The precious smile, the incredible over expected value

Smile and happiness is priceless. Shot with a foreign family, this image took place on March 2017 when I participated in the press conference on the “BTS’s first four lift delivery date, joined by the Bangkok Governor and his Deputy, and many involved parties. I met this family when the event was over.

I got a chance to talk with them and was very impressive when they said that, as a regular passenger, they’re very happy that the lift’s installed so they could use it.

Needless to explain, let the image says itself. What we see is the smile and true happiness that flourished when we know that we can do something or we can go somewhere accessibly and conveniently.

Lift is a basic accessible facility, and one that’s written by law for decades. When we make a city that’s accessible for all, we will easily see this happiness all around. It’s the happiness that’s drawn from equitable chance of travel.

This also has a big impact in term of tourism. Most foreign visitors will make a word-of-mouth of the experiences they got from travelling in Thailand. Like this lovely family, they would definitely spread this happy story to others and many more. This scene was impactful, economically and socially, considering that our connected world today is far away by just a single click.

Take Japan as an example. Its tourism sector is increasingly growing. No wonder because its accessibility level is among the top. You can easily go to anywhere: bus, ship, train, taxi, or simply walk around city. Its service and facilities is also in the same alignment. This is what we called a seamless journey that made everybody fond to go again and again, and again.

We shouldn’t forget to note that Japan doesn’t develop these infrastructure for the sake of tourism at first sight. It did for its own transport purpose. Yet the impacts and virtues automatically contribute to its tourism sector when she turns a spotlight to. (Japan’s tourism boom is a recent phenomenon as part of its government strategy.)

To achieve a world’s leading economic centre, one must thrive to develop accessibility and transportation that connects everything together. Getting access is a starting point to later build a more impactful influence. Finally, there would be smile all around our city.

Everyone wants to see our city clean, convenient, and safe. I’d like to add one more thing “accessible and equitable” too. It’s not too late to change. Let’s help build our city full of smile and happiness.

With Love
Saba
Accessibility Is Freedom