Sos To The World: Please Visit

[baht&sold]

Bangkok Post Monday Jan 17:

SOS to the world: Please visit

Tourism industry speaks with one voice

Phuket _ Three weeks after the tsunami, the country's tourism industry is sending out a different kind of SOS to world travellers _ Please come to Thailand.

Even as Phuket, Krabi, Phangnga and other affected provinces begin repair efforts following the Dec 26 disaster, tourism authorities agree that the economic impact could only worsen the losses unless travellers returned to the area.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects losses of four billion baht per month over the next several months for the six affected provinces. Economic growth forecasts for the year could be cut to just 5.6% from 6.3% due to the tsunami, with some 200,000 jobs in the tourism sector potentially at risk.

In the first two weeks after the disaster, passenger arrivals at Bangkok International Airport fell 30%, while hotels and resorts across the southern provinces reported huge numbers of cancellations, right at the peak of the travel season.

Foreigners wanting to assist tsunami victims could do best by maintaining their travel plans to the area, according to panelists at a seminar held last Friday titled "After the Tsunami: Reviving the Andaman Coast", hosted by the Bangkok Post and Post Today newspapers.

Panelists at the seminar, co-sponsored by Orient Thai Airlines, Laguna Resort and Hotels, Central Festival Phuket and SF Cinema City, agreed tourism was suffering due to public misconceptions over the scale of the disaster.

Massive international media coverage about the tsunami disaster had led many travellers to believe that the devastation had been worse than reality.

Recovery will depend on a multi-pronged approach to not only change public perceptions, but also improve the overall environment to ensure steady long-term growth, including new zoning and building rules to address previous blights on the tourist landscape.

But the immediate problem was image.

Lee Sutton, marketing director of JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa, issued a plea to the international media to communicate a more accurate picture of Phuket to the world.

Travellers who cancelled trips were only adding to the area's woes, she said, noting that 20,000 travel workers in Khao Lak had already been thrown out of work.

"The easiest and best way for people to help the tsunami victims is to not cancel their trips," Ms Sutton said, adding that JW Marriott, through its worldwide network, would help to promote a positive image for the country.

James Batt, joint managing director of Laguna Resort & Hotels, agreed.

"Coming to Phuket right now is the biggest humanitarian aid they [tourists] can do. To come is to help, and to have fun at the same time," he said.

Operators said that to help maintain occupancy rates, hotels and travel agents were joining together to offer discount packages. But with revenues sharply down from cancellations, many businesses were likely to begin layoffs to curb expenses.

Atipot Srisukhont, managing director of The Cliff Aonang Resort, urged the government to take concrete steps to help restore public confidence in the safety of the region.

Travellers and residents alike were concerned about whether sufficient warning and evacuation systems would be put in place to guard against future disasters.

"Laying off employees and offering discount are not the right ways to solve problems," Mr Atipot said.

"These are some areas where the government has to take action. Businesses can only offer discounts and try their best to take care of their staff."

Mr Atipot recommended that the government bring in international agencies to help tour the region to reaffirm the area's safety.

"Tourists come to seek happiness, not death. And those in search of death won't come to Thailand," he said.

Panomphol Thammachartniyom, president of the Phuket Tour Guide Association, said that while state aid was welcome, local organisations needed to take action.

The guide association, for instance, had set up a volunteer club to help educate the public about tsunamis, rescue techniques and disaster preparedness.

"Local groups can gather to get things done ourselves," Mr Panomphol said.

John Koldowski, director of the Strategic Intelligence Centre at the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said the lesson of the 2002 Bali bombing was the importance of communicating a clear, unified message to the global community.

Indonesian authorities moved quickly after the terrorism incident to communicate a single message, helping restore public credibility and the revival of Bali as a world tourist destination.

"Thailand is moving from crisis management to reputation management. Commonality in information is vital to get the right message across," Mr Koldowski said.

Sethapol Chindanont, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's office in the United States, said businesses should look to develop new market segments to spur recovery.

This could include special packages for people wanting to volunteer to assist in relief efforts, or the development of "tsunami trails" for groups wanting to visit damaged areas, he said.

The TAT was also working with other agencies to draw domestic Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) activities to the area, to help compensate for the expected decline in foreign travel to the south.

"We don't have to push for a hard sell just now. But we can communicate sympathy to international tourists as a soft sell instead," said Mr Sethapol.

Pridi Boonsue, vice president of marketing development and support at Thai Airways International, said the national carrier was supporting the TAT's volunteer tourism concept.

The airline would offer special fares for travellers participating in the programme, he said, and would also draft other special promotions to draw visitors.

"Airlines are sharing the same problems and challenges as hotels and others in the tourism industry," Mr Pridi said.

"The livelihood of the airlines depends very much on everyone else."

Post reporters

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[baht&sold]

Bangkok Post Monday Jan 17:

SOS to the world: Please visit

Tourism industry speaks with one voice

Phuket _ Three weeks after the tsunami, the country's tourism industry is sending out a different kind of SOS to world travellers _ Please come to Thailand.

Even as Phuket, Krabi, Phangnga and other affected provinces begin repair efforts following the Dec 26 disaster, tourism authorities agree that the economic impact could only worsen the losses unless travellers returned to the area.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects losses of four billion baht per month over the next several months for the six affected provinces. Economic growth forecasts for the year could be cut to just 5.6% from 6.3% due to the tsunami, with some 200,000 jobs in the tourism sector potentially at risk.

In the first two weeks after the disaster, passenger arrivals at Bangkok International Airport fell 30%, while hotels and resorts across the southern provinces reported huge numbers of cancellations, right at the peak of the travel season.

Foreigners wanting to assist tsunami victims could do best by maintaining their travel plans to the area, according to panelists at a seminar held last Friday titled "After the Tsunami: Reviving the Andaman Coast", hosted by the Bangkok Post and Post Today newspapers.

Panelists at the seminar, co-sponsored by Orient Thai Airlines, Laguna Resort and Hotels, Central Festival Phuket and SF Cinema City, agreed tourism was suffering due to public misconceptions over the scale of the disaster.

Massive international media coverage about the tsunami disaster had led many travellers to believe that the devastation had been worse than reality.

Recovery will depend on a multi-pronged approach to not only change public perceptions, but also improve the overall environment to ensure steady long-term growth, including new zoning and building rules to address previous blights on the tourist landscape.

But the immediate problem was image.

Lee Sutton, marketing director of JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa, issued a plea to the international media to communicate a more accurate picture of Phuket to the world.

Travellers who cancelled trips were only adding to the area's woes, she said, noting that 20,000 travel workers in Khao Lak had already been thrown out of work.

"The easiest and best way for people to help the tsunami victims is to not cancel their trips," Ms Sutton said, adding that JW Marriott, through its worldwide network, would help to promote a positive image for the country.

James Batt, joint managing director of Laguna Resort & Hotels, agreed.

"Coming to Phuket right now is the biggest humanitarian aid they [tourists] can do. To come is to help, and to have fun at the same time," he said.

Operators said that to help maintain occupancy rates, hotels and travel agents were joining together to offer discount packages. But with revenues sharply down from cancellations, many businesses were likely to begin layoffs to curb expenses.

Atipot Srisukhont, managing director of The Cliff Aonang Resort, urged the government to take concrete steps to help restore public confidence in the safety of the region.

Travellers and residents alike were concerned about whether sufficient warning and evacuation systems would be put in place to guard against future disasters.

"Laying off employees and offering discount are not the right ways to solve problems," Mr Atipot said.

"These are some areas where the government has to take action. Businesses can only offer discounts and try their best to take care of their staff."

Mr Atipot recommended that the government bring in international agencies to help tour the region to reaffirm the area's safety.

"Tourists come to seek happiness, not death. And those in search of death won't come to Thailand," he said.

Panomphol Thammachartniyom, president of the Phuket Tour Guide Association, said that while state aid was welcome, local organisations needed to take action.

The guide association, for instance, had set up a volunteer club to help educate the public about tsunamis, rescue techniques and disaster preparedness.

"Local groups can gather to get things done ourselves," Mr Panomphol said.

John Koldowski, director of the Strategic Intelligence Centre at the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said the lesson of the 2002 Bali bombing was the importance of communicating a clear, unified message to the global community.

Indonesian authorities moved quickly after the terrorism incident to communicate a single message, helping restore public credibility and the revival of Bali as a world tourist destination.

"Thailand is moving from crisis management to reputation management. Commonality in information is vital to get the right message across," Mr Koldowski said.

Sethapol Chindanont, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's office in the United States, said businesses should look to develop new market segments to spur recovery.

This could include special packages for people wanting to volunteer to assist in relief efforts, or the development of "tsunami trails" for groups wanting to visit damaged areas, he said.

The TAT was also working with other agencies to draw domestic Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) activities to the area, to help compensate for the expected decline in foreign travel to the south.

"We don't have to push for a hard sell just now. But we can communicate sympathy to international tourists as a soft sell instead," said Mr Sethapol.

Pridi Boonsue, vice president of marketing development and support at Thai Airways International, said the national carrier was supporting the TAT's volunteer tourism concept.

The airline would offer special fares for travellers participating in the programme, he said, and would also draft other special promotions to draw visitors.

"Airlines are sharing the same problems and challenges as hotels and others in the tourism industry," Mr Pridi said.

"The livelihood of the airlines depends very much on everyone else."

Post reporters

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Should add, the obvious point was Bkk Post and other local media should have been leading a balanced report to the world instead of following the lead of the international news teams, seemingly in search of the lowest form of sensationalism.

Well, finally, here they are (just a bit late) and meanwhile thousands of local people are out of work now. Phuket hovers at less than 10% occupancy, whilst being at 90% recovered (not that you'd know this from the media).

To be balanced, the intnl media did a fantastic job spurring massive donations, yet I personally know of no unemployed locals in Phuket whom have received 'aid' for their job losses, or have even been approached about aid.

Where IS this aid??? Oh yes, Thailand doesn't need it (apparently)

A double tragedy unfolds- predictably, sadly.

[Erwin1011]

We don't need any of your assistance, we simply charge you more when you try to fly in with our famous airline and for the room.

[pedro01]

I think that an early warning system would make people feel better about coming as well as well signposted escape routes to higher ground.

The next Tsunami could be in 1 year or 1000 years - no-one knows.

I wonder how long it'll take the govt to figure that out...

[Rinrada]

This wont help their case much (with thanks The Times)

Tsunami

January 18, 2005

Thai mafia muscles in on disaster relief cash

GANGSTERS are attempting to grab aid money intended for tsunami victims in Thailand.

Construction firms involved in repairing resorts such as Patong Beach say that underworld figures are demanding protection money from them as they try to clear debris and rebuild the seafront.

Owners of hotels and bars in the resort’s red-light district tell how mafia-style gangs are forcing them to submit bogus claims to the Government for damage done by the tidal waves.

The businesses, many owned by Britons, say that the gangsters are determined to profit from the aid operation to make up for the massive drop in their profits as tourists stay away.

The exploits of the criminal gangs are so blatant that when Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai Prime Minister, walked amid the ruins of Patong Beach recently, he lectured local officials not to let the mafia extort money earmarked for the £1 billion reconstruction plan.

The last thing that Thailand’s leaders want is to face accusations that criminal gangs are profiting from the aid budget and the public’s generosity. While Mr Thaksin has refused financial aid from governments abroad, cash has poured into Thailand from charities and fundraising efforts in the West.

Ministers, who face an election next month, have used their handling of the crisis to promote an image of a successful country that does not need foreign handouts.

As he chatted to businessmen on Patong Beach, Mr Thaksin said that the reconstruction plans give police and local authorities a chance to wage war on the mafia.

In Patong, business owners applaud the sentiment, but are sceptical that it can succeed. A Mr D.has owned a bar in the bustling Bangla district for 14 months and admits to paying monthly “fees” to a gangland boss who operates from a sumptuous office at the end of an arcade full of bar girls.

“We still have to pay fees to the gang bosses, even though takings are down. They are telling us to fake claims for damage as the Government is promising virtually a blank cheque.”

Mr D, from Hertfordshire, said: “They said there will be too many damage claims for the authorities to check. Nothing is built without the crime bosses getting their cut. How can you eliminate corruption when local officials are in league with the crime bosses?” One construction firm operator said that a gangster presented him with a list of fees to pay to ensure that his earthmoving equipment avoids damage.

In other cases the mafia’s tactics have been more brutal. Some foreign guesthouse owners claim that the gangsters are attempting to force them out of business so they can acquire their beachfront land, which is to receive generous government grants for redevelopment.

W.S. said that her Swedish husband had been threatened and had put their hotel up for sale. “He went to the embassy, to the police and the town hall. They were all sympathetic, but said there is nothing they can do.”

Officials in Phuket talk of ridding Patong of its sleaze and transforming it into “the St Tropez of Asia”.

The Governor says that by March, the mafia will have been tamed.

But in Bangla’s backsteets there is no sign of a war against organised crime, let alone a victory.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,...1445406,00.html

[The_Moog]

I think you'll find that the Mafia/Crime Bosses no longer exist in Thailand pursuant to the 'Crackdown on Dark Influences' in early 2004.

...more biased reporting.

[chuchok]

I think you'll find that the Mafia/Crime Bosses no longer exist in Thailand pursuant to the 'Crackdown on Dark Influences' in early 2004.

...more biased reporting.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you really thought that the 'crackdown on dark Influences' got rid of the mafia, I think you are sadly mistaken.

i don't know how truthfull this article is though, but nothing would surprise me.