Swine Flu: Thailand Facing Further Downturns In Tourism

[george]

Swine Flu: Phuket facing further downturns in tourism

BANGKOK / PHUKET: -- A Bangkok school will today be partially closed for three days after an 11-year-old boy came down with type-A (H1N1) influenza in what is the second known case of local infection in Thailand. Thirteen of his classmates have also developed a fever.

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi said the Bangkok student, whose name was withheld, had no record of traveling abroad.

Dr Passakorn Akarasewee, director of the Disease Control Department's Bureau of Epidemiology, said the 11-year-old boy was the second case of domestic infection.

The first transmission of the new flu within Thailand occurred when a 19-year-old boy caught the virus from his mother after she returned from the US.

A Hong Kong man on holiday in Phuket from last Thursday until Monday was also reported, in the Phuket Gazette Online yesterday, as having fallen sick with the virus upon returning home.

"The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in Thailand is now expected to rise daily," Dr Prat Boonyawongewirot, permanent secretary for the Public Health Ministry, said yesterday.

In the tourist city of Pattaya, authorities were asked to help control the spread of the new flu after two Taiwanese visitors were suspected of having contracted the virus while staying there.

Deputy Pattaya mayor Veerawat Khakhay said some Taiwanese tour companies are planning to cancel their programs to Thailand as a result of the latest news, adding that over 1,000 foreign visitors are due to attend an international conference in Pattaya shortly.

Thailand has to boost the confidence of tourists or their numbers will drop further,he said.

As of yesterday, the number of patients infected by type-A inluenza in Thailand had risen to 16, excluding suspected cases of foreign visitors who are no longer in the country.

-- Phuket Gazette and The Nation 2009-06-11

[george]

Lab test results of 13 students to be known Thursday

BANGKOK: -- The lab test of 13 students placed under quarantine will be released Thursday afternoon after a schoolboy tested positive to Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

The H1N1 flu alert in the school came to attention Wednesday when a boy from a private school in Dusit district was found infected with the A/H1N1 flu. Three classrooms were ordered to close from Wednesday through Saturday (June 10-13) for cleaning and disinfecting to prevent the spread of the virus.

Students came to school Thursday wearing sanitary masks. Some parents kept their children home, particularly those of younger ages. Department of Health officials advised teachers and students to protect themselves and handed out pamphlets, sanitary masks and hand wash gel.

The Ministry of Public Health has not ordered the school to close as there was no report of further infections, according to Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbhodi.

However, he said the ministry is expected to meet with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and schools in Bangkok to take further action and to boost preventive measures against the H1N1 virus after the lab results are disclosed Thursday.

Secretary-General Bundit Sriputtangul of the Private Education Commission visited the school Thursday morning. He said if there are new infections after the lab test results Thursday, the school is authorised to close immediately.

-- TNA 2009-06-11

[Thailand]

I heard today that a newish upmarket hotel in Chiang Mai had an occupancy rate of less than 10%.

Even with special rates the golf courses are almost empty.

This year is going to be the predicted disaster for Thai tourism which no doubt will run in to next year, and- who knows!

[EnhancePlus]

I heard today that a newish upmarket hotel in Chiang Mai had an occupancy rate of less than 10%.

Even with special rates the golf courses are almost empty.

This year is going to be the predicted disaster for Thai tourism which no doubt will run in to next year, and- who knows!

I think this a job for the Tourist Police. They'll fix everything

[TAWP]

Great...so normally one gives people the evil eye for coughing in a van (15 ppl in a small space = perfect), now one have to bring a portable flamethrower and make sure one burns the van if anyone coughs?

[yasex]

Swine Flu: Phuket facing further downturns in tourism

BANGKOK / PHUKET: -- A Bangkok school will today be partially closed for three days after an 11-year-old boy came down with type-A (H1N1) influenza in what is the second known case of local infection in Thailand. Thirteen of his classmates have also developed a fever.

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi said the Bangkok student, whose name was withheld, had no record of traveling abroad.

Dr Passakorn Akarasewee, director of the Disease Control Department's Bureau of Epidemiology, said the 11-year-old boy was the second case of domestic infection.

The first transmission of the new flu within Thailand occurred when a 19-year-old boy caught the virus from his mother after she returned from the US.

A Hong Kong man on holiday in Phuket from last Thursday until Monday was also reported, in the Phuket Gazette Online yesterday, as having fallen sick with the virus upon returning home.

"The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in Thailand is now expected to rise daily," Dr Prat Boonyawongewirot, permanent secretary for the Public Health Ministry, said yesterday.

In the tourist city of Pattaya, authorities were asked to help control the spread of the new flu after two Taiwanese visitors were suspected of having contracted the virus while staying there.

Deputy Pattaya mayor Veerawat Khakhay said some Taiwanese tour companies are planning to cancel their programs to Thailand as a result of the latest news, adding that over 1,000 foreign visitors are due to attend an international conference in Pattaya shortly.

Thailand has to boost the confidence of tourists or their numbers will drop further,he said.

As of yesterday, the number of patients infected by type-A inluenza in Thailand had risen to 16, excluding suspected cases of foreign visitors who are no longer in the country.

-- Phuket Gazette and The Nation 2009-06-11

wanna boost confidence in tourists coming to Pattaya? below my suggestions :

1) no more bar fines allowed

2) all day happy hour

3) no more curfews

4) singha at 20 baht

5) each 90 days of stay get other 90 days free-no more visa runs!

6) Tamiflu-dispensing machines at the airports and bus stations-stop with the condoms!

[yasex]

I heard today that a newish upmarket hotel in Chiang Mai had an occupancy rate of less than 10%.

Even with special rates the golf courses are almost empty.

This year is going to be the predicted disaster for Thai tourism which no doubt will run in to next year, and- who knows!

Omigosh!!!! terrible news!

cheers from Cambodia

[Carib]

How many topics will have about this flu thing? Or is this flu different for tourism in Chiang mai/Bkk/ Pattaya?? Or is the flu type different in these places?

Edited June 13, 2009 by Carib

[jielus]

I just came back from Japan.

The TAT should stop blaming everything else but start looking into the greed and the pricing of the Thai.

I did Japan on 50 euro a day (without the train/bus/airfare), so put 2350 baht in your pocket and try to survive in tourist places! (Not in a forgotten place in the Isaan)

It's impossible!

A fine meal, four dishes, and five large beers: 3300 Yen (1100 Baht)

500 ml beer: 240 Yen (80 Baht)

Charge at an ATM: 210 Yen (70 Baht)

Quality, cleanness and friendliness: Japan 000 Yen (500 Baht)

This is about the prices in Japan!

Next time I will do Malaysia and Singapore which are now about 10-20% cheaper than Thailand. That could be the reason that Malaysia predicts a 12% growth in tourism.

Thanks for your time.

jielus.blogspot.com