Thailand is full of great little places to visit, but how they are promoted can sometimes be more of a hindrance than a help
THAILAND IS FULL OF GREAT LITTLE PLACES TO VISIT, BUT HOW THEY ARE PROMOTED CAN SOMETIMES BE MORE OF A HINDRANCE THAN A HELP
When people have free time, many like to travel. If it involves delicious things to eat, attractive things to see and fun things to do, it is a most satisfying experience. The emergence of a particular place as a tourist attraction can be down to several factors. Some have an interesting, well-preserved history. Some places become popular by chance. However, not all places that are promoted as tourist attractions catch on.
Places of historical interest can be found all around Thailand. These may be old communities, settlements or buildings that have survived the passing of time. While much of the country has changed dramatically, some places have managed to maintain their natural environments, traditional ways of life and classic architecture.
In the Central Region, some such interesting sites include the community of wooden row houses along Klong Amphawa in Samut Songkhram, Talat Lad Chado in Ayutthaya’s Pakhai district, Talat Klong Suan community by Prawes Burirom waterway in Chachoengsao, Talat Bang Luang Ror Sor 112 or Lao Teng Mai market in Nakhon Pathom, Talat Sam Chuk in Suphan Buri and Ban Paew community along Klong Damnoen Saduak in Samut Sakhon.
These communities may have long passed their heyday, but the remnants of a bygone age remain. Some old businesses have survived: traditional coffee shops, drugstores, barber shops, mom-and-pop stores, noodle shops and others.
State agencies, in co-operation with community leaders, come up with plans to reinvigorate these quiet communities and markets by promoting them as tourist attractions, highlighting their histories as a chief selling point.
All manner of merchandise and food are offered up for sale to visitors to help villagers generate more income. Tourist campaigns try to generate public interest, with local offices typically seeking support from the Tourism Authority of Thailand in an effort to promote their areas as “must-visit” destinations. Some have been very successful.
Elsewhere, places of interest might become popular by accident. Perhaps the area features a great restaurant or local delicacy. Some people like to visit the countryside or neighbouring provinces on weekends and holidays. In search of a pleasant dining experience, they may come across a local gem of an eatery serving great food at reasonable prices. This establishment becomes more widely known by word of mouth. Soon, customers begin to flock there. Other locals might try to take advantage of this restaurant’s newfound fame and set up booths and stalls nearby, selling other food and goods. This can help attract even larger crowds.
Nai Thongsook pork noodle stall at Wat San Chao Market, Pathum Thani, has always drawn large numbers of diners each day. Now, there are over 50 food stalls selling different types of food nearby. Pae Pochana, in an old market on Klong Ra Haeng in Latlumkaew district, Pathum Thani, specialises in intensely flavoured Chinese/Thai dishes. Because of the tasty food and cheap prices, the shop is crowded every day. The restaurant’s popularity has helped the otherwise neglected community come back from the brink.
Talat Ing Nam in the old section of Pathum Thani’s Sam Khok district is home to a popular pork noodle shop. Originally, people went there just for the noodles. Now, they go there to eat many different kinds of food and to buy other items on sale at the market.
These places managed to become popular without the aid of advertising, state agencies or tourist authorities.
Not all are so lucky. There are cases of charming old communities, with wooden row houses and narrow walkways, that are promoted with great fanfare as tourist attractions. Shops and stalls are built selling all kinds of things. Visitors arrive in great numbers. Then more vendors show up, offering goods and services at odds with the traditional charm and ambience. These places gradually lose their identity and, ultimately, their popularity.
Once quiet, peaceful markets become overcrowded and chaotic. Tall shelves stacked with souvenirs obstruct airflow. Much of the stuff being sold isn’t locally made. With more and more people crammed into a limited space, it becomes hotter and more humid. The atmosphere can be quite unpleasant, driving away visitors.
Much of the time, these places simply aren’t equipped to deal with large numbers of people. Access can be problematic. Parking is often limited. Usually, there aren’t any shuttle services. If visitors are forced to park far away, they have to walk a long way in the blistering heat. No fun for anyone, but of particular concern for small children or the elderly.
Some failed tourism projects suffer from a lack of understanding of the local community, as well as bad planning. This is evident in the case of Ban Paew community along Klong Damnoen Saduak. The area features everything necessary for locals to live comfortably, if modestly. It is like a department store and a supermarket all in one place.
Tourist authorities came up with the bright idea of turning the old community into a floating market to attract tourists. Piers, booths and stalls were built. Farmers were encouraged to bring produce to sell there. The experiment was short-lived. The additions were excessive and unnecessary, neither popular with locals nor outsiders.
Promoting old communities as tourist attractions is a good idea in principle, but not always successful in practice. Respect for the people and the local history is paramount. Otherwise, you can end up ruining what you are trying to promote.
People prefer a travel experience where the good food, fun activities and pleasant environment are unspoilt by gimmicks.