Thailand counts cost of floods
The flood crisis in Bangkok cut travel to Thailand by almost one third during the first half of November, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand data.
It is estimated there was a shortfall of 346,000 arrivals (29%) at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
But while Bangkok has suffered, other destinations within Thailand have prospered.
Phuket International Airport gained 40% in arrivals (45,000 trips) during the first half of November.
In a media briefing, TAT governor Suraphon Svetasreni said: “Phuket has direct air services from many important tourism supply markets in Asia and Europe so travellers do not need to transit in Bangkok.â€
TAT said it was counting on intensive marketing efforts in cooperation with the private sector to reverse the declines expected to continue into December.
According to TAT data, just 40 attractions out of 1,200, or around 3% of all the country’s tourism sites of value for international visitors, were hit by floods.
The authority also confirmed that manufacturers and distributors have re-established stable supply lines for consumer products.
Local and imported brands of bottled water and beer were available in most locations, TAT added.
By TravelMole Asia
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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