Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Post-SARS Thailand woos tourists
Feizal Samath discovers the diverse delights of the ‘Land of smiles’
Nancy is a 19-year-old and what a beauty! If I weren’t told beforehand that she is a ‘man’, I would never have believed my eyes. Can some men be as or even more beautiful than some of the most beautiful women in Thailand - dubbed in tourist literature as the ‘Land of smiles’?

Apparently yes, if one gets a chance to see the world-famous Alcazar show in the east coast town of Pattaya, just two hours drive from Bangkok. Scores of beautiful ‘women’ sing and elegantly dance their way on stage through a 60-minute Broadway-styled show, which is a must-stop for tourists.

The majority of the 500-odd dancers and crew are transvestites or homosexuals who are no more frowned upon in this Buddhist country. Residents say that the community of transvestites and homosexuals is growing and has found acceptance even in conservative society, after some reservation many years ago.

Anyway, more of that later and onto the more familiar sights of Thailand which has launched a mega tourist campaign after the SARS epidemic badly dented tourism across Asia - even though some countries like Thailand didn’t have a single SARS case.

Between June and August, Thai Airways, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Tourism Council of Thailand are bringing in foreign journalists and travel agents to convince travellers that the country is a SARS zero transmission country. Thai Airways is sponsoring some 1,500 tickets in addition to 20,000 free tickets offered off raffle draws on board incoming/outgoing and domestic flights.

Thailand annually draws some 10 million foreign tourists, but this number fell sharply in the earlier part of this year due to SARS. Sri Lanka can learn from the way Thailand - a land of 62 million people - is wooing visitors under a new three-year programme aimed at making it the ‘Tourism capital of Asia’. Sri Lanka is inching towards the 500,000 arrivals mark - far below the Thai tourism input to the economy - but has similar or much more beautiful sights to offer. Unfortunately, we lack marketing of this product.

The current campaign of grand shopping discounts, festivals, free and discounted air tickets seem to be working in bringing in loads of tourists particularly Chinese-speaking Asians.

Kanok Abhiradee,z President of Thai Airways International Ltd., says the campaign has increased the demand for seats. He detailed the special measures to ensure virus-free planes, saying the planes are fumigated every 24 hours for 20 minutes to kill all germs and viruses. There are 36 touch points (most frequently touched by crew, workers or passengers) in the aircraft that are extra cleaned with a cleaning tissue dabbed with a special liquid that kills all bacteria.

Much has been written about the sights and scenes of Thailand which have also gained notoriety as the ‘sex capital of Asia’ for its girlie bars, prostitution and exotic night spots that offer anything from a ‘dream’ massage to live sex shows. Despite this, the country’s vast rural countryside draws many others keen on relaxing on the beaches, visiting Buddhist temples, wondrous architecture and family entertainment venues like Safari World. There are plenty of shopping malls, a first stop for most Sri Lankans, plus an exciting range of all-night street markets, restaurants and hotels.

Journalists and travel agents from Asia, visiting Thailand during the campaign, were given guided tours while spending a few days in Pattaya and Phuket. A visit to Safari World, just outside Bangkok, with its seven shows a day of performing dolphins and beluga whales, a wild-west cowboy stunt show, Orang Utan boxers, sea lions and birds, and the open zoo where lions, hippos and tigers lazily look up as visitors drive through -warned however to keep windows firmly shut - is a delightful experience.

Para gliding is one of the ways in which Sri Lanka can attract adventure tourists with little or no extra investment. All you need is a parachute, some protective gear and a speedboat for an exhilarating and unforgettable ride in the sky for the adventurous types.
The Alcazar theatre in Pattaya has three shows a day and can seat 1,200 people. Breathtaking props, colourful costumes and high-tech lighting back the world-famous cabaret act which is some 20 years old. Transvestites are known as lady-men in Thailand. Organisers of the Alcazar show are at pains to explain that it is not a set of drag queens singing and dancing but a complete show with high-class acting, stage design and costumes. Check out the show website www.alcazar-pattaya.com to see what I mean.

The performers are picked from the annual Miss Alcazar Thailand contest. Some of the winners are degree holders from reputed universities, says Viraj Bhumonpol, assistant manager at Alcazar Co Ltd. “We select the best based on beauty and acting skills.” The dancers are paid monthly wages and newcomers are trained at a special school run by the company.

Nancy, whose father is American and mother Thai, joined the theatre two years ago and is one of its top performers. “My family is happy at my success,” he said during a chat in Bhumonpol’s office, adding the dancers and crew are like “one big, extended, family.” But it’s 38-year old Ooy who knows the show best - having worked there for nearly 20 years. “I started off as a performer but later moved on to designing costumers for the show,” he said. Ooy is the show’s main designer, fulfilling a dream as a teenager to be a designer. So when visiting Thailand, make a beeline to Pattaya for a glimpse of this unique show!

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