More misery tipped for Thai travellers
More frustration is expected for travellers to Thailand as a state of emergency was called in Bangkok.
The measure was imposed after clashes left at least one person dead, the BBC reported.
Despite the re-opening of the airport at Phuket – where thousands of holidaymakers were delayed because of anti-government demonstrations at the weekend – the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has threatened to close seven airports if Thai prime minister Samak Sundaravej refuses to resign.
Local reports suggested that shutting airports was one of the measures PAD planned to adopt.
The airports in PAD’s sights are Hat Yai, Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, Samui, Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Trang.
They also plan to block all roads leading to the south of the country.
Phuket International Airport resumed services on Sunday. Two other southern Thai international airports, in Krabi and Hat Yai, reopened Saturday.
Methee Thanmanatrakul, chairman of Thai Hotels Association in the south, said the protest had caused losses and tarnished the country’s image as about 15,000 tourists use Phuket’s airport each day.
Qantas budget offshoot Jetstar is facing a hotel bill of about A$100,000 for accommodating stranded passengers in Phuket before they were flown back to Sydney on a chartered aircraft on Monday.
Meanwhile, railway services in Thailand’s northern region have been paralysed after all northern line train services in Chiang Mai were suspended on Sunday following protests from rail workers.
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
All eyes on Qatar as Qatar Airways leads a season of global events