Thai tourism unaffected by political unrest unless airports shut, says ex-minister

[webfact]

 

In times of political upheaval, Thailand’s foreign tourists would not be significantly impacted, unless there was an incident akin to 2008’s airport disruption, according to former tourism and sports minister, Weerasak Kowsurat. Back in 2008, protesters had shut down Bangkok’s airports leading to a drop in tourist visits, impacting Thai tourism.

 

Weerasak, now serving as a senator, insists that tourists are diligent in keeping up with their travel commitments, provided that the political demonstrations do not intervene with their plans. The democratic process, and any ensuing peaceful protests that come with it, are, by and large, viewed as domestic issues by tourists that can impact Thai tourism.

 

During his time as tourism minister, Weerasak witnessed tourists unperturbed by nearby street protests while still on their holidays in Ratchadamnoen Avenue, where the ministry’s headquarters is located. Nonetheless, he stressed that an extensive disruption such as an airport seizure could lead to a drastic downturn in the inflow of tourists, just as it had in 2008.

To this extent, any potential political unrest should warrant a contingency plan, particularly for managing possible violence, proposed Weerasak.

 

by Alex Morgan 

Wikipedia File photo for reference only

 

#news

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/economy/political-unrest-wont-deter-thailands-tourists-unless-airports-shut-says-ex-minister

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-07-05

 

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[SmartyMarty]

pure guesswork.

[h90]

That is silly...if there are big demonstrations and shown in say Germany than some tourists book different to be on the safe side...Maybe Bali.

One of our supplier from China (who was previously in Thailand) was already afraid because she saw in TV that Marijuana is allowed.

She sent me an email if I am OK...imagine that there is dead and murder on the streets and people with overdose lying on the side walk.

If you choose your holiday destination and are not well informed you avoid such places which might be dangerous or in your opinion unpredictable....Even if it is all nonsense.

[BenStark]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Weerasak, now serving as a senator, insists that tourists are diligent in keeping up with their travel commitments, provided that the political demonstrations do not intervene with their plans.

Is he one of those senators that may be the reason for new demonstrations, and possibility of airport closed, in the near future?

[ignore it]

Peacefull transfer of power.

It's not like they are brain storming contingencies for a coup or anything.

 

Yeah right.

[chalawaan]

Let's all remember it was the yellow shirts who shut down the nation's airports while the cops and army handed out showbags. 

 

Amazing Thailand. 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

 

In times of political upheaval, Thailand’s foreign tourists would not be significantly impacted,

Tourists only stop when tanks line up the road.

[Lingba]

until it is

[Burma Bill]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

any potential political unrest should warrant a contingency plan, particularly for managing possible violence, proposed Weerasak.

This can be completely avoided if he and his fellow Senators back Pita!!

Should there be any violence (and I sincerely hope not) the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of Weerasak and his cronies in the Senate.

[newnative]

He's conveniently forgetting that there was a drop in tourism in 2014, the year of the coup.

[Tropposurfer]

How to 'normalise' anarchy in the social conscience and discourse.

 

Oh! ... its completely normal to have civil unrest, and even violence if an election is not liked by certain 'powers' to the point that almost everything shuts down but if the airports are open ... all good.

[h90]

19 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

This can be completely avoided if he and his fellow Senators back Pita!!

Should there be any violence (and I sincerely hope not) the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of Weerasak and his cronies in the Senate.

The airport thing were the yellow shirts?

How can you prevent the yellow....they are massive against Pita

[h90]

19 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Tourists only stop when tanks line up the road.

Doesn't stop...they made a tourist attraction out of it.....for small money, tourist can sit behind the big automatic gun and shoot a photos...

tons of photos from big belly tourists behind the gun with silly smilling young soldier who doesn't know what to do....

But sure tourism going down...but doesn't stop.....didn't even stop when the red shirt (PTP) burned houses in Bangkok.

When yellow blocked the airports tourism did stop (or cynical: it did not stop because the tourists couldn't leave)

[Eric Loh]

53 minutes ago, h90 said:

The airport thing were the yellow shirts?

How can you prevent the yellow....they are massive against Pita

If they are massive against Pita, Bangkok will be in the colours of UTN and PPRP. 

[h90]

Just now, Eric Loh said:

If they are massive against Pita, Bangkok will be in the colours of UTN and PPRP. 

??? First I don't understand what you mean and second any bigger demonstrations will scare tourists...Well as long as it is not rainbow

[Eric Loh]

12 minutes ago, h90 said:

??? First I don't understand what you mean and second any bigger demonstrations will scare tourists...Well as long as it is not rainbow

Those yellow shirts have switched to orange in Bangkok. Days of massive yellow shirts gatherings are over. 

[h90]

19 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Those yellow shirts have switched to orange in Bangkok. Days of massive yellow shirts gatherings are over. 

Don't know if some switched, sure some did....but most were conservative and very monarchist....I would be surprised if the all switched to anti-royal hard core left wing. Some may, but not the bulk...Sondhi, Chamlong, top news, just forgot the Surat guy from the Dems, can't imagine them being woke liberal socialists now....I even heard the frog faced (forgot his name) red shirt being critical of MFP

[ChipButty]

Wont take long before the embassies start sending out travel warnings

[Eric Loh]

1 hour ago, h90 said:

Don't know if some switched, sure some did....but most were conservative and very monarchist....I would be surprised if the all switched to anti-royal hard core left wing. Some may, but not the bulk...Sondhi, Chamlong, top news, just forgot the Surat guy from the Dems, can't imagine them being woke liberal socialists now....I even heard the frog faced (forgot his name) red shirt being critical of MFP

The fault line is between anti military and the military. Yellow shirts have faded into insignificance. Demography taken a toll on the aging yellow shirts and their leaders. Election has revealed that majority of voters who are educated and middle class want the military out of politics. They formed the bulk of yellow shirts. There wouldn’t be any massive turnout of yellow shirts in Bangkok. 

[Burma Bill]

3 hours ago, h90 said:

How can you prevent the yellow....they are massive against Pita

Sorry, I disagree. At the General Election the "yellow parties" were swept aside by the Thai electorate and many of their MP's lost their seats, so how can they be massive against Pita? Perhaps you mean the "yellow" military and the staging of another coup? 

[couchpotato]

1 minute ago, Burma Bill said:

Sorry, I disagree. At the General Election the "yellow parties" were swept aside by the Thai electorate and many of their MP's lost their seats, so how can they be massive against Pita? Perhaps you mean the "yellow" military and the staging of another coup? 

I presume he would mean the 250 senators which which are mostly pro military and pro monarchy. So how they vote remains to be seen in a weeks time.

[zzaa09]

Sounds subliminal to things to come.

 

Perhaps they're keen on something that we're not aware of. 

 

This affronted and continuing consciousness of things protests, coups, militarism, etc has all become weary within the landscape of Thai politics and affairs. There's always a threat of this and that. Almost a way of life. 

 

Just stop. 

[billd766]

9 hours ago, h90 said:

The airport thing were the yellow shirts?

How can you prevent the yellow....they are massive against Pita

They are a small drop in the ocean compared to the number of Thai people.

[zzaa09]

On 7/5/2023 at 12:47 AM, Burma Bill said:

This can be completely avoided if he and his fellow Senators back Pita!!

Should there be any violence (and I sincerely hope not) the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of Weerasak and his cronies in the Senate.

Though, there's a bit of a catch to these scenarios. 

Firstly being, they aren't elected Senators.......therefor any such actions or practices are nil and void. Yes?

The coin still hasn't dropped.

[zzaa09]

7 minutes ago, billd766 said:

They are a small drop in the ocean compared to the number of Thai people.

The revolution will not be displayed via Lakorn Thai.