by Anchalee Kongrut, a journalist from the Bangkok Post who is on exchange with the Economic Observer

Like art, the value of a sacred object lies in the eyes of those who worship it. So it is not unusual that someone's temple can be another's tourist site or cash cow.

Such an adage came to mind when I read a recent article in the Economic Observer about the "God of Fortune Temple" being included as part of the assets of a Shanghai-listed company.  Despite being called a "temple" and built to house the five deities of Fortune, the developer was adamant that this was simply a cultural tourism site, and thus not subject to a Chinese law which says that temples can only function as non-profits.

This move have a temple included in the assets of a listed company is likely to make most Buddhists feel a little uneasy.

Public and private entities have a right to treat religion and make use out of it. The challenge is where to draw the line between religion and making a buck off tourism without sacrificing both.

Thailand, a country where over 90 percent of the population identify as Buddhists, offers some lessons on how and where to draw this line.

Temples in Thailand serve dual purposes - they're both place of worship and also tourist sites.

Similar to China, temples in Thailand usually collect an entrance fee from tourists, but not from locals who visit the temples to perform religious rites. This actually benefits tourism because many are attracted to the display of those who are worshiping.

This is not to say temples in Thailand are perfect.

There have been numerous scandals involving everyone from monks to visitors and running the gamut from over-commercialization to the embezzlement of donations and even the violation of celibacy rules.

Yet, Thai authorities have been firm in trying to protect the image of temples as sacred places. Temple are still seen as being primarily for religious purposes, no matter how much that sacredness has been challenged.

Many temples in Thailand are extremely wealthy as they do not have to pass on the donations they receive to the state. Yet, when there were reports of embezzlement, monks are likely to be investigated and once in a while some are publicly shamed and defrocked.

Though the penalties are not that serious, there is still a clear line between religion and profiteering–one that separates God from greed.

There are private companies in Thailand develop historical sites. But none of these ever include a space for religious worshiping.

Is this because Thai developers are more pious then their Chinese counterparts?

Perhaps they are simply savy businessmen who understand their customers. Any temple that is too commercial will suffer in the end because tourists will always crave authenticity –they want to visit real temples, where people really pray to their God or Gods.

As a Buddhist, I wonder how many visitors want to visit a temple which has been listed on the stock exchange, or if they do go, how many will return a second or third time.