TRAVELMOLE COMMENT: It’s not over yet
BANGKOK – The anti-government demonstrators may have packed up and left Suvarnabhumi Airport, but Thailand’s hoteliers, tour operators and others in the hospitality industry have little to celebrate today.
It will be some time before confidence is restored in Thailand as a tourism destination while the political conflict between anti- and pro- ex PM Thaksin Shinawatra groups remains unresolved.
The strong threat lingers that further protests will be held if the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the group that blockaded Bangkok’s airports, does not like the look of the new government, expected to be announced next week.
Overhanging the Constitution Court’s decision this week to disband three coalition parties due to election fraud is that if the political parties do not sort themselves out and form a national government acceptable to everyone, the army might do it for them – as they have done before.
Moves by a pro-government group calling on police to press terrorism charges against PAD for besieging Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports suggest that the standoff between the political foes is a long way from resolution.
Luzi Matzig, CEO of Asian Trails, in a message to clients, has summed up the dilemma for tour operators and others in the hospitality industry in Thailand.
“We are sorry for all the problems caused and trust that Thailand will still be one of the preferred holiday destinations in the future.†he said.
No doubt it will be – but not any time soon.
-by Ian Jarrett
Ian Jarrett
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