webfact Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Thai Tourism Needs to Learn the Lessons of the AIDS Pandemic, Says Leading Industry Historian Bangkok – As it starts preparing for a recovery in visitor arrivals, the Thai Travel and Tourism industry will need to learn both the short-and long-term lessons of the AIDS pandemic of the 1990s if it wishes to achieve a truly “New Normal” and “Build Back Better.” “Thai tourism has faced multiple local, regional and global crises ranging from the 1997 economic collapse to the 2004 tsunami,” says Imtiaz Muqbil, the Asia-Pacific region’s leading travel & tourism journalist-cum-historian. “After each crisis, it bounces back resolutely. This is because it is very good at short-term recovery campaigns, but not very good at fixing the long-term structural problems.” “However, the Covid-19 crisis is by far the worst in terms of duration and impact. The emerging New World Order will be a totally different operating environment. Thai tourism can lead the global recovery with an innovative and creative new roadmap, but only if it seriously and comprehensively learns the lessons of the AIDS pandemic,” Mr Muqbil says “Not many know it today, but the first thing that the travel & tourism industry tried to do when the AIDS numbers began to grow was to sweep it under the carpet because they claimed it was impacting the country’s ‘image’. “It was only when the industry realised that that head-in-the-sand response was doomed to fail that it began to shift its attitude,” says Mr Muqbil, who is also Executive Editor of Travel Impact Newswire, a tourism website devoted to providing alternative perspectives on industry trends. “The AIDS pandemic is by far the most challenging story I covered in my 40-year career in Travel Journalism,” says Mr Muqbil. “It brought out the best and the worst in Thai society. The growing number of cases would have killed off the entire industry, had it not been for the courage and commitment of a few individuals who were working to save Thailand as a whole, not just Thai tourism. “Thailand's experience in curbing the AIDS pandemic is a story of courage and cooperation, controversies and conflicts. Today, sweeping such pandemics under the carpet is impossible, but many other underlying related problems are still being swept under the carpet.” On March 5, 2021, Imtiaz Muqbil is organising a special lecture via Zoom to revisit the era of the AIDS pandemic. Click here for registration details -- 2021-02-19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post asiasurfer Posted February 18, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 18, 2021 2 hours ago, webfact said: “However, the Covid-19 crisis is by far the worst in terms of duration and impact. The emerging New World Order will be a totally different operating environment. Thai tourism can lead the global recovery with an innovative and creative new roadmap, but only if it seriously and comprehensively learns the lessons of the AIDS pandemic,” Mr Muqbil says Well, comparing AIDS (HIV) with Covid (Corona-19) is in my opinion totally ridiculous on several levels. You cannot protect yourself from the Corona Virus with a condom to just mention one of them... And then, what do they mean by "Thai tourism can lead the global recovery"?? You gotta be joking. Or maybe just taking yourself for a little bit too important?? The so called "new world order" will be implemented by others. And I don't like those either! So far for my daily morning blurb, just before coffee and bringing the kids to school... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LomSak27 Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 2 hours ago, webfact said: Imtiaz Muqbil, the Asia-Pacific region’s leading travel & tourism journalist-cum-historian Interesting where he washes up. I had wondered where he had gone when that other paper decided the Soul Searching column did not fit into their OP/ED plans anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post smedly Posted February 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 19, 2021 There is no such thing as "New Normal" We either have normality or restrictions 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fex Bluse Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 5 hours ago, webfact said: Thai tourism can lead the global recovery with an innovative and creative new roadmap ???????????? These people are so disillusioned, all the time. It's scary to think they take themselves so seriously Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldie Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 The main difference between the AIDS and the Covid problem is that now it is not only up to Thailand what happens. So they can use the carpet method but it will not help very much. Other countries have Covid restrictions too that impacts Thailand. And tourists simply cannot or don't want to travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChipButty Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Utter tripe again 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olad Mate Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Surely you don't get paid to write this BS. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 6 hours ago, webfact said: This is because it is very good at short-term recovery campaigns, but not very good at fixing the long-term structural problems.” They have "short terms" for everything.... even rooms [so I've been told] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thujone Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 The emerging New World Order!?! Well, copulate with my aged footwear. The more time passes, the more I'm glad I'm getting old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unblocktheplanet Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 I'd like to see the whole AIDS episode in Thailand detailed. Aside from Mechais, AIDS did not explode in the sex industry. Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangon04 Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 “However, the Covid-19 crisis is by far the worst in terms of duration and impact. " of course - the worldwide AIDS crisis was just a 2 week wonder and hardly noticeable.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timendres Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 On 2/19/2021 at 6:34 AM, LomSak27 said: Interesting where he washes up. I had wondered where he had gone when that other paper decided the Soul Searching column did not fit into their OP/ED plans anymore. On 2/19/2021 at 3:40 AM, webfact said: Mr Muqbil, who is also Executive Editor of Travel Impact Newswire, a tourism website devoted to providing alternative perspectives on industry tre nds. By Comparison: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candide Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 The big difference between condoms and masks is that Thai people wear masks. ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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