Flu & Tourism

[Rooo]

"The outbreak of type-A (H1N1) influenza is threatening international travel and affecting THAI's business directly."

Other airlines have also seen passenger numbers decline. Bangkok Airways, the major operator of Bangkok-Koh Samui flights, has reported low bookings on that route even with the high season starting next month. It has lowered its passenger forecast this year to 2.6 million, due to the pandemic. Last year, it flew 2.5 million and had expected to serve 2.8 million this year.

"We're not sure whether we'll show a profit this year. That all depends on second-half operations," said ML Nandhika Varavarn, vice president for corporate communications.

In the first 15 days of this month, passenger numbers were down 18.5 per cent year on year, lowering the average load factor to 70 per cent. Foreign tourists, who make up 80-85 per cent of Bangkok Airways passengers, contributed to the drop.

The Nation

[LaoPo]

"The outbreak of type-A (H1N1) influenza is threatening international travel and affecting THAI's business directly."

Other airlines have also seen passenger numbers decline. Bangkok Airways, the major operator of Bangkok-Koh Samui flights, has reported low bookings on that route even with the high season starting next month. It has lowered its passenger forecast this year to 2.6 million, due to the pandemic. Last year, it flew 2.5 million and had expected to serve 2.8 million this year.

"We're not sure whether we'll show a profit this year. That all depends on second-half operations," said ML Nandhika Varavarn, vice president for corporate communications.

In the first 15 days of this month, passenger numbers were down 18.5 per cent year on year, lowering the average load factor to 70 per cent. Foreign tourists, who make up 80-85 per cent of Bangkok Airways passengers, contributed to the drop.

The Nation

Listen, I don't believe a word of what they're saying.

It's not due to the flu; rubbish. There is not a single article in the European newspapers that confirm that people stay home BECAUSE of the A (H1N1) Flu, and therefore would NOT fly to Thailand or other Asian countries. It's purely misleading and rubbish talk by those people.

European roads and highways are filled and blocked by millions and millions of cars, going on holiday, which is quite normal in July and August.

If people would be scared of the Flu they wouldn't travel at all, whether by plane, car, boat or train.

On Tuesday, 14th July it was Quatorze Juillet or Bastille Day in France; at the same time The Tour de France is riding through the hills in the country and 30, 40, 50 million French people are celebrating this special day and having a good time and party.

That long distance holidays are down and declining because of the economical situation is nothing new, but it's not due to the A (H1N1) Flu.

But.....Thailand's "travel specialists" know better and tell their Thai audience it's the Pandemic A (H1N1) Flu that's keeping the tourists away.

Yeah, right

Why on earth don't they tell the truth ?

LaoPo

[JohnBKKK]

I believe one can expect one of the worse seasons ever this year. It's not just one thing, but a number of factors that deter tourists from coming here

1) Political instability

2) World wide economic downturn

3) The flu

4) Media coverage of crimes against Tourists in Thailand

5) The strong baht and high prices

6) Incredibly cheap offers from European countries like Spain and Turkey

The reason why the flu is a major factor is simply that traveling by air for many hours increases the risk of catching it. Sitting in an airplane with its virtually closed environment makes it much more likely to catch an air borne virus if only one of the passengers suffers from the illness.

It's been a downward spiral since last year’s coup and following political unrest which still continues. Add to that worldwide recession and now the flu ...... it would be more than optimistic to look for a decent season this year.

This year’s unrests in April have basically stopped all bookings of events here in Bangkok which the organizers had to cancel last year after the state of emergency was declared and insurance companies refused cover.

As far as pricing is concerned, Malaysia which runs a lot of promotional programs is substantially cheaper than Thailand and has better resorts and beaches since Phuket has been turned into a concrete Island with tuk tuk drivers ripping off tourists, a fact that has even been mentioned by the international media.

I have never understood why there is no government run shuttle bus service on the island, taking tourists on a round trip during which they can get off at the beach of their choice Is the local mafia stronger than the government ?

[ham]

"The outbreak of type-A (H1N1) influenza is threatening international travel and affecting THAI's business directly."

Other airlines have also seen passenger numbers decline. Bangkok Airways, the major operator of Bangkok-Koh Samui flights, has reported low bookings on that route even with the high season starting next month. It has lowered its passenger forecast this year to 2.6 million, due to the pandemic. Last year, it flew 2.5 million and had expected to serve 2.8 million this year.

"We're not sure whether we'll show a profit this year. That all depends on second-half operations," said ML Nandhika Varavarn, vice president for corporate communications.

In the first 15 days of this month, passenger numbers were down 18.5 per cent year on year, lowering the average load factor to 70 per cent. Foreign tourists, who make up 80-85 per cent of Bangkok Airways passengers, contributed to the drop.

The Nation

Listen, I don't believe a word of what they're saying.

It's not due to the flu; rubbish. There is not a single article in the European newspapers that confirm that people stay home BECAUSE of the A (H1N1) Flu, and therefore would NOT fly to Thailand or other Asian countries. It's purely misleading and rubbish talk by those people.

European roads and highways are filled and blocked by millions and millions of cars, going on holiday, which is quite normal in July and August.

If people would be scared of the Flu they wouldn't travel at all, whether by plane, car, boat or train.

On Tuesday, 14th July it was Quatorze Juillet or Bastille Day in France; at the same time The Tour de France is riding through the hills in the country and 30, 40, 50 million French people are celebrating this special day and having a good time and party.

That long distance holidays are down and declining because of the economical situation is nothing new, but it's not due to the A (H1N1) Flu.

But.....Thailand's "travel specialists" know better and tell their Thai audience it's the Pandemic A (H1N1) Flu that's keeping the tourists away.

Yeah, right

Why on earth don't they tell the truth ?

LaoPo

a verry good tool to avoid mass rally's (such as 31.July??). Therefore fear is needed among Thais, that's what they know PEEEE

it just came to my head ;-)

[carmine]

I agree with your points. However this place could help itself if there was any interest shown in actually keeping the environment clean. As you say, Malaysia, certainly the areas i have been to is spotless. Samui is filthy. Perhaps the Thai Tourist Authority might consider investing in bins for the beaches as a starter

[samui04]

It's not due to the flu; rubbish. There is not a single article in the European newspapers that confirm that people stay home BECAUSE of the A (H1N1) Flu, and therefore would NOT fly to Thailand or other Asian countries. It's purely misleading and rubbish talk by those people.

LaoPo

It is summer, there is no flu in summer. Even idiots can understand that.

For december/january the projections are as usual 4/6 millions of people with influenza (flu), Italy only.

The type A doesn not seems worse than the last australian, but we will have no vaccine ontime.

So for now any info about flue is totally false.

In december we will see and hope for the best......

[PoorSucker]

One more of the "swine flu threads.

Already had it....

Edited July 16, 2009 by PoorSucker

[smokie36]

One more of the "swine flu threads.

Already had it....

Same here

No one in the UK is remotely concerned , I just don't believe any of this nonsense. It's just flu !

Is it any worse than dengue fever for the average tourist to worry about?

Real reasons for not coming to samui are the ridiculous prices of flights, expensive booze and food, poor exchange rates, and cheap alternative destinations...south america seems to be fairly popular with the younger crowd, might explain why lamai is so quiet.

Regarding July/August, I usually spend at least 2 weeks is Samui aroud now but the weather in the UK is pretty good this year. Why bother?

Making a mountain out of it all really.

[MSingh]

One more of the "swine flu threads.

Already had it....

Same here

No one in the UK is remotely concerned , I just don't believe any of this nonsense. It's just flu !

Is it any worse than dengue fever for the average tourist to worry about?

Real reasons for not coming to samui are the ridiculous prices of flights, expensive booze and food, poor exchange rates, and cheap alternative destinations...south america seems to be fairly popular with the younger crowd, might explain why lamai is so quiet.

Regarding July/August, I usually spend at least 2 weeks is Samui aroud now but the weather in the UK is pretty good this year. Why bother?

Making a mountain out of it all really.

Of course, but we're in a Country full of Hypercondraicts ( sp ?? )...