Pattaya Mail — Letters

It is noticed that the letters herein in no way reflect the opinions of the editor or writers for Pattaya Mail, but are unsolicited letters from our readers, expressing their own opinions. No anonymous letters or those without genuine addresses are printed, and, whilst we do not object to the use of a nom de plume, preference will be given to those signed.

Give us your opinion on any subject.

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail will also be on our website

Flying for a smoke

Dear Sir,

This letter is directed to those concerned with the tourist industry. Let me make my position clear, I do not encourage smoking. In fact, to those who can give it up, I would give my most earnest support and to those who do not, I would dissuade from starting.

I would remind you, there are many who are addicted to smoking, they cannot give it up without causing great stress to themselves and others, much as they like to. Doctors now recognise that stress is one of the causes of fatality both physical and mental, and should be avoided at all times.

The number of tourists going to any country depends on several factors; freedom of choice, travel, hotel, amusement, value, etc. If the country is not easily accessible, then you get very few tourists and here comes the crunch! A 12 hour flight non-smoking to a smoker is far from enjoyable! In fact, in some cases impossible.

It is quite possible for airlines to cater for both smoker and non-smoker if they wish. They can do it for different paying classes of passenger; 1st Class, Business Class, etc.

This letter is prompted by a rumour I heard (which I hope is not true) that there will only be non-smoking flights to Thailand.

In the past two years I have come to Thailand 8 times. Because of non-smoking being introduced, I have changed from B.A. to Thai Airways to Emirate Airways in order to smoke as I have a heart condition and smoking relieves my stress when flying. This has caused me to spend extra money and time on my holiday. If I cannot fly safely and enjoyably to Thailand, I will be unable to come.

If there are at least 40% travellers who smoke and you lose only 15%, it is not very profitable to the country being visited in this economic climate where every tourist is needed.

T. Scott (Irish)

Glass houses

The following was sent to us by an alert reader regarding an article published July 13th in the Sunday Times in Perth Australia. This letter was published in the same newspaper the following week:

Last week’s article on Pattaya, Thailand, More sin than sun, was a little unfair.

During three visits to Thailand with stopovers in Pattaya, my wife, young daughter and I never felt threatened. Nobody vomited over my shoes and I never saw fighting among youth in the streets - unlike Northbridge, which was named in a travel guide as a dangerous precinct.

Certainly Pattaya has an abundance of prostitutes who do what they do to feed their families. But there is no shortage of prostitutes, paedophiles, drugs and violence in Perth - which means we also have crime barons.

At least Thailand has tough penalties for dealers in death.

Like in Perth, most people in Pattaya are decent, hardworking friendly people. Let’s clean up our own backyard before we criticise others.

Robert McNab
Yangebup

Make Pattaya beautiful

Editor,

We will soon be entering Amazing Thailand 1998-1999. What the people in charge of this slogan are doing to make it amazing I do not know. However, why not change the slogan to Amazing Pattaya?

Now I can hear the people responsible for the city’s budget - more expenses! This is not my intention when writing this letter. Have any of Pattaya Mail’s readers noticed a remarkably beautiful building on the corner of Beach Road and Soi Yamoto? Do you remember what it looked like before the renovation/rebuilding? It has changed the corner and a great part of Soi Yamoto. The building shines like the sun and makes the rest look even more drab.

So, Mr. Mayor, why not start a competition right here in Pattaya which will cost the city next to nothing? I’m thinking of a competition among owners of houses. The winner will, of course, get something nice written about them by the editor. However, the biggest prize will be the prestige the winner will get.

What is required from those who want to participate is soap and water, cleaning of the pavement each morning, some boxes with colourful flowers and one or two coats of paint.

House owners, maintenance of your buildings is necessary anyway! Good luck and may you find the idea worthwhile.

Allan