, and addressed the problem of radical Islamic hate speech. She also did the same in regards to white nationalism and the rise of the EDL. The documentary was pretty well balanced. She can be annoying, but there’s a naivety that some find endearing and has clearly made her popular.

      Reply

  4. Thanks for sharing. This is definitely thought provoking, despite it’s obvious shortcomings within the arena of serious investigative journalism. However, as pointed out within the comments above, there may be an upside to the presentation of a show like this.

    An essential aspect when judging any piece of journalism or documentary is it’s effectiveness. The most truthful and painstakingly produced, perfectly presented piece of investigative journalism is useless if it misses it’s mark or fails to communicate to a sufficient audience.

    And this aspect is rarely discussed by critics. Especially not armchair critics throwing wholesale insults around the world wide web.

    But the reality is, in an age where public apathy in the developed world is the biggest obstacle to assisted reform, progress and change in less developed nations, new approaches to increased public awareness need to be attempted. New voices need to be found to connect with an audience who is obsessed with image and consumerism, with reality tv and celebrity worship, with social networking popularity contests. It may be that Citizen Journalism gives the right mix of fact and ‘reality tv’ to bridge the growing gap between the western zeitgeist and real discussion of real issues.

    Yes, Dooley was no doubt chosen by cynical execs who chose her for ratings more than any desire to create a tv with serious integrity. However, her naieve, uneducated, blundering approach to investigative journalism will identify with an audience which might usually be unreceptive to more high-brow journalism.

    Maybe this documentary is flawed. Maybe the hotel is an example of a ‘decent’ employer within the arena of the Thai tourism industry. This means there are even worse conditions out there. So if the people who will ‘connect’ with this documentary are exactly the type of people who just cruise in and out of these SE-Asian countries without a care for anything other than the unhindered pursuit of their own hedonistic pleasures…. maybe then this documentary is reaching EXACTLY the audience it needs to. And maybe for that reason it is a success in spite of it’s glaring faults.

    To all of you above who posted negative comments, I’d like to ask you what you have accomplished in your lives which spreads a positive message to a larger audience than the above documentary. Before you rush in to pull down the achievements of others, consider the BENEFITS, despite any flaws.

    Reply

    • Adrian, some really great points made, I quote…

      in an age where public apathy in the developed world is the biggest obstacle to assisted reform, progress and change in less developed nations, new approaches to increased public awareness need to be attempted.

      Maybe this documentary is flawed. Maybe the hotel is an example of a ‘decent’ employer within the arena of the Thai tourism industry. This means there are even worse conditions out there. So if the people who will ‘connect’ with this documentary are exactly the type of people who just cruise in and out of these SE-Asian countries without a care for anything other than the unhindered pursuit of their own hedonistic pleasures…. maybe then this documentary is reaching EXACTLY the audience it needs to. And maybe for that reason it is a success in spite of it’s glaring faults.

      Personally I think Dooley was genuinely shocked by what she came across, and not having a prior knowledge of Thailand this was largely to be expected. Surely it’s better that she sympathises with the maids and poorer citizens of Thailand, and makes some faux pas along the way, rather than looking to abuse and exploit them in exchange for money in some way like so many other visitors do. Like you said, awareness is key here, and this did reach the masses, which to me means it is largely a successful documentary.

      Reply

  5. My daughters were travelling in SE Asia when I watched this programme, ending up in Thailand in June. It was very informative although I reserve judgement on the presenter. No doubt she was well meaning. My overall impression was that Thailand is a wonderful country for tourists but the workers do deserve to see some improvement in their lives for servicing this industry. With that in mind I told my daughters to tip because hopefully every little bit helps those who work so hard and cheerfully. I found the footage of The Full Moon party frankly appalling and disgusting and yes one of my daughters did get burnt by a flaming skipping rope despite my warnings. The night buses are another issue particularly in the light of the recent tragedy, three young Brits and a Korean killed. The common practice of theft whilst the passengers sleep is also disgraceful. Thailand needs its tourist industry but both Thais and tourists need to behave more responsibly.

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    • I completely agree Kate. I am not a fan of the full moon party, but I understand it has become a rite of passage for the gap year traveller and many tourists, and, where there is money to be made Thailand is going to make it. At one time the inhabitants of islands like Samui and Phang Ngan were very poor, and now many of them make very good money from tourism, and of course from selling land that is now worth a hell of a lot to investors. That said, not every one benefits and the huge wealth divide means crime is always prevalent. So sad about the bus tragedy, it almost brought me to tears reading the mail’s report. I advise people to fly where possible because road traffic accidents are rife here. Drivers can be so very stupid here, I have seen such irresponsible behavior, particularly from taxi drivers. Health and safety certainly isn’t what it should be, yet we often forget this is a developing country in many ways. Drivers work long hours without proper sleep and buses are not serviced to western standards. And sadly, businesses can quite literally get away with murder if they have the money to cover their tracks.

      I trust your daughters returned safely. Thank you for your contribution.

      Reply

  6. gullible, shallow and brainless as far as the series is concerned.
    The government sees the citizens as tools and pawns.
    I have watched and documented it for more than 12 years now.
    what is shown here is a small insignificant part of what goes on throughout the country.

    Reply

  8. What might be an interesting follow-up would be to examine the lives of maids in other cultures. I am sure life is no picnic for a hotel maid with 2 kids in the USA making minimum wage, – likely not having a “home village” with parents and extended family who will do the parenting. That might leave latch-key kids, and the mom might even need to work a second job just to keep a roof over their heads. I think if you took a survey of hotel maids, here in Thailand and in some place like the USA, if you met enough of them, you might conclude that the ones here, at minimum wage have a better life than their counterparts might in the US. – As to the maid here who did not see her kids for 2 years, how come all the other maids manage to see their kids? She is an exception and again, the right questions were not asked. There is more to that aspect of the story.

    Reply

    • That is a really interesting point you make. I don’t know too much about the living standards of the differing social classes in the U.S, but I know the U.S does have people living in similar standards to many people in Thailand…Similarly in the UK we have workers from Eastern Europe sharing small living quarters and sending every cent home to family they probably only see a couple of times a year. Not that I think that’s right either, but this is the world we live in and the issues aren’t exclusive to Thailand. Thanks for contributing.

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  9. I thought it was overall ok – though a lack of knowledge was obvious. The BaanThai provided a decent free room and board which is a big perk as all of the salary could be saved and sent home in near entirety. Living 3 to a room is not as bad for Thai as it might seem to Westerners as that is how the family lives in the village. They don’t really like to stay alone – ghosts. Many questions were left unasked.

    Are the families as frugal as the maids or does the dad drink half the money away? Lets also remember that this is where the maids chose to go to work because in their home province a similar job may pay half that, no matter the minimum wage. The lady w/the room in the slum when she could have stayed for free – – did nobody ask why? She has a boyfriend and thats how she wants to spend half her salary, would be my guess. I thought some of the maids were trying to play on her sympathies a bit. Their lives are not as bad to them as it might look to a Westerner. The reason making up the room was difficult is that she was untrained and not experienced.

    As to the sea gypsies – sure, it was sad, but I also wonder if there is another side to the story – I don’t know.

    I don’t know why someone didn’t tell heartfelt sincere Stacey some of these realities – and also not to “wai” children – unless they “wai” her first and she is returning the greeting that is a show of respect – not a big faux pas but a little more knowledge might have been helpful – on the other hand, I have never been, nor seen footage of a full moon party so, after all my years here, I got some education too.

    Reply

    • I agree on the “wai’ing” Ken, it was painful to see her wai everyone regardless of status. I am sure she meant well in all endeavours, and indeed throughout the other programs in the series, and it is obvious the BBC deliberately sent her in unaware for entertainment value.

      True their lives aren’t as bad to them as they may seem to a westerner, but I find it impossible to take a stance of, “well they don’t know any different so it’s okay”. Why is it acceptable for other people to be lumbered with lives we wouldn’t accept for ourselves? Even though they might smile and get on with it, I very much doubt stating the fact that you haven’t seen your kids for a couple of years is a tool to achieve a sympathy vote. In the 21st century I find this unacceptable. As is three grown 30 something women sharing a studio room.

      It is also true, like you say, that they ultimately choose to migrate to tourist areas for better money, but choice is a horribly ambiguous word, especially in countries like Thailand. The reality is usually a separation with her husband after beng married off at a young age to a karaoke bar regular who drinks all the time (generalisation yes, unfortunately often the case; who doesn’t provide any maintenance for the kid(s). There isn’t any child benefit from the state either. So that leaves her under pressure from her family to go and seek better work to feed the extra mouth(s).

      Thanks for contributing.

      Reply

  10. Touching film. Sad business all of it. Documentary was ruined for me by the disgustingly standardised BBC narration and the over-apologetic whining of Stacey Dooley. No offence Stacey. I’m sure you’re lovely x

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  11. Having been brought up in a more egalitarian age, I haven’t lost faith in conventional politics to the same degree as you but I share your concerns about the growing inequality in our once-prosperous nation. The mere mention of Tony Blair’s name adds weight to your “they’re-all-criminals” argument but I’ve also met countless honest and principled public servants who give me reason for hope.

    At the risk of sounding condescending again (sorry), we need to look at some basic economics. GDP is the best indicator of wealth. It measures the amount of “stuff” a country has. Regardless of the quantity of “money” in circulation, the amount of “stuff” remains the same. You can increase the money supply (by increasing the minimum wage, for example) but, with no increase in the amount of “stuff”, the inevitable result is inflation – which leaves no one better off and creates numerous problems of its own. Prosperity comes only from creating more “stuff” (i.e. increasing productivity). In short, raising the minimum wage is no panacea. If it were, then all governments would be at it.

    Working harder or smarter is always an option but there are many definitions of what constitutes a “good” life and the Buddhist Thais have their own take on this.

    I don’t want to ramble on but you did ask me why Britain remains a richer country than Thailand despite its crushing debts. As an analogy, consider Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska. His debts are thought to exceed his assets but, if you were lucky enough to secure an invitation to dinner on his superyacht, you would see that he is a very wealthy man. This could be the introduction to a lecture on the true nature of capitalism and the importance of never settling your bills but I’m running out of steam for one day and an evening of “mind numbing television” awaits.

    Incidentally, your willingness to engage in a knockabout debate without resorting to insults or the delete key is a rare quality amongst Thailand bloggers and I commend you for it. It’s amazing how often these Thailand forums descend into poisonous acrimony and real-world revenge seeking. That’s why I always withhold my email address. No snub is intended, however, and I hope to return often.

    Chok dee crap.

    Reply

    • I sincerely hope some of my faith can restored by the new coalition, but for now I am enjoying life here. I take your point regarding GDP, although from here things look very worrying for the UK and very good for the LOS.

      I completely agree in regards to other forums etc, which is why I am trying my best to provide some thought provoking posts which offer alternative viewpoints, with the hope of opening up some intelligent debate. Thank you for contributing, hope to see you again soon.

      Reply

  12. Your concern for Thai workers is obviously well-meaning but the “facts” on which you base your conclusions appear to be pulled out of thin air.

    Your “evil Thai employer” narrative hangs on your assertion that Thailand is “far richer than the UK”. According to the IMF, the 2010 GDPs of the UK and Thailand are $2,258,565,000 and $312,605,000 respectively. The two nations have similar populations so we can deduce that the UK is actually more than SEVEN TIMES RICHER than Thailand. This drives a coach and horses through your argument and you may want to rethink your conclusions.

    Despite claiming to “not quite see” my point, you go on to agree with me that the growth of welfare benefit funded single parenthood in the UK can be seen as one symptom of an increasingly lazy and apathetic nation. Bafflingly, you blame this on “capitalism and an elitist society” when even a schoolboy could tell you that the bloated welfare state is unequivocally a product of socialism.

    Of course, the main problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money to spend. Britain’s national debt currently stands at around one trillion pounds. When you add in the unfunded public sector pension liabilities and dubious PFI schemes the total rises to about three trillion. This represents over 50,000 GBP each for every man, woman and child in the UK – a financial train-wreck so large as to be visible from space.

    If Britain is such a utopia, how come you can’t afford a house? Why are so many shops and commercial premises boarded up? Why do 40,000 schoolgirls give birth each year? Why are the prisons so overcrowded? Why is drunkenness and antisocial behaviour so common? Why are tax rates so punitive? Why is almost every town outside the south of England so dismal and run-down? Why are there so few decent private-sector jobs in these places?

    I’m not going to try your patience by answering these questions but I want to make the point that Thailand’s people are a much more impressive bunch than you give them credit for. Wage packets are small by our standards but most workers don’t pay tax and the cost of living is low. The people are resilient and support each other without expecting state handouts. The country lives within its means. Broadly speaking, while we are lazy and apathetic they are hard-working and cheerful.

    Perhaps this explains why Thailand is developing so rapidly while Britain teeters on the brink of economic oblivion.

    It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of bashing Thailand based on the false premise that we ourselves come from a faultless socialist utopia. As you may have noticed, many ThaiVisa forum members have a very negative view of Thailand and its people and would have us believe that we expats are enlightened renaissance men looking down on a lazy, greedy, stupid and corrupt society.

    I suspect that the most extreme “haters” are simply blaming their own personal and business setbacks on outside forces but I think there’s a much larger group that simply can’t get its collective head around the unfamiliar values of a different culture. My wife is Thai and the constant drone of foreigners pontificating about things they know nothing about drives her crazy – although she’s too polite to show it.

    If the truth be told, I too went through a negative phase during my early years in Thailand but, happily, I can now see the bigger (and brighter) picture. Given time, I hope you will too.

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    • wow where to start. Perhaps at the end. I am not at all negative about Thailand. I also hate all those ThaiVisa moaners, too, thus one of the reasons for setting up a somewhat alternative place for discussion. If you don’t like it, go home, etc , etc. I love living here and I love the people, and I also understand things need fixing everywhere you go. But I also have first hand experience of the work conditions and the prejudice that exists here. My Thai partner works 7 days in a row at times, for up to 10 hours a day for a reputable organisation as a supervisor, yet this April will be the first time she has been home in over 2.5 years…why? Because she hasn’t been permitted a holiday longer than 2-3 days. I don’t think employers are evil, just exploitative because they can be, and the majority of Thai people brainwashed with accepting status by karma, subservient to a hierarchy by conditioning, and too scared of offending the country through rebellion.

      I am quite confused as to whether you actually believe Thai people at the lower end of the social scale are living a good existence being controlled by nationalism and mind numbing television; whether working your entire life for a life that is always going to be beyond you is a good thing?

      I in no way believe the UK is a utopia, and i am by no means saying it is better than Thailand. And i didn’t say i couldn’t afford a house. I actually don’t believe in ownership of property, at least not when the idea is to sell people materials for 100x what they are worth, and then force them into debt so they have to work jobs that pay tax back to an oppressive regime that goes around the world killing in the name of so-called democracy to prop up the aristocracy. I would happily accept a lesser life in the uk if it meant other people around the world could have more. No, i don’t like the UK very much at all, what it represents or the way it operates.

      I am a little confused as to why you base the wealth of the uk on GDP….what good is overinflated growth when you have no cash or assets? You then yourself point out that the uk is in fact more than broke…so how is the UK in a wealthier state than Thailand? The UK has no reserves, Thailand on the other hand is sitting on about 130 billion $ (FR) coupled with good steady growth. Thailand can afford to raise its minimum wage it just doesn’t. They are too clever for that, having seen, like you pointed out, the disastrous social system in the uk and other parts of the world. Anyway, I am sure you can pull out figures all day long on me and prove your point, but the fact remains. The monetary system doesn’t work. If we moved towards a resourced based economy we wouldn’t have half the issues you highlight, “why are so many shops and commercial premises boarded up? Why do 40,000 schoolgirls give birth each year? Why are the prisons so overcrowded? Why is drunkenness and antisocial behaviour so common? Why are tax rates so punitive? Why is almost every town outside the south of England so dismal and run-down? Why are there so few decent private-sector jobs in these places?”

      To use your slightly condescending tone, I think you will find any school boy will tell you that capitalism and socialism and even communism are intrinsically linked – there is no difference in labour or tory, so yes I can blame the ugly by-products of the system on all the educated criminals, no matter what guise they operate under – lord knows they are all educated in the same place – there must always be people on the bottom and an elite sector of people exercising far more power than anyone else. The sad thing is, Thai people, those with little knowledge of global markets and the problems of other countries that is, think “americanisation/globalisation/capitalism” is the way forward, and if i just work that little bit harder I can up my status and live like the farangs and hi-so thais do. Sadly though they don’t realise that in fact, they were already sold out to the Bowring treaty and various other trade agreements by the aristocracy 100 years ago, they became the pawns in the game without even realising it….the economic slaves when the thai economy moved from a local barter based economy to peripheral capitalism. The uneducated are starting to realise the boat sailed a long time ago, and people are tired of being promised a better life and seeing the same families rule the roast, which is why you have the ever threatening political situation.

      Would you accept the same life for your kids as the chambermaids…I doubt it, so why should we all not do what we can, even if by just voicing the issue, to help them toward a more fruitful, enjoyable existence.

      There are a couple of books I would love to recommend to you for reading. Please pm me your email address because I can’t mention them on here. Thank you.

      Reply

  13. This “documentary” was certainly annoying and patronising but it’s not Stacey Dooley’s fault. She’s just a naive former shop assistant exemplifying Britain’s current generation of poorly-educated, state-coddled youngsters who genuinely believe that a glittering future in TV awaits them because they are “special” – despite their modest achievements.

    Selected as a “citizen-journalist” by cynical, privately-educated TV executives, Stacey’s engaging manner, humble origins and soft heart make her the ideal candidate to perpetuate this x-factor inspired myth to the young and dumb – a contrivance that insults the intelligence of older viewers.

    The Bahn Thai Hotel gave the production team every assistance but their kindness was rewarded by a nasty BBC hatchet job. It’s a shame because, by local standards, the hotel appears to be a model employer and proud of it.

    Perhaps tearful Stacey was comparing the lot of the hard-working chambermaids of Phuket with that of their single-parent sisters in the UK who spend their relaxing, pajama-clad days sucking on 20 Benson and Hedges and a 2-litre bottle of Diamond White – all at the taxpayer’s expense.

    The Thai chambermaids came across as hard-working, decent women who, to me, seemed bemused by Stacey’s naivety.

    In contrast, the Sea Gypsies plight appeared to be genuine but I felt that Dooley’s lightweight persona didn’t do the story justice. Securing an interview with Prime Minister Abhisit presented a real opportunity but it was wasted. Perhaps he was led to believe that it would be conducted by a proper BBC reporter instead of a weeping shop assistant. What a piss-take. Was anyone surprised that he cancelled?

    In my view, Thailand: Tourism And The Truth completely missed its intended target but illustrates well the sad decline of 21st Century Britain.

    Reply

    • The Thai chambermaids certainly did come across as decent and hardworking, and I am no fan of the BBC, it must be said. Bet as for the BannThai being model employers I can’t agree. Perhaps by Thai standards, yet for a country so very rich, I am appalled at the hours those at the lower end of the social class system (that is so very prejudice here) have to work, the pay they receive, and the lack of job progression potential. Why should BannThai be considered a good employer just because they provide 80 baht above minimum wage and hygienic accommodation, albeit three to a room and no family visiting. These are very basic minimums that we, as westerners, wouldn’t even accept. i agree BannThai were somewhat set up. They assumed the program was showing the world how wonderful they are, and then the BBC flipped it….

      In regards to the approach and employing Stacey Dooley I do agree. However, the way I see it, is, if John Pilger had presented it, for example, half of the moronic tourists that come here wouldn’t of given it a second thought. But because of the “citizen-journalist” approach, a broader selection of the public have been engaged, and might, just might, be more inclined to tip, and to consider the plight of local workers when coming to Thailand.

      Stacey did do a rather poor job at following through with the government for the Sea Gypsies, and her efforts with the Bann Thai hotel management were limp. However, her effort should be commended in some respect – she just isn’t a good political spokesperson, and i am sure doesn’t proclaim to be.

      I can’t quite see your point regarding, “Perhaps tearful Stacey was comparing the lot of the hard-working chambermaids of Phuket with that of their single-parent sisters in the UK who spend their relaxing, pajama-clad days sucking on 20 Benson and Hedges and a 2-litre bottle of Diamond White – all at the taxpayer’s expense.

      Perhaps many in the UK have got it far too easy, and agreed, hand-outs have produced an apathetic and lazy state…..but this is a by-product of capitalism and an elitist society, paradoxically so is the situation in Thailand at the other end of the scale. The minimum wage in Thailand is a joke, so are the working hours, and so is the regional, beauty/skin colour, age and educational prejudice that takes place. There is minimal if any job progression. Life is a sufferance for most and quite simply a birth lottery.

      7,000 baht a month means working your entire life and never even being able to afford to buy land in the relatively cheap province you come from. It means never having a pension to fall back on, never being able to educate your kids properly, and never being able to enjoy the normal things other people do, like going to the cinema once in a while or having a holiday abroad. These maids work, sleep, eat and send money home for their aging parents and kids. Kids they rarely see! If these women want to break this cycle what are their choices? As mostly single mums, or married to poor labourers…where can they turn to for a potentially better life….we all know the answer to that…sacrificing one’s soul.

      I refuse to accept, that no matter how good their treatment is, compared to what it could be, that we should say or imply that it is acceptable in any way. Thailand is a very rich country. far richer than the UK…yet the keepers of the purse are a little more frugal, to say the least.

      Reply

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