Hi, I’m a Filipino but visited Thailand for vacation and here are the areas I can compare.
- Infrastructure:
a. TH gov’t really made sure Bangkok is tourist friendly (I cannot speak for other TH areas like Pattaya, Chiang Mai, etc). In their train network and malls, the important signs have English equivalent, and you can easily tell which platform to board even without asking for directions. Train and bus networks are extensive, that it’s easier to get around BKK and go to your intended destination without getting lost. In the streets, the street names are clearly visible, there’s ample pavement for walking, and trees in the streets help clean the air such that there’s less air pollution (there’s still air pollution but not as worse). The only criticism I can think of is there’s plenty of walking when you need to transfer train lines. I personally don’t mind the long walks but those older and/or with hypertension are at high risk. In BKK you will see tourists strolling around with their luggages casually because they feel safe around.
b. PH - there’s almost no adequate infrastructure. MRT and LRT rush hour are chaotic.
Comparing the public transportation of these 2 cities vis-a-vis their population and land area:
Bangkok
Land Area: 1,569 sq km.
Train Lines: 7
Train Stations: 160
Railway length: 242.34 km
Population: 11M
Metro Manila
Land Area: 636 sq. km
Train lines: 3 (+1 if you count PNR which many don’t even know exists)
Train stations: 45 (+22 if you count PNR’s)
Railway length: 16.9km
Population: 14.6M
Conclusion: We’re doomed! And it’s not even a knowledge problem. The knowledge to solve public transport has been lying around. Political will is the bigger problem.
And we’re just at public transportation. We’re not even talking about city design, sustainability, zoning, and the other areas under Urban Planning.
2. Tourist Spots
a. TH - a lot of the country’s tour spots are in Bangkok. Apart from accessibility through public transport, you can tell they invest a lot in preserving centuries-old structures making them look shiny and new. I wasn’t even interested w/ Thai culture and history when I came in there, I just traveled for the sake of traveling. But listening to the tour guides and reading through pamphlets and being fascinated by the details of Buddhist, Hindu, and Thai architecture and history, I was already mesmerized before I knew.
b. PH - we really have to rely on our natural tour spots: beaches and mountains. Our cities suck. They’re not worth visiting unless you’re an expat assigned for work. Metro Manila does have a lot of historic sites and museums that show our country’s heritage and culture, but it’s not worth staying here. If it weren’t for Palawan, Siargao, Boracay, Cebu, our tourism industry’s going to falter.
I haven’t been to Phuket, Pattaya or Chiang Mai, but based on accounts of people who have been there, Philippines has way way better beaches and natural sceneries. But looking at the comparison of foreign tourist arrival in 2023:
TH = 28.15M
PH = 5.5M
Source: Statista
Conclusion: Related to #1, bad infrastructure = low tourism no matter how naturally ‘beautiful’ the country is.
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