Thai tourism figures hit by Bangkok protests
Thai tourism figures continue to be affected as parts of Bangkok and nearby provinces remain under a state of emergency.
Chinese visitors are cancelling trips during the lunar new year holiday that starts this week, reports Bloomberg.
Last week China warned its citizens to avoid protest sites and reconsider non-essential travel to the country.
The Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports, Somsak Phurisisak, said arrivals will fall by half to one million this month with some hotels in the capital and nearby Pattaya and Hua Hin 30% full, reports Bloomberg.
The revenue loss could amount to 22.5 billion baht ($685 million), the Tourism Council of Thailand said.
Concerns about the effect on tourism, which contributes about 10% to gross domestic product, sent the Stock Exchange of Thailand’s Tourism and Leisure Index down 3% last week.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry says at least 45 countries, including the USA, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Canada and Brazil, have issued travel advisories for the nation.
Government officials in Thailand imposed a state of emergency across the country last week in an attempt to regain control of Bangkok after more than a week of mass protests.
But the Tourism Authority of Thailand said: "There is currently no curfew in place in Bangkok or any other parts of Thailand.
"Local residents and international visitors can continue to travel within Bangkok and other destinations in the country as usual."
The Foreign Office has posted recommendations advising against all but essential travel to the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla on the Thai-Malaysia border.
It also advises against all travel to the Preah Vihear temple area and the Ta Krabey/Ta Moan temple area located on the Thai-Cambodian border, due to the presence of troops and the risk of outbreaks of fighting.
Tomorrow Thai authorities will discuss whether the general election scheduled for February 2, 2014 will be postponed following the Constitution Court’s ruling on Friday that a delay was legally possible.
Advance voting in several districts of Bangkok and other provinces has been cancelled due to disruptions by anti-government protestors.
Diane
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