TUK-TUK drivers, beach boys, masseuses, souvenir shop owners and vendors from Phuket's Karon beach gathered last week to begin a course in politeness and service.
In the audience alongside them were jet-ski operators, longtail boat owners and resort workers.
Television talkshow celebrity Dr Abhichat Damdee told the 300 who gathered at Tessaban Karon: ''Making a big sale is not as important as making sure the customers come back.''
Learning what tourists expect and caring for the environment were two essentials, he said, noting that the motto for Phuket should be: ''Sea, sun, sand, service, smile, no sex.''
Asked later why security was not on the list, Dr Abhichat said: ''There isn't anywhere in the world where security can be guaranteed these days.''
He asked everyone: ''Do you make money from the rubber tree? Do you make money from the farms?''
The chorus was ''No, we make money from the tourists.''
''Well,'' Dr Abhichat said, ''during the high season you will be busy so the low season is a good time to learn how to do your jobs better.''
The session lasted for almost three hours. The tessaban has undertaken to teach English to locals involved with tourism at no cost.
''If the tourist isn't happy, where will your income come from?'' Dr Abhichat said. ''Phuket has very good resorts, good beaches.
''In Cambodia, all you see is temples.
''Phuket has water sports, the Big Buddha, mountains, waterfalls, diving . . . there is plenty of choice, plenty to do here. Everybody wants to have a good time on holidays.
''The gold is in your hands. How do you protect it?
''Some places would envy everything you have on Phuket. You should be proud, and you should protect it properly.''
More sessions are planned.
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In the audience alongside them were jet-ski operators, longtail boat owners and resort workers.
Television talkshow celebrity Dr Abhichat Damdee told the 300 who gathered at Tessaban Karon: ''Making a big sale is not as important as making sure the customers come back.''
Learning what tourists expect and caring for the environment were two essentials, he said, noting that the motto for Phuket should be: ''Sea, sun, sand, service, smile, no sex.''
Asked later why security was not on the list, Dr Abhichat said: ''There isn't anywhere in the world where security can be guaranteed these days.''
He asked everyone: ''Do you make money from the rubber tree? Do you make money from the farms?''
The chorus was ''No, we make money from the tourists.''
''Well,'' Dr Abhichat said, ''during the high season you will be busy so the low season is a good time to learn how to do your jobs better.''
The session lasted for almost three hours. The tessaban has undertaken to teach English to locals involved with tourism at no cost.
''If the tourist isn't happy, where will your income come from?'' Dr Abhichat said. ''Phuket has very good resorts, good beaches.
''In Cambodia, all you see is temples.
''Phuket has water sports, the Big Buddha, mountains, waterfalls, diving . . . there is plenty of choice, plenty to do here. Everybody wants to have a good time on holidays.
''The gold is in your hands. How do you protect it?
''Some places would envy everything you have on Phuket. You should be proud, and you should protect it properly.''
More sessions are planned.
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Meanwhile in Patong, Nepali tailors were receiving video training on how if they each harass 1000 tourists per day they might each get one sale.
Posted by Philip on August 25, 2009 08:52