ASSIGNMENT 2: ARTICLE ANALYSIS

[Drew Nicholson]

I read an article about tourism in Thailand and how it has become one of the most important parts of the country’s economy. According to the article, Thailand is one of the most visited countries in the world and receives millions of international tourists every year. People travel there for many reasons such as the beaches, famous cities like Bangkok, the culture, food, and historical temples. Tourism supports many jobs in Thailand including hotels, restaurants, transportation services, and tour companies. The article also explained that tourism brings billions of dollars into the Thai economy each year and continues to grow as more people travel internationally.

This topic relates to me because I am planning to travel to Thailand and spend some time there. Reading about tourism helped me understand why Thailand is such a popular destination and how important visitors are to the country. It also made me think about how I want to experience Thailand not just as a tourist, but as someone who respects the culture and the people living there. Since I am interested in teaching and spending time in Southeast Asia, learning about tourism in Thailand helps me understand the environment I will be entering and how international travelers affect the country.

Article link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Thailand

[Lyndsay Crawford]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cge7g93xjw9o
This is an article is about the long road to legalise same sex marriage in Thailand.
Thailand has legalised same sex marriage, This law gives same sex couples full legal rights- including , adoption, shared assets, assess to benefits like pensions. For many, it allows them to finally build a secure future together. Thailand is now one of the few countries in Asia , alongside Taiwan and Nepal to recognise marriage quality , drawing attention from people in countries where such rights don’t exist . This moment in Thailand is especially meaningful after many years of activism. In the past couples were denied married and even mocked, but now they openly celebrate.

For many couples, especially older ones , the law brings long -awaited recognition and security. It allows them to finally be free and show there love openly. This article shows the progression in law regarding same sex marriage, however there are sadly still dozens of laws in Thailand which have not yet been made gender neutral , and there is still obstacles in the way of same sex couples using surrogacy to have a family. Parents are still defined under Thailand law and ” mother and father”. The law also does not yet allow people to use their preferred gender on official documents, they are still stuck with their birth gender. Activists are still pushing for change. For me I Reside by this article as an openly gay woman I find this article to be uplifting yet also validating that change is still needing to be made everywhere in the world.

[Lyndsay Crawford]

Hello Rakia , I find it interesting the amount of people this is affecting, This article highlights the sheer volume of impact and displacement for many people struggling to get home in the Travel and tourism industry.

[Libby Hagger]

Hi Lyndsay,
I found your assignment and the attached article very interesting, I had no idea that same-sex marriage had been legalised in Thailand – a brilliant step in the right direction! It’s good to see the country moving forward but there is still a way to go until there’s true equality for everyone.

[Libby Hagger]

This is the article I have chosen to write about: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/20/looking-for-miracle-thailand-dugong-sea-cows-seagrass-pollution

The article highlights the struggles of the dugong population that live along the coast of Thailand. In recent years, more and more dugongs have been dying and the reason is still unclear. Researchers believe it may be due to climate change, pollution in the water or possibly something else that is causing the sea grass, the dugongs main source of food, to die. The Thai dugong population is extremely important as they are a critically endangered species in many parts of the world, with Thailand being one of only six places (outside of Australia) where there are more than 100 individual animals. There were close to 300 living along Thailand’s Andaman Coast in 2022 but an ecologist believes that half of those may have died since then. The article also highlighted how the local community are working together to try and help the dugongs, by warning ships of their whereabouts and by tracking their movements.
This article stood out to me as a nature lover and as someone who tried my best to travel sustainably. I have always had a great respect for the sea and the creatures living in it and it makes me very upset to think that humans are causing these problems for these animals. As someone preparing to live in Thailand, I’d love to do some volunteer work with animals, as I have at home in England. I was not aware that Thailand had a dugong population and reading this article has made me want to delve deeper in to the subject of animal welfare in Thailand and what, if anything, I can do to help.

[Liam O’Flaherty]

Cambodia calls on Thailand to adhere to frontier treaties

In this article Cambodia has requested that Thailand respect their initial treaty to prevent further conflict at the border. Cambodian officials believe that they should find a peaceful and diplomatic way to end the conflict rather than continue military movement and further construction in contested areas. I am very interested in what locals have to say on the situation while spending time in both countries.
This unfortunate situation has been a long standing border dispute with periodic clashes and ceasefires. While both countries have both publicly been pro-deescalation, mistrust remains extremely high, with continuous accusations of military intrusion and treaty violations. This keeps tensions high and one wondering how long it will continue.

[Liam O’Flaherty]

Hi Libby, as animal lover myself I found the article you covered to be very interesting and informative. I had no idea that such an issue was ongoing. Like you I also feel upset that we as people have contributed to the endangerment of these animals. Wildlife should be important to everyone, and we should always respect the ocean.

[Okiemute Elizabeth Umusu]

Article: https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/thailand-tourist-visa

The article talks about the different visa options for people travelling to Thailand, especially tourist visas and visa-free entry. It explains that depending on your country, you can enter Thailand without a visa for a certain number of days, and you can also extend your stay once you’re there. It also mentions single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas, which allow you to stay longer but still have limits.
Another important point the article makes is that Thailand has started becoming stricter with visa rules. People who keep entering the country multiple times on tourist visas or visa exemptions might get questioned at the airport, and there’s a risk of being refused entry. It also mentions that rules can change, like reducing the number of days you can stay visa-free, which shows that you can’t always rely on the same system forever.

Personal Reflection (How It Relates to Me)
This article actually relates to me a lot because I’ve already been to Thailand before and stayed for about three months, and I’ve come back again this year. Now I’m also doing this course and planning to move there for a longer period, so visas are something I really need to understand properly.
From my own experience, it’s easy to just extend your stay or come back again on a tourist visa, but reading this made me realise that doing that too much could become a problem. Since I’m planning to live in Thailand for up to a year, I know I can’t just rely on tourist visas and hope for the best. I need to actually plan ahead and make sure I’m following the rules properly so I don’t have any issues at immigration. It just made me more aware that if I’m serious about living there, I need to take the visa side of things seriously too.

[Okiemute Elizabeth Umusu]

This article actually relates to me a lot because I’ve already been to Thailand before and stayed for about three months, and I’ve come back again this year. Now I’m also doing this course and planning to move there for a longer period, so visas are something I really need to understand properly.
From my own experience, it’s easy to just extend your stay or come back again on a tourist visa, but reading this made me realise that doing that too much could become a problem. Since I’m planning to live in Thailand for up to a year, I know I can’t just rely on tourist visas and hope for the best. I need to actually plan ahead and make sure I’m following the rules properly so I don’t have any issues at immigration. It just made me more aware that if I’m serious about living there, I need to take the visa side of things seriously too.

[Jay Chandar]

For this assignment, I read the article “Intercultural competency ‘essential’ for success” from the Bangkok Post:
https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/social-and-lifestyle/3185353/intercultural-competency-essential-for-success

The article explains that intercultural competency is an essential skill in today’s globalised world, particularly in environments where people from different cultures interact, such as schools and workplaces. It argues that simply being surrounded by diversity is not enough; individuals must actively learn to understand different cultural perspectives, communication styles, and social norms. The article highlights how misunderstandings can easily arise due to differences in behaviour, such as greetings, communication styles, and expectations of respect. For example, some cultures value direct communication, while others prefer indirect communication to maintain harmony. It also emphasises that intercultural competency should be taught from a young age and developed intentionally, rather than assumed.

This article is highly relevant to me as someone preparing to travel to and teach in Thailand. It has made me more aware that being in a different cultural environment is not just about speaking the language, but about understanding how people think and communicate. In a Thai classroom, students may be less likely to speak up or challenge a teacher due to cultural values such as respect and maintaining harmony. This means I will need to adapt my teaching style to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable participating. More broadly, the article highlights the importance of being open-minded, respectful, and willing to learn from others. As I move to Thailand, developing intercultural competency will be essential not only for teaching effectively, but also for building relationships and integrating into the local community.

[Anna Phillips]

Tourist Killed at Sham Elephant ‘Sanctuary’ in Thailand—3 Reasons to Stay Far Away From These Facilities

“Tourist Killed at Sham Elephant ‘Sanctuary’ in Thailand—3 Reasons to Stay Far Away From These Facilities”

Elephants are the national animals of Thailand so it is natural that tourists will want to see them, but it can be hard to determine which sanctuaries take the best care of the elephants. This article covers the unethical sides to the sham elephant sanctuaries. For the first part, elephants are massive creatures and can lash out at any minute if they feel threatened or anxious. This is why tourists can be injured or even killed when trying to touch them. The abuse and the distancing of social interactions between elephants heighten the situation. Riding elephants is also considered harmful because elephants are not used to carrying so much weight on their backs, therefore leading to spinal damage and joint injuries. However, some sanctuaries want to profit off this abuse and force them into interacting with humans.

One thing that I have been wanting to do in Thailand is to visit an elephant sanctuary. In the past, I have seen several videos of people petting elephants so I thought that this would be fun. However, after reading this article, I now understand that sanctuaries that allow you to have physical interactions with elephants or have close encounters with them can be unethical. The most ethical sanctuaries that tourists should visit are the ones that let you observe the elephants from a distance that does not bother them. These sanctuaries also allow the elephants to roam around freely and allow them to interact with the other elephants.

[Anna Phillips]

Hi Jay, I am preparing to teach in Thailand as well and I also think that intercultural competency is important when teaching in a classroom. As an American, direct communication is more normal for me and people tend to voice their opinions a lot more in the classroom. I will have to work on understanding that indirect communication is more normal in Thailand and I will try to be more respectful.

[Cajus Caesar]

Reimagining Thailand Tourism: Towards a Sustainable and Resilient Future

The article I chose talks about Thailands growth. This growth is happening because of tourism and economic development. Many people are moving to Thailand because its affordable and offers a lifestyle. Cities are. Things like transportation and online services are improving.

However the article explains that this growth has some effects. Tourist areas are becoming overcrowded. The cost of living is increasing. There are also problems caused by many visitors.

The article also highlights the importance of culture in Thailand. Even though the country is modernizing, traditions and social rules are still part of life. People need to be respectful, polite and avoid conflict. The article says that people from some countries struggle with this. They are used to direct communication, which can come across as disrespectful in Thailand.

As someone who wants to live in Thailand I find this article really helpful. It shows me that while Thailand might seem like a place to live due, to its lower costs and lifestyle there are still things I need to adjust to. I have to be more aware of my behavior and respect the Thai culture. I need to think about living in Thailand. I should not just focus on the idea of a life.

In conclusion the article helped me see both the challenging sides of Thailand. For me that means I need to be open-minded and prepared to adapt if I actually want to live in Thailand term not just visit as a tourist. I need to understand Thailand and its culture. I need to respect Thailand and its people.

[Jacob Thomas]

Article: Culture of Thailand: 7 Traditions, Etiquette & Festivals (2026)

When traveling to a new country, experiencing new cultures can bring a lot of joy. But with all differing cultures comes expectations and societal norms that would be advantageous to keep in mind. In Thailand, the wai greeting will assist with having pleasant interactions and making friends. Kreng Jai is another important concept, emphasizing the importance of harmony in social interactions.

Temples are a very important part of Thai culture and history and are monuments to the Buddhist faith that many Thai citizens share. It is important to dress modestly and respectfully if temple visits are on the agenda. The most crucial piece of information in this article was regarding the Thai monarchy. Always speak respectfully of the monarchy, it would be very insulting to do otherwise.

[Jacob Thomas]

Hello Okiemute. I also found Thailand’s visa policies unique compared to other countries. This article was very informative.

[Author]

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