Thailand update from Skal
Dear Friends
Re: Thailand Coup
The situation is almost as if nothing has happened. Everyone working, every getting on with their lives, even the stock market had only a slight correction today and the baht is holding steady.
As Mr. Luzi Matzig, MD of Asian Trails was quoted recently it was “ a coup as smooth as silk” to paraphrase THAI International Airlines slogan. Even the military apologized for any inconvenience when they went on National TV yesterday. Something unheard of on previous occasions.
Airlines-all are operating normally and Bangkok Airways have even started to use the new airport “Suvarnabhumi” as from today, ahead of the official opening which will take place on the 28th Sept 2006.
TTM – The Thailand Travel Mart is also still on – taking place next week with over 300 buyers still confirmed to attend.
Banks, schools… in fact everything is all open and operating as if NOTHING happened.
In order to prove sincerely that they do not want to hand on to power any longer than is necessary, the military re-affirmed that they will hand over power in 2 weeks time.
Yesterday I suggested it may take two weeks to get back to normal. Now I think it IS back to normal. My hotel occupancy has steadied and we will be running between 65-85% occupancy over the next 3 days and over 90% for the following week, which is a few percentage points above budgeted levels.
So I think this may well be my last update as I honestly do believe it was the quietest coup ever. In order to support the normalization of the the Tourism Industry, please do feel free to pass this message on. For further background or updates the Bangkok Post at www.bangkokpost.com and the Nation at www.nationmultimedia.com are excellent sources of reference.
Yours sincerely
Andrew J Wood
General Manager
& Skål Int’l Councillor-Thailand
Graham Muldoon
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