I am going to break this into multiple parts because each of these scenarios encompasses about as much time as i would spend reading an article. In part one I am going to focus on the dive industry and how although they might not like it, Thailand NEEDS foreigners to do this job and they are actively preventing them from doing so.
When i first moved here 15 years ago it was kind of up to us about how much we wanted to inconvenience ourselves in order to stay here. This, for me and many others, incorporated visiting the nearest border once every 30 days for a "stamp stamp, hello Malaysia, stamp stamp, hello Thailand" situation. This was obviously time-consuming for us and we all could have avoided it if we were simply willing to travel out of the country for a day or two and wait for a 90-day tourist visa. Most of us were working illegally in the dive industry because providing a work permit is a lengthy and arduous procedure that attracts unwanted attention from the tax office... As a divemaster guide, i was one of the illegal workers.
However, what you need to understand is that we were not taking food off the plates of Thai families, we were working in the dive industry. This is an industry that requires you to be in the sun all day (something a vast majority of Thais don't want to do,) and to also be fluent in an international language (something very very few Thai people can do and if they can do, they aren't going to work in the sun all day for $1000 a month.)
Dive instructors and guides were not treating this as a career, we did it for a few years and then moved on. IN the 2 years that I worked in the dive industry I saw a government initiative that offered to train ANY THAI HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE to be trained as an instructor for FREE (this is an expensive procedure to go from "zero to hero.") 35 people signed up nationwide and a whopping 2 actually became instructors. Only 1 of them still is. Fact: Thais either can't or wont do this job. When i was there we had a German fluent in English and German, a Swede fluent in Swedish and English, a Japanese person who only guided Japanese customers, an American who only guided Native-English speakers, and a French person who only guided French people. There was a Thai person who would guide Thai people but Thai people don't dive so mostly she just assisted in other groups.
I have worked with only 1 Thai dive instructor and she was the wife of an Australian and even she, despite being near fluent, had problems from time to time with translation and had to work in concert with native-english speakers in order to get the job done. I am not denying her skill, she is more talented (and probably safer to dive with) instructor than I am. However, when you have nervous students who have never been underwater with supplied air before, making them feel absolutely comfortable is a MUST. I would never train anyone whose first language wasn't English because although diving isn't a terribly dangerous sport relative to other sports (you are more likely to get injured bowling,) if you don't fully understand some critical components of it, you can die - which is something i think most participants would prefer to avoid.
Thailand's GDP is provided 20% by tourism. This is an absolutely massive portion compared to a vast majority of other countries on the planet. I understand that rules need to be made in order to protect your own citizens first but in the meantime, they have singled out the dive industry and raids on these businesses are a regular occurrence. For the most part these businesses don't even make much money anyway, but now they also have a plan in place for when the authorities turn up. I was sitting at a dive shop one day (because I am friends with those guys) and I had to get my lawyer involved in order to avoid going to jail (this was recent.) I have not worked in the dive industry for over a decade and haven't even been diving in over 5 years but since I am a foreigner and was sitting at a dive shop... i must work there, right? 2 of the dive customers had to provide a bunch of information to avoid going to jail and they hadn't ever even been diving before in their lives... needless to say they did not come back to finish the course.
There needs to be an exception for the dive industry in regards to staff and work permits and also visas. The dive industry in Thailand is a big part of the reason why people decide to travel here. If forced to comply with the absurd work-visa rules that are ever-changing in this country the prices to dive in Thailand will end up being more than customers are willing / able to pay. The work visas for dive shops are treated in exactly the same manor that it would be treated for someone working for any private business - that is, they are going to make it damn near impossible for you to get it done. I would be on the governments side on this one if there was a long line of Thai people that wanted to work in this industry but there aren't. They simply do not want to do this kind of work.
No one in this industry is taking jobs from Thai citizens. This has been proven by the failed work/study program the government has been sponsoring for over a decade with very few graduates. IN the meantime, nearly everyone i know in the dive industry does so in fear. It used to be fun, a way to make a bit of money, good for the locals and conservation, and an adventure. Now it is just an adventure.
The country Thailand needs more patriotic residents like you @goodream One moment you are bringing the beautiful sceneries and edifices in Thailand to the world, the next minute it's an exposé about the corrupt aspects of Thailand. I really admire your motive to make Thailand a better place for everyone. Stay blessed man.
There is always a fun side when exploring under the sea, although your exposure of what is going on with the profession of a diver in Thailand. How do you respond about Indonesia? I know many interesting things that can be found under the sea there. Like Raja Ampat and Sabang. Thank You
I've never been but my friends who do go there rave about it, especially the whale shark sanctuaries
Hi gooddream. Sounds typical government stupidity. It doesn't make sense. You would think they would bend the rules slightly or change them for particular parts of the tourist industry. You hear about this too often. Government officials meddling when they don't know anything about the industry.
Is there any area of business that the Thailand government hasn’t screwed over? What’s their deal!? “Hey. Your barely making it. Let us help you and we’ll do that by screwing you over.” Its not very often that a successful business will not be an asset to the micro community in which it is located. Seems like they want the business community to fail. Misery loves company. Lol
I die in that place of terror haha
actually leopard sharks are quite uninterested in you, hence the fact that it isn't running way. They have no predators and are bottom feeders. You would have to work really hard to get this guy to bite you and you can actually stroke them and they seem to like it. Fun Fact: This is one of the few sharks that can breathe without moving.
Really? That would really be cool, my only fear when it comes to open sea is sharks
Diving is something i dream of doing someday however am sure if i so happen to have a dive instructor who can't comprehend me i would do it, what is happening in Thai as at now need a critical look at, from the look of things it is certain that the natives can't and won't do, it they want the industry to work they ought to allow some space, working in fear everyday wioo be too much to bear which is why am sure you all stopped. I hope things changes for the better, perhaps you may be able to do a fun work again
The dive picture is fantastic
I love diving so much my friend
Better done
someday I would like to do what they do
It's a shame. Again I confirm how hard they can become in Thailand. I suppose many emigrants would like to work on this and they prevent it. And almost no Thai would do that job. Well I think that happens with some countries. That damage is done by themselves because I think that many foreigners could have a different knowledge and also another ideal language to guide the people who are going to dive.