Thai Tourism Operators Seek Security Training

[Cheeky Farang]

Thai tourism operators seek security training

By Nondhanada Intarakomalyasut

The Tourism Council of Thailand has asked the government to help provide training to hotel, restaurant and other tourism employees to help identify potential security threats.

The request comes as the industry is entering the peak holiday season and tensions in southern Thailand have reached the boiling point following a riot last week that resulted in 87 deaths, including 78 people who suffocated in custody.

Council chairman Vichit Na Ranong, who also owns several hotels in Phuket, has asked Sonthaya Khunpluem, the tourism and sports minister, to approach the police about providing security training.

Mr Vichit stressed that travel agents and hotels had not yet reported any impact from the violence. Indeed, many were reporting strong business growth as the high season began.

Mr Sonthaya said that while arrivals in the Muslim-majority provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat had fallen sharply, overall international arrivals at Don Muang International Airport had totalled 6.3 million since the beginning of the year, up 24.5 percent from the same period last year.

The number of Malaysian visitors, the country's largest tourist segment, has also remained stable despite unrest along the border.

Pornsiri Manoharn, the deputy governor for international marketing of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the number of Malaysian tourists rose 49 percent to 191,000 at Bangkok International Airport during the first nine months of this year.

A total of 690,000 Malaysians, a 45 percent increase year-on-year, were recorded at all entry points in the first half of the year.

Mrs Pornsiri attributed the significant rise to higher flight frequencies between the two countries and the rapid emergence of low-cost airlines, notably Malaysia's AirAsia.

To cope with the impact of unrest in the three southern provinces, the TAT plans to consult the World Tourism Organisation to help draft a tourism marketing plan for Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat after the crisis is resolved.

"We consulted the World Tourism Organisation because it has experience in dealing with crises in other regions and in rebuilding images and drafting marketing plans," said Mr Sonthaya.

He said authorities were looking at how to help the region develop economically through tourism.

"The three border provinces all boast numerous areas that could be promising tourist destinations, both in terms of natural and cultural attractions," he said. "But development needs to be done systematically, to ensure sustainable growth and with help from the local community."

Meanwhile, the TAT will continue to promote the country through coming events such as the Loy Kratong festival, a showdown tennis match between world-class players Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, and the New Year festival.

TAT executives next week will attend the World Travel Mart in London, together with 95 Thai tourism operators and travel agents. Mrs Pornsiri said the Thai delegation would explain to its international audience that the troubled area was far from major tourist destinations.

In another development, no progress has been made on a plan to attract the 2005 Miss Universe pageant to Thailand.

The cabinet has asked local organiser Showcase 2005 Co to submit information on its contract with the New York-based Miss Universe Organisation before committing US$ 6.5 million in state funds to the programme.

Mr Sonthaya said the government had received no response since making its first request to the company on Sept 24.

"As Showcase 2005 is the official contractor to hold the event, not the TAT, the government will reduce its role from being an organiser to just being a co-sponsor."

The government plans to ask Showcase to make an advance payment of the $ 6.5 million fee, with the government contributing sponsorship fees later.

Showcase representatives had earlier complained that the delay in government approval would affect commercial revenues from the pageant.

The government estimates that the event would generate 374 million baht in revenues from 13,500 people attending the pageant. At the same time, it is expected to help draw an additional 50,000 tourists, generating two billion baht in revenues in the second half of 2005. The pageant is scheduled to be held in June.

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