Thailand "Most Dangerous Tourist Destination"

[General Mackevili]

Thailand has become one of the most dangerous tourist destinations on earth, according to a new book.

Thailand: Deadly Destination highlights how the tourism industry in the once popular destination has gone downhill since the unsolved murders of two British backpackers in September and a military coup.

The industry saw a slump in visitors due to months of violent street protest that left nearly 30 people dead and the country is still under martial law after the May 22 military coup.

A million fewer tourists are predicted to visit the beach-rich nation this year, reports Asia One.

According to the book, which is soon to be released, Thailand scores very poorly in terms of safety, reports the Telegraph.

"In 2014, just as in the years preceding it, there were train, bus, ferry, speedboat, motorbike and car accidents, murders, knifings, unexplained deaths, numerous suicides, diving accidents, robberies gone wrong, anonymous bodies washing up on the shores and a string of alcohol- and drug-related incidents."

The book does not predict a positive future for the country saying: "Thailand has a dying king and serious succession problems, weak democratic institutions, an economy slipping into recession, faces issues of corruption across many of its key services and is host to international crime syndicates, awash with despised foreigners and drifting perilously towards civil war."

The murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao earlier this year exposed the dark side of the country loved by many Western tourist.

According to John Stapleton, the author of the book, news of these shocking murders would not have come as a surprise to those who know the country well.

"The international coverage of the recent brutal killing of two British backpackers on the island of Koh Tao has highlighted what many long-time observers of Thailand already knew, that its tourist industry is poorly managed and the Land of Smiles has come to justifiably be regarded as one of the most dangerous tourist destinations on Earth," he said.

Over 800,000 British nationals visit Thailand every year and the country's tourist industry accounts for nearly 10 per cent of GDP.

Recent negative publicity and the slump in visitors is sure to damage the.....

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[LTO]

Thailand has become one of the most dangerous tourist destinations on earth, according to a new book...

Always has been, along with most of south and southeast Asia. Westerners just didn't perceive it as such due to a combination of ignorance and the desire for it not to be so. The whole region was/is Shangri-la country in the traveler psyche. Now information flows more freely and Thailand is falling into political disfavor for reasons having largely to do with changing western sensibilities, (i.e. sex, crime and coups that nobody would have cared about 10 years ago.) So now Westerners want to see Thailand as bad, and thus it "becomes" dangerous for being what it has always been.

[wackyjacky]

Well deserved in the wake of the KT murders, but kinda sensationalist don't you think ? IMO, Thailand isn't even 1/2 as dangerous as the States. Just about every place I've been outside of Europe, Canada, Oz, & NZ is more dangerous. Idiots can get in trouble almost anywhere & Thailand attracts more than it's share. The real problem is the police cover ups & blaming the victims.. They don't want to kill the golden goose of tourism, Ibsen's 'An Enemy of the People' plays out in the media at least once a month. I like it though. Maybe it'll bring prices down over there. The fucking place has gotten really expensive in the last 5 years (hotels, soi food, & taxis excepted).

[Sir_Quality_U_Feel]

Bunch of stupid jungle monkeys

[Cowshed Cowboy]

Thailand will always be a dangerous place to visit until you have a government that genuinely places the safety of foreigners on its soil as a serious issue rather than an unpleasant inconvenience of a cash cow industry. Unfortunately with a system based on the avoidance of losing face in authority which breeds a lack of proper accountability, combined with local and national level government, business and police corruption, tourist safety is the last thing on the powers that be's minds in Thailand. Beyond post disaster short term damage limitation/paper over the cracks marketing campaigns and superficial clampdowns. Road safety - fit tachometers to all minibuses/coaches and enforce compliance, marine safety - life jackets for all passengers and no overloading/drunken boat captains. I am of course pissing in the wind with these suggestions as it will never happen because nobody is interested.

[potty]

perhaps "dangerous" is the wrong word.

sure, back home there is more danger on the streets, though fatal accidents are less likely (than in thailand).

i think, he should have said "hostile".

and when you look at the people, it comes all down to mental illness.
every country may have their schizos, psychos and neurotics, but the numbers here are unbelievably high.

while our society puts them often limitations on, either by neighbours or police etc., they are here on an unlimited track of things.
their deeds get covered up, too.
not even then, anyone takes action.

[General Mackevili]

So now Westerners want to see Thailand as bad, and thus it "becomes" dangerous for being what it has always been.

That's a good way to put it.

I still wouldn't classify either of these countries as "dangerous."

[General Mackevili]

perhaps "dangerous" is the wrong word.

Ok, "deadly."

[Secret Squirrel]

Absolute twaddle.
Whoever wrote this clearly has not been to South America. Many fewer tourist visits but the percentage who will have problems is much greater. Only place I have been in the world where you feel threatened at pretty much any time of night or day. Thailand is not even in the same league.

[Francis]

"In 2014, just as in the years preceding it, there were train, bus, ferry, speedboat, motorbike and car accidents, murders, knifings, unexplained deaths, numerous suicides, diving accidents, robberies gone wrong, anonymous bodies washing up on the shores and a string of alcohol- and drug-related incidents."

Which would be also true for Cambodia. These countries have one problem.....it's called racism. For decades foreigners refused to see the reality as long food and sex was cheap they turned a blind eye on it. But these countries are getting more and more aggressive and I would expect more attacks on foreigners in the future.