Krabi Tourism Sector See Positive Signs After The Lifting Of The State Of Emergency

[NBT TV Phuket]

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Krabi tourism sector see positive signs after the lifting of the State of Emergency Decree in Bangkok.

<p> The Krabi Tourist Association President Amarit Siripornjuthakul commented on the tourism atmosphere after the government lifted the State of Emergency Decree in Bangkok saying that the tourism mood in the Andaman provinces seemed to improve. He however called for the government to speed up restoring travelers’ confidence by inviting foreign envoys, travel agents and foreign press members for site visits.

A local jewelry and souvenir shop operator said clear impacts have not been felt, but he expects the travelers to come in more numbers. He also pointed out that the lifting also restored confidence in local businesses to do marketing, as during the implementation of the decree, around 70% of potential visitors were estimated to not book or come.

Ittirit Kinglek, a local hotelier in Krabi said more tourists are starting to come. He said the businesses have sent messages to agents and their clients while also calling for the responsible public agencies to publicize the news and distribute information as much as possible.

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Krabi welcomed a fam trip from Malaysia while Air Asia increased flights from KL to boost local tourism.

<p> The Krabi tourism sector welcomed agents from Malaysia who visited the southern area during September 16 -17 under the ‘TAT Agent Fam Trip for Front Line Hat Yai & the South’. Under the program, 25 travel agents from Malaysia made site visits to tourist destinations in Songkhla, Pattalung, Nakhon Srithammarat, Trang and Krabi. The local operators expected that after their trip, the participating agents would present facts to their potential customers to restore confidence for tourists to the region. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand chief in Krabi, Pornprapa Lorsuwan, Malaysian tourists vacation in Krabi all year round. She pointed out that Air Asia used to offer 4 flights per week from KL to Krabi, but now increased its flight service to everyday since 8 August and that it helped boost local tourism there.

Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) + FM90.5 Radio Thailand at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 7pm &1am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, Monday 22 September 2008 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ Send comments to [email protected]