Phuket not immune to red damage

PHUKET: -- The toxicity for tourism of the Bangkok protests, initially characterized in some quarters of the Phuket hospitality industry as being for Bangkok only – or certainly for Bangkok mainly – has now come home to roost.

The cost to Thai tourism nationally since the red shirt protests began is now estimated at 233 million dollars (7.7 billion baht) in lost revenues from visitors.

While no regional or provincial breakdowns of the number are available, it is clear that Phuket is suffering increasing prominence on the victim list.

In March, 1.34 million foreign visitors arrived at the nation's international airports – in Phuket, Bangkok, Hat Yai and Chiang Mai – down 4.6 per cent on March 2008, according to data compiled by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

But in April, after tourism in Bangkok had not much left to lose, arrivals into the Kingdom dove 21 per cent compared with the 2008 figure for that month.

Revenues from tourism expenditure fell by 7.5 billion baht during March and April, compared with those months in 2008, the TAT estimated.

TAT governor Surapol Svetasreni said the downturn now forces the agency to lower its target for 15.5 million tourists this year. A new estimate will be announced after the end of the protests, he says.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-05-02

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Definitely becoming more noticeable on lack of tourist.

Definitely becoming more noticeable on lack of tourist

do u have any other good news ?

Why are they comparing this year to 2008 & not including the figures from last year?

item--5 on VDO at http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...hp?news_id=1326 &

Chair of Senate Standing Committee on Tourism backs the Prime Minister’s road map for national reconciliation.

Chair of the Senate's Standing Committee on Tourism, Mrs. Thanyarat Atchariyachai, expressed her support to the Prime Minister’s five-point reconciliation roadmap, saying that the plan is beneficial to all parties. She stressed that it may be a way to put an end to the violence without more bloodshed, but equally important is to restore the country’s image, especially in the eyes of foreign investors and tourists. Mrs. Thanyarat, who also runs five star hotels in Phuket and Samui, stated that the quicker the political climate resume to normal, the quicker confidence will be restored among tourists to Thailand. She went on to say that she was contacted by Chinese travel agents who cancelled in April, saying that they are now prepared to reintroduce direct flights to Phuket.

weekly Andaman News NBT TV (VHF dial) at 8.30am & repeated on satellite C Band (usually net black) frequency 4134 Mhz at symbolate 2530 at 1pm & usually repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 3.30pm, 7pm, 1.30am & 6.30am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & repeated on FM108 Mazz Radio in Phuket; Friday 7th May 2010 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ & www.YouTube.com/AndamanNews