Thailand Curfew Exacerbates Tourism Woes

[webfact]

Curfew exacerbates tourism woes

By Suchat Sritama

Chanjira Jarusupawat

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Wednesday's implementation of a night-time curfew for Bangkok and many other provinces has caused tourism and entertainment activities at major destinations to plunge dramatically nationwide, to below even low-season levels.

Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association president Sarawut Sae-teo yesterday said hotel occupancy in his province had dropped to 10-20 per cent, because tourists were worried about the curfew.

"Hotel and tourism businesses in Chiang Mai don't expect to recover before year-end," he said.

Sarawut said tourism businesses in particular were seeing their custom drop below low-season levels in the North. And not only hotels are affected; the curfew has also hit entertainment and general businesses in the province, as well as night markets like the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. Thanit Chumseang, operator of the popular Good View Restaurant in Chiang Mai, said he had decided to shut down temporarily, because he could not make enough to cover expenses.

He used to take in Bt10,000 or more each night but has already lost more than Bt100,000.

Thanit wants the government to lift the curfew.

Surat Thani Deputy Governor Somsak Jungtrakul said tourist numbers were down 80 per cent from before the curfew.

However, he said the province had big plans to rebuild tourism in major destinations like Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan and national parks.

Hat Yai Tourism Association president Somchart Pimtatpuporn said the political turbulence in Bangkok had caused Singaporeans and Malaysians to cancel their trips to Thailand.

However, the association plans to contact its alliances abroad to emphasise that Hat Yai has not been affected and remains safe for vacations.

Yesterday, four more countries - Israel, Switzerland, the UK and Brazil - raised their advisories against travel to Thailand to the highest level, making 16 nations to do so.

A total of 47 countries have issued some level of warning against travel to the Kingdom.

-- The Nation 2010-05-22

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Jimi007]

No curfew in Phuket. But, I just took a motorbike ride around Rawai and Naiharn, many restaurants are closed. It's Saturday! No one is here. Even the Thai's, except for local natives or business owners, are gone. I haven't gone over to Kata and I never go to Patong, so I'm not sure if anyone is there either. It's the lowest low season I've ever seen in six years that I've been here. Way lower than when the airports were closed. Just my personal observation, no data to back it up...

Edited May 22, 2010 by Jimi007

[londonthai]

yes, the curfew imposed blank on the whole of bangkok , surrounding provinces and in the north and north east was in excess and undermines news that the situation is under control. To many it reminds of the marshall law.

such measures should be introduced by the regional authorities, depending on the situation, instead of the central government trying to scare off local people, but at the same time tourists and visitors from abroad.

strange, that surat and hat yai are affected, because they are in the south and nothing was happening there

Edited May 22, 2010 by londonthai

[gotlost]

I have no idea why this should be a surprise.

[Gonzo the Face]

Let me express my personal opinion.

This article is either complete BS or the way it is written is BS.

To say tourism is down, I would say is correct.

To say it is down by such quoted percentages due to the curfew, is pure BS.. The curfew has only been en effect for 3 days!

Tourism is down in Thailand, as it is in most of the world. It is down somewhat more or in a greater percentage in Thailand due in some part to the Redshirt Rally and Political Protest, which led to the curfew.

For someone to state that they usually bring in 10,000 baht per night and are behind 100,000 baht would indicate to me that if they were behind [ lost 100,000 baht ] that would indicate that they did not bring in a single baht in 10 days. The curfew has been on for only 3 days, 2 if you allow some time for this article to be put together..... The figures sound dramatic , but show no proof ,to me to have been caused by the curfew.....

Any losses were not caused by the curfew, rather they were caused by being either closed or closed for about 5 hrs per night for 3 nights..... That I would agree with, which you can say is curfew.

To say tourism is down because of a curfew that has been in place for 3 days, I say is wrong in its statement...... Your drop in business was caused not by tourists , in a matter of 3 days, deciding not to come to Thailand for their holiday, and made a decision to go elsewhere...but by being closed because of the curfew.

It would be impossible to correctly pin any percentage of drop in tourism within 3 days...... it tends to make me wonder what slant the writer is trying to spoon feed me.

[ThailandTommy]

Thanit Chumseang, operator of the popular Good View Restaurant in Chiang Mai, said he had decided to shut down temporarily, because he could not make enough to cover expenses.

He used to take in Bt10,000 or more each night but has already lost more than Bt100,000.

Or could it be that in the low season he simply has no holiday trade? Residents are aware of the over priced poor food served there............wait a few months and you will get back the holiday makers who do not know any better.......

The curfew has been in place 4 nights, 4 X 10,000THB = 40,000THB the 60,000THB loss is because of the reason above.

[UberBraun]

At this point the curfew has had minimal effect on tourism.  What has had a very big impact on tourism is that for the past two months the reds have shut down the center of Bangkok.  Almost every day there were RGP attacks or bombs of some kind going off around the city.

Plus, perhaps even mainly, 47 countries have issued travel advisories to avoid Thailand.

The curfew itself has had minimal impact on tourism.  I suspect the burning of Bangkok by the reds will have a far greater impact than the curfew.  Remember those images went out to the world and made headline/frontpage news.  Would YOU take a holiday to a city in flames?

Blame the reds for the fall in tourism, not the curfew.

[clown]

The extended curfew to Sunday is a joke, IMO.

[boarbaboon]

 

Yesterday, four more countries - Israel, Switzerland, the UK and Brazil - raised their advisories against travel to Thailand to the highest level, making 16 nations to do so.

I'm confused! on the UK embassy website it changed to, on the 19th May not 21st

19 May 2010

We advise against all travel to the city of Bangkok.

The Foreign Office is now advising against all travel to the city of Bangkok in view of the highly uncertain security situation and the currently unpredictable violence across the Thai capital. We judge that the risk to the safety of British nationals has increased and have amended our travel advice accordingly.

There have been violent incidents in a number of locations across Bangkok today. A curfew has been imposed in Bangkok and in 23 other provinces. British nationals already in Bangkok should stay indoors and monitor FCO Travel Advice and the media. The advice against all travel to Bangkok does not apply to travellers transiting the airport en route to other destinations, either internationally or within Thailand.

We have also decided to advise against all but essential travel to Chiang Mai due to the worsening security situation there.

on the 19th, dont see anything

There doesnt seem to be anything against travel to the whole of thailand?

[ScubaBuddha]

Talking to a manager friend at Hilton Phuket today he said they are at 40%, average for this time of year.

[kissrev1]

I don't pretend to know what effect the curfew has had on tourism. My sense is that it hasn't been much. However, IMO this curfew is way over the top and should have been lifted yesterday. I'm running out of movies to watch. Yes, I know the argument that they are doing it to protect people, but Bangkok right now is infinitely safer than the city I am from in the US on a Saturday night. That city is St. Louis, Missouri, and if you want to see murder and crime rates, look that place up. I guess my friends back home are lucky that this government is not in charge of their city. There would be an eternal curfew.

[cmdream]

At this point the curfew has had minimal effect on tourism. What has had a very big impact on tourism is that for the past two months the reds have shut down the center of Bangkok. Almost every day there were RGP attacks or bombs of some kind going off around the city.

Plus, perhaps even mainly, 47 countries have issued travel advisories to avoid Thailand.

The curfew itself has had minimal impact on tourism. I suspect the burning of Bangkok by the reds will have a far greater impact than the curfew. Remember those images went out to the world and made headline/frontpage news. Would YOU take a holiday to a city in flames?

Blame the reds for the fall in tourism, not the curfew.

UberBraun you are on target with the facts. IMO the curfew saved Chiang Mai and many other towns from the firestorm that took Bangkok by surprise. With the curfew and the SOE the army was able to control things in Chiang Mai. We saw a few stupid acts of violence that were quickly quelled by the government security. Bless them. I feel we can stay home a few nights to let them do their job of protecting the city and us. I wish peace and harmony to our friends the Thai people.

[jayjayjayjay]

The curfew is moronically stupid. About as moronically as Thai politicians.

[toptuan]

The extended curfew to Sunday is a joke, IMO.

I think they at least want the ashes to cool down before announcing everything back to normal. Hang on, those cold Chang will still be waiting for you down at the local watering hole!

[toptuan]

Talking to a manager friend at Hilton Phuket today he said they are at 40%, average for this time of year.

So can we expect some cut-rate discounts in the affected tourist spots? No-o-o-o-o-o!

As we know from recent history, prices will go up...to compensate for the lost revenues.

[deepskyfreak]

Talking to a manager friend at Hilton Phuket today he said they are at 40%, average for this time of year.

So can we expect some cut-rate discounts in the affected tourist spots? No-o-o-o-o-o!

As we know from recent history, prices will go up...to compensate for the lost revenues.

Actually, many foreign travel agents cash in on the crisis. They successfully pressure the Thai hotels to slash rates but fail to pass the better price on to their foreign customers...

I do know that as a tourism expert....

[eggomaniac]

Hat Yai Tourism Association president Somchart Pimtatpuporn said the political turbulence in Bangkok had caused Singaporeans and Malaysians to cancel their trips to Thailand.

However, the association plans to contact its alliances abroad to emphasise that Hat Yai has not been affected and remains safe for vacations.

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

This is a joke, right?

[ScubaBuddha]

Talking to a manager friend at Hilton Phuket today he said they are at 40%, average for this time of year.

So can we expect some cut-rate discounts in the affected tourist spots? No-o-o-o-o-o!

As we know from recent history, prices will go up...to compensate for the lost revenues.

I think maybe the way I wrote that wasn't clear. The "," after 40% meant that they are at 40% capacity which is average for this time of year, not at 40% of average for this time of year.

Sorry!

[londonthai]

they are at 40% capacity which is average for this time of year,

so no curfew or even crisis, after all

[ScubaBuddha]

they are at 40% capacity which is average for this time of year,

so no curfew or even crisis, after all

No curfew in Phuket, but I'm not saying there's no crisis, just that I was surprised. I probably should have put: "Interestingly..." in the front of it.

[clown]

The extended curfew to Sunday is a joke, IMO.

I think they at least want the ashes to cool down before announcing everything back to normal. Hang on, those cold Chang will still be waiting for you down at the local watering hole!

I don't hang out in bars and I don't drink beer. Other than that, very wise words indeed.

[bangkokburning]

Does anyone wish to wager that in January 2011, TAT will announce that tourism was up YOY.

Not called Lieland for nuttin'

[BarryM]

Flew MH from Kl to Phuket on Thursday. Only 30-35 passengers on a 737.

Bars in Phuket are quiet tonight. Tuk tuk still wanted 200b to go across town, but freelance taxi in a Corrolla accepted offer of 100b.

Hotel in Patong offered 20% discount on F and B without a quibble, as well as 20%+ off their best internet rate. Free internet/wifi too. They even stuck a bottle of Chilean Merlot and some nibbles in the room.

Having said all that, I was in Bali a couple of weeks ago and despite the "deals" in Phuket, Bali offered better food, better taxis, more competent service, less litter, friendlier/ more welcoming people and overall better value. I was in two minds whether to come to Phuket or just head to Bali from KL, and I know what I'll choose next time!

[roamer]

The curfew is moronically stupid. About as moronically as Thai politicians.

Your so wrong,, not even a single cell amoeba deserves to be compared to a Thai politician. Nice country, shame about the a**holes who run it.

[cyberia]

The other night on TAN the hostess was complaining about the international news media giving unfair coverage of the events in Thailand.

There was a guest on the program, some thai "political analyst" who stutters thru his long tirades.

the hostess asks " Why do you think the inter media is not fair to us? I think they don't understand Thai ( she meant Thailand not the language)very well"

the guy answers, " Yes, because they( the media) don't understand thai and also, how c-a-n I call it, they are not professional. they must do better job to understand thai".

TAN has some kinda commercial they run every day, one part of it goes like " Blah Blah blah...because everyone deserves his own opinion"

farang rak thai, thai rak thai.

[kristophon]

The extended curfew to Sunday is a joke, IMO.

I think they at least want the ashes to cool down before announcing everything back to normal. Hang on, those cold Chang will still be waiting for you down at the local watering hole!

I don't hang out in bars and I don't drink beer. Other than that, very wise words indeed.

why would anyone admit to being that boring...

[Colabamumbai]

Last night at a restaurant near Sukumvit the patrons were told at 7p.m. the place was closed and we had to leave. They did not advise us at 6.pm. when they served us dinner and drinks. At 7p.m. I went to the washroom, there was a small sign outside the washroom advising customers that during the curfew the restaurant would close at 7 p.m. They tried to refuse to allow us to purchase a beer at the store across the road. and drink it on their patio chairs. I told them with this attitude that their patrons would not return.

[ChiangMaiFun]

Last night at a restaurant near Sukumvit the patrons were told at 7p.m. the place was closed and we had to leave. They did not advise us at 6.pm. when they served us dinner and drinks. At 7p.m. I went to the washroom, there was a small sign outside the washroom advising customers that during the curfew the restaurant would close at 7 p.m. They tried to refuse to allow us to purchase a beer at the store across the road. and drink it on their patio chairs. I told them with this attitude that their patrons would not return.

This is typical Thai behaviour - I was at a bar last night with fri4ends and drinking cocktails - one was made badly and I sent it back but contnued to drink others - bill came and BINGO the bright young Thai's charged me for the drink - your fault you not drink they say - so - no tip and I let them know I will NEVER go back - how dumb? but typical...

[martijn12345]

This is indeed an incorrect article. Tourist haven't fled Thailand that much and so quickly just because of the curfew. The whole situation is to blame, and now tourism really starts to feel it. People who were here already stayed as planned, but new people didn't arrive... So business is going down day after day. So it's normal that it takes some time before businesses really start to feel the pain, makes sense that time has come after more then a month of serious problems. Doesn't mean figures mentioned are incorrect tho, just the way they are presented.

Goodview probably has 10.000 baht running costs per day. And over the past few weeks lost over 100.000 baht due to this situation (not the curfew) but because the previously mentioned stuff, now they closed cause they are not meeting their minimal income on a daily basis, this is due to the whole situation and not only the curfew.

I would believe the story if a place was a real nightlife place, prolly not much business in the places that normally get going after 12pm. But ppl still need to eat and still go out for dinner.

[NALAK]

the curfew did not survive to long in Pattaya, Friday every thing was open all night. Farang gog go bars opened daytime and closed at 8 Pm just as the Thai go go bars were all epmtying. Thais obviously knew some thing the farangs did not.