Racing dreams
Re: "Racing to poverty", (PostBag, May 23) & "Srettha woos Formula 1 giants in Italy", (BP, May 21).
The reality of hosting Formula 1 cannot be based on revenue to Thailand. Circuit construction costs are now US$400 million. Hosting rights for the Sepang track were $20 million in 1997 and rose to $60 million after 19 years. There is no income from TV rights -- only ticket sales. Malaysia, like Thailand, had and still has no interest or participation in motorsports like in the USA or Europe. Attendance at best was only 50% capacity. VIP tickets quoted in Vegas at over $5,000 will be a hard sell in downtown Rayong despite the attractions of local Thai soft power. Singapore is a success based on the combination with its music festivals. Taylor Swift fans are not likely to attend F1 events. Races in South Korea, India, Turkey and one planned for Hanoi all failed due to unsuitable locations and lack of local support. Dr Mahathir's objective with Sepang was to put Malaysia on the map as a tourist destination, and he succeeded. Thailand is already in the top 10. F1 will not up the standing. However, good luck with this. I will be first in the queue for a ticket!
John Rounce
Teach a man to fish
Re: "PM calls for urgent meeting", (BP, May 22).
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin should stimulate long-term productivity rather than flogging a dead horse like his short-run 10,000-baht handout -- especially since Q1/2024 domestic consumption was a robust 6.9% and was our economy's driver. Teach us how to fish, not give us a fish.
Almost two-thirds (64.7%) of Thai youth and adults can barely read and understand short texts to solve a simple problem such as following medical instructions. Three-quarters (74.1%) of them cannot find the correct price of a product on an online shopping website. Moreover, 30.3% of them are not inclined to be enthusiastic, curious and imaginative.
The economic costs of these skill shortages cost us a massive 3.3 trillion baht, or 20.1% of GDP, in 2022. For example, farmers are 30.42% of our 2024 labour force but account for only 6.2% of our 2023 GDP. Stimulate productivity by selling them Vietnamese rice at heavily subsidised prices to use as seeds -- for their yields are now more than double ours (2.8 vs 6.0MT/ha). Empower us to scale through co-ops.
Mr Sreetha, aim for productivity, please.
Burin Kantabutra
Sticks and stones
Re: "Fiction vs fact", (PostBag, May 21) & "Mideast history", (PostBag, May 18).
In Don's PostBag letter on Tuesday, I was compared to Joseph Goebbels ie accused of being a pure-blood Nazi. One can call me what he/she wants. I am an extreme believer in freedom of expression, if and only if the name-calling is based on sound arguments. Being blind and deaf to the truth doesn't cause the truth to disappear. The shown mental state of Don is that of a spoiled brat who, when he doesn't have his way, has to resort to lies and name-calling.
I forgive you. You are, in fact, below my contempt.
ELWout
Where's the where?
Re: "Thai-spiced revival", (Life, May 23).
Alongkorn Parivudhiphongs reviewed the Bangkok University theatre CHICAGO as a must-see stage performance.
I read the column twice to find where and when, but to no avail.
James Debentures
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