China slaps ban on Thailand tours
BANGKOK – The impact of the state of emergency on Thailand’s tourism appears mixed although evidence grows of a looming slowdown.
While PATA leaders scrambled to put the best possible slant on the political troubles in Bangkok and elsewhere, The Nation newspaper reported that tourists are checking out of their hotels or cancelling bookings, while meetings and exhibitions are being postponed, leading operators to believe
Thailand will miss this year’s tourism revenue targets.
Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) chairman Kongkrit Hiranyakit said the worsening political unrest would cause damage of between eight to 10 per cent of targeted revenue.”
Kongkrit said 40 per cent of the industry’s revenue was usually generated in October and November.
Following the declaration of the state of emergency, Association of Thai Travel Agents president Apichart Sankary said many tourists would head to other destinations.
Individual Japanese tourists and South Korean honeymooners were already cancelling their plans, and the Chinese are expected to follow suit.
Thai Hotels Association president Prakit Chinamourpong said tourists were checking out from Phuket hotels out of fear the airport would be seized again, like last Friday.
China National Tourism Authority has banned tour operators from organising group tours to Thailand, in a statement issued yesterday.
At the same time, CNTA also recommended that Chinese people travelling independently avoid visiting Thailand,
According to Travel Trade ReportTourism Authority of Thailand’s Tokyo Office estimates the Japanese market to Thailand will drop 5% in the wake of protests and violence in Bangkok earlier this week.
PATA member Asian Trails has received cancellations, and has implemented contingencies for clients affected by the temporary disruption of domestic rail and air services.
Asian Trails’ boss Luzi Matzig said, “We hope that by end of this week things will return to normal in which case damage will be limited to maybe 10% of September arrivals, 5% of October arrivals.”
Indochina Services Travel Group’s bookings and client itineraries have yet to be affected by events.
“As long as the demonstrations remain non-violent and localised to a small area we feel the impact will be minimal, even if it is not resolved for a few weeks,” said CEO Gregory Duffell.
Both Duffell and Matzig agree that the biggest challenge for the Thai travel and tourism industry will be restoring the reputation of the destination in the wake of media coverage and travel advisories.
Ian Jarrett
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