Cancellations stand after lifting of Bangkok emergency decree
By Watchiranont Thongtep
BANGKOK – The lifting of the state of emergency in Bangkok on September 14 has not restored confidence among North Asian tour operators and the Thai trade is anxious for the administration of the new prime minister, Mr Somchai Wongsawat, to put in place urgent action and policies to woo the return of tourists and investors.
According to members of the industry, the ongoing political strife and immediate-past prime minister, Mr Samak Sundaravej, placing Bangkok under a state of emergency between September 2 and 14, had a severe impact on bookings, causing them to plummet by more than 50 per cent in the last quarter.
The majority of cancellations were from markets in North Asia, such as Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan, they added.
Bangkok Hana Tour managing director, Ms Suwannee Sekkumjorn, said the constant updates by her office had failed to convince partners to reinstate the bookings.
“My South Korean partner agents are still taking a wait-and-see approach as the South Korean government has yet to lift the travel advisory.
“If the advisory is not lifted within October, I am afraid South Korean honeymooners will switch from Thailand to China, the Maldives, the Philippines and Bali.”
Quality Express president, Mr Sisdivaschr Cheewarattanaporn, said the Thai Embassy in Beijing had urgently lobbied the Chinese government to lift the advisory, while Thai travel agents had also taken steps to get Chinese partner agents to reinstate bookings for Thailand.
“At the moment, the charter flights scheduled to Thailand during China’s upcoming National Day Golden Week holiday (starting October 1) are empty.”
| Anake: “life goes on as usual
in Thailand”. |
Unithai Travel managing director, Mr Anake Sricheevachart, suggested one of the quickest ways to restore confidence was to organise fam trips for travel agents and the media from the affected markets “so they can see for themselves that life goes on as usual in Thailand”.
But Mr Anake said it might be harder to restore confidence among Japanese travellers who would strictly adhere to the Japanese government’s travel advisory.
“It is the task of the Thai government to assure Tokyo there will be no more eruption of violence.”
While South Korean, Japanese and Chinese arrivals are not biting, demand in meetings and incentives from India seems to be growing.
Pathfinders Travel managing director, Mr Ashley Monteiro, said: “If sensitive markets such as South Korea, Japan and China won’t come, Bangkok hotels can shift attention to the Indian market, which understands Bangkok’s political situation fairly well.”
He added there was huge interest in Thailand for meetings and incentives from India, but hoteliers will have to lower their rates.
“My Indian partners are asking why contract rates for the coming high season are up by 15 per cent compared to the last increase of just 10 per cent.”
The new premier said addressing economic issues and the recovery of confidence in foreign trade, tourism and investment were his priorities.
Thai Airways International reportedly saw a three to four per cent increase in passengers immediately after Bangkok’s state of emergency was lifted.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is mulling over a proposal to temporarily waive the visa fee of 1,000 baht (US$29.25) between October and December. The Thai Hotels Association submitted the idea as one of the ways to boost arrivals
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