Thai Hotels Association Seeks Help For Small And Hardhit Members

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Hotels association seeks help for small and hardhit small members

By Suchat Sritama

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Hotels Association (THA) will ask the government for Bt5 billion to help operators affected by the current political problem.

At the same time, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is planning three events to reclaim business travellers from Europe.

Prakit Chinamourphong, president of the THA, said the Bt5 billion would go to small and mediumsized operators with registered capital below Bt200 million.

He said many operators in Bangkok and also in key tourist destinations were hit by the current political situation. Since antigovernment protesters appeared in Bangkok's Rajprasong in early April, tourism business in the area has been hit hard.

At least six hotels in the area closed their doors while more than a thousand shops closed.

The association will soon meet with its members and ask them to join the assistance scheme.

Within the next week, the TCEB will introduce Thailand Maximise Package with additional offers called Thailand Extra Value in European markets to reclaim business travellers into Thailand.

The bureau will bring 30 Thai operators to join business trade shows in London and Geneva from May 1925. The group will then participate in the Imex event in Frankfurt.

Charoen Wangananon, vice chairman for tourism and sport at the Thai Chamber of Commerce, yesterday urged the government to improve and rebuild tourism attractions during this low season.

He also asked the government to build rapid trains to link Bangkok to Nong Khai province in the Northeast and Phuket Island in the South in order to serve tourists. Human resource development is also needed, he said.

"If the government could add some big infrastructure projects and improve our products, the country should claim 15 million visitors per year and increase revenue up to Bt1.5 trillion per year," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-05-14

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[jayjay0]

And how much for the poor Thai with his roadside food stall. How much money into the pocket of the employees who could not work and enjoy wages.

The government will probably give it to them after all business is what they are all about.

[alex_aka_P]

The government will probably give it to them after all business is what they are all about.

Government? Is that the government who is ruined the travel business?

Why dont you ask your "who will give them!!" question from the nearest red amigo's better??

[givenall]

And how much for the poor Thai with his roadside food stall. How much money into the pocket of the employees who could not work and enjoy wages.

The government will probably give it to them after all business is what they are all about.

I think everyone who is not part of idiot Red Shirt and/or did not participate in this fiasco should be helped

[Toany]

I think people with small members can srtill enjoy themselves

[rfukata]

"If the government could add some big infrastructure projects and improve our people by means of education, reform the current government the country COULD re-claim 15 million visitors per year and increase revenue up to Bt1.5 trillion per year," he said.

why only the European market? what about the other markets? also what measures are in place if the Euro depreciates further and fails to attract the visitors? rebuilding attractions isn't the answer.

[x5david]

This money should come from the confiscated Thaksin loot. The idea about the rapid train line to the north and south, not good. It just adds another target for the next riot group to hijack and cut-off but with a high-speed rail would end up endangering many passengers.

[imafaranggetmeoutofhere]

This money should come from the confiscated Thaksin loot. The idea about the rapid train line to the north and south, not good. It just adds another target for the next riot group to hijack and cut-off but with a high-speed rail would end up endangering many passengers.

Why the hel_l should they to pay the loans back this is so unfair for everybody in Travel they have sufferd for along time from when the yellow closed the airport down i have many friends here in Pattaya who run travel shop suffering very bad also there business are down to something like 70% to what it was