OPINION

Easy come, easy go

Re: "Look beyond Chinese", (PostBag, Aug 14).

There is of course much more to tourism figures than just tourist arrival numbers. Of course tourist spending is a factor, as mentioned by the letter writer (Mr Paul ) both in value and category. But the most salient figure besides, is the number of nights each tourist stays!

Increased arrivals will show largely at the airports and points of entry only, to good benefit. But the number of 35 million tourist arrivals does not begin to compare with previous lesser figures when it is realised that the average stay nowadays is only a small fraction of previous years (arrivals multiplied by duration of stay); hence the hardship being felt by so many in what was once a flourishing tourist industry, alas no more for so many!

And relying so much on a narrow number of tourist groups will not prove to be a beneficial business strategy in the coming years. Beware!

Re: "In touch with Trump", (Postbag, Aug 15).

I think Brian Corrigan was only half right when he said Donald Trump's trade war is meant only to "level the playing field".

Trump's style of deal-making can succeed only in business -- not in politics or diplomacy. It is wrong for the US president to make threats of trade war against the rest of the world.

It might be true as Trump has claimed that American companies investing in China have been treated unfairly -- some of them have been taken advantage of, and their technology and know-how have been "stolen" by their Chinese partners.

However, the only way to overcome this problem is via negotiations and renewal of deals, not jumping into a trade war.

Trump should realise that in the past seven decades, most US products and services have been meant for export -- not just for American consumers in the US, who represent less than 5% of the global population!

Re: "PM Prayut wants Bangkok traffic relief in 3 months", (BP, August 15).

Shades of Thaksin past! Is there anything that PM general does not copy from Thaksin and Pheu Thai, except, of course, at least a pretense of respect for the unfree Thai people denied a voice in the government?

Which is coming soonest: an "honest mistake" or an election?

Re: "Neighbour shot, killed over blaring music", (BP, Aug 15).

Sound trucks, vehicles with loud sound systems cruising the streets and highways should be regulated, or banned completely. Excessive noise and prolonged noise are known to cause individuals to take drastic measures.

It is certain the government is not interested in the problem. It is far better to curb excessive, unwanted and long periods of noise exposure than to pay for hearing aids and hearing loss. Anyone out there listening?

Sombun Nakhao shot his noisy neighbour. I confess to feeling the same motivation countless times in this insanely noise-polluted nation. I abhor killing but in this instance feel a lot of sympathy for Khun Sombun. I hope Thailand learns something from this crime.

There are celebrations in Pakistan on its 71st Independence Day. But one wonders if there is much to celebrate.

By any standard and despite its nuclear status, this Muslim homeland born among the ruins of the British Raj is a failed entity. It ranks 147th in the UN Human Development Index. It is a country plagued by poverty, illiteracy and rampant violence.

Pakistan's leadership has over those years been more concerned with bickering with India over Kashmir rather than allocating resources to lifting its population out of poverty.

There are tribal areas outside government control, the Taliban is very powerful, and terrorism is a way of life.

To achieve a degree of normalcy, Pakistan's new leaders will have to get the country's act together.

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