Severe floods in South estimated to inflict Bt3-4 billion of damage on tourism

BANGKOK, April 2 – Severe floods devastating many areas in the southern region are estimated to have inflicted around Bt3-4 billion of damage on the country’s tourism, according to Deputy Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Thanitta Savetsila Maneechote.

Speaking after a meeting with representatives of state and private agencies in the tourism industry, she said 80-90 per cent of local tourists postponed or cancelled their bookings for accommodations at tourist sites in the South in the wake of major flooding in the region.

The situation might drag on through the Songkran (Thai New Year) festival, depending on weather conditions in the South.

She said no foreign tourists have cancelled their trip to tourist destinations in the region. However, it must closely monitor how weather conditions develop because it could have an adverse impact on booking by new foreign arrivals.

The number of foreign tourists cancelling their trips to the South is fewer than local tourists because Phuket, which is the main tourist magnet in the region, has been experiencing rain but it has not been affected the flooding.

“Nakhon Si Thammarat, which took the heaviest toll of inundation, is not a main tourist market in the South. The situation in the flood-hit Ko Samui Island located in Surat Thani, which is another main tourist destination in the region, has begun to ease,” she said.

At present, she conceded, around 50 per cent of tourists continued to stay on in many tourist sites in the South. No new ones are found to be arriving to the region, she added

-- TNA 2011-04-02

From this report...

"... Speaking after a meeting with representatives of state and private agencies in the tourism industry, she said 80-90 per cent of local tourists postponed or cancelled their bookings for accommodations at tourist sites in the South in the wake of major flooding in the region."

From the Suvarnabhumi report

"... The expected number of passengers this year would represent a 35.5 per cent increase from the same period in 2010, Ms Wilaiwan said."

... During Songkran. Seems AOT and TAT have no idea what each other are doing. Apart from that it is also fairly insensitive when all the reports are focusing on lost revenues rather than assistance to people in the South. Fine to report the natural damages, but what is being done to assist - dam_n the tourists! Who cares?

So no chance of any aid then?. What about the bigger tragedy. Human lives, homes and Infrastructure. That is going to cost much more.

jb1