Tourist Confusion Rampant, Say Thai Hoteliers

[george]

Wrong message being sent abroad

Tourist confusion rampant, say hoteliers

BANGKOK: -- The government needs to do a better job of communicating to protect the country's tourism image, as reports of current flooding in foreign media are creating confusion abroad, say executives of Centara Hotels & Resorts.

Many international tourists misunderstand current conditions in Bangkok because of frequent media reports saying Bangkok's airport is flooded.

They are not aware that the flooding affects only Don Mueang and not Suvarnabhumi, prompting Asian tourists shift to other countries and European tourists to postpone trips to unaffected areas including Phuket, Samui, Krabi and Chiang Mai.

"We're disappointed with international news footage. Some reports are not true at all," said Chris Bailey, senior vice-president for sales and marketing of Centara Hotels & Resorts.

"The problem is ineffective communications by the government, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. They always said the flooding problem won't affect tourism."

Updating the situation on websites is not enough, he said. Authorities need to start proactive communication right now before tourism operators lose another high season, he added.

Suthikiati Chirathivat, chairman of Central Plaza Hotel Plc (Centel), said the tourism sector had faced negative conditions time and again, most recently the airport seizures by protesters in late 2008 and the escalating red-shirt unrest of 2009-10.

Centel had been hoping to see tourism clearly rebound in this high season but the floods are causing those hopes to fade, he said.

Mr Bailey said that that if people search for "Thailand flooding" online, they will see mostly negative news in international media.

"You don't see explanations of the situation by the TAT or the tourism ministry. If you want to check on updates on some overseas websites of the TAT, you will see it at the bottom of the web page and have to click three times to reach the information."

"Where is the minister of Tourism and Sports? We haven't seen him to working or helping tourism," added Centara president Gerd Steeb.

The chain says it has lost 70 million baht from guest cancellations and event postponements at the Centara Grand Hotel & Resort at CentralWorld since the beginning of October.

Around 16,000 room nights at the group's properties have been cancelled, including 5,000 from Asian travellers, with 35% of the total at its hotels outside Bangkok. Forward bookings for the December-February period have dropped by 30% from expected high-season levels.

What is happening with Centara reflects the overall tourism sector because the group has hotels nationwide, said Mr Bailey. Normally, revenues generated in the first quarter are around 40% of Centara's total for the year.

Although the current average occupancy rate is quite high in Bangkok now, it reflects bookings from Bangkok residents who have fled flood-threatened homes.

"The problem is what will happen after the floods recede. Many hotels should lower room rates or offer special deals to attract clients," said Mr Bailey.

-- Bangkok Post 2011-11-03

[Logarhythm]

They are absolutely right. The Australia Network was flashing across the bottom of their screen all day on Sunday, "Flood waters reach the centre of Bangkok". While the inner city may not be the geographical centre of Bangkok, most foreigners would think that it was indeed Silom and Sukumvit that were flooding. The BBC has regularly referred to Don Muang as being Bangkok's main airport. They don't even bother to use the name Don Muang to avoid any confusion.

Edited November 3, 2011 by Logarhythm

[slipperx]

Mr Bailey said that that if people search for "Thailand flooding" online, they will see mostly negative news in international media.

So what is positive about the flooding I wonder. What does he expect?

[trogers]

Mr Bailey said that that if people search for "Thailand flooding" online, they will see mostly negative news in international media.

So what is positive about the flooding I wonder. What does he expect?

There are always the higher tourist attractions with extended routes of rice barges, dinner cruises, and city tours on boats for consideration.

[Payboy]

Mr Bailey said that that if people search for "Thailand flooding" online, they will see mostly negative news in international media.

So what is positive about the flooding I wonder. What does he expect?

Where's an honest cabbie story when you need one?

[phetaroi]

Hold on guys.

Why is it logical for any tourist to come to Bangkok when floods even might invade the inner city? There might be a better time to be a tourist in Thailand in the not too distant future.

Edited November 3, 2011 by phetaroi

[Logarhythm]

Hold on guys.

Why is it logical for any tourist to come to Bangkok when floods even might invade the inner city? There might be a better time to be a tourist in Thailand in the not too distant future.

Agreed, but news organisations still have some sort of obligation to report the facts, even it it rarely happens.

[DocN]

Why should the tourists be better of than the citizens?

We all have no clue, what is really going on, so....

[jonclark]

Lets be honest here.

If you were planning and had saved all year for your 'two weeks in the sun' would you honestly risk all that saving going to a foreign country remotely linked to any type of natural disaster.

Or

Would you say 'nope' lets go somewhere else and come here when the disaster is over - perhaps next year.

Hoteliers need to look at this form the tourists perspective.

[LuckyLew]

Hold on guys.

Why is it logical for any tourist to come to Bangkok when floods even might invade the inner city? There might be a better time to be a tourist in Thailand in the not too distant future.

Agreed, but news organisations still have some sort of obligation to report the facts, even it it rarely happens.

news organizations are probably not being told the truth

Gov't is doing a lousy job in communicating the real facts

All I hear about the flooded out factories and how they will help them

I hear nothing about the people who are losing everything, possessions homes cars ....

Gov't s trying to protect Thailands business image and does not give two hoots about

the general population

Media are left to guess what is going on

[Bpuumike]

Why should the tourists be better of than the citizens?

We all have no clue, what is really going on, so....

+1

[PGTHAI]

Why should the tourists be better of than the citizens?

We all have no clue, what is really going on, so....

+1

Lets be honest here.

If you were planning and had saved all year for your 'two weeks in the sun' would you honestly risk all that saving going to a foreign country remotely linked to any type of natural disaster.

Or

Would you say 'nope' lets go somewhere else and come here when the disaster is over - perhaps next year.

Hoteliers need to look at this form the tourists perspective.

+1

[evanson]

Mr Bailey said that that if people search for "Thailand flooding" online, they will see mostly negative news in international media.

So what is positive about the flooding I wonder. What does he expect?

The 'International Media' read mainstream propagandist a*holes 'report', read focus on/exaggerate only the bad bits in order to flog their crappy newspapers (remember the BBC's reports on the red/yellow debacle? They showed the Philippino electorate donned in THEIR red and yellow party shirts purporting them to be Thai! Dckheads). And who can forget the entire island of Phuket being under water during the tsunami?

Bad news sells. Get your info from Wikileaks, thepeoplesvoicedotorg, or any other news outlet from the plethora on the web to get the truth.

[stickyrice2000]

As much as I know about the flood situations and where it affects, I would not visit Thailand at this time. This is from a tourist's perspective.

Edited November 3, 2011 by stickyrice2000

[BinDhumm]

Mr Bailey said that that if people search for "Thailand flooding" online, they will see mostly negative news in international media.

So what is positive about the flooding I wonder. What does he expect?

Hmmmm....WHAT FLOODING?! Would be what they want. Thai style.

[smedly]

It doesn't matter what is being said in the media or from the government, there have been so many conflicting stories that nobody actually trusts any of it, if they say swampy isn't flooded the only sure way is to go and look, if they say it won't be flooded - well that's another story

Why would anyone take the risk...............I fly tomorrow and I really don't know what to expect, will my plane be turned back half way from Abudabi ... who knows

[jimbeam1]

Mr Bailey said that that if people search for "Thailand flooding" online, they will see mostly negative news in international media.

So what is positive about the flooding I wonder. What does he expect?

I think no more than we would all like. The Truth?

jb1

[BinDhumm]

Hold on guys.

Why is it logical for any tourist to come to Bangkok when floods even might invade the inner city? There might be a better time to be a tourist in Thailand in the not too distant future.

Agreed, but news organisations still have some sort of obligation to report the facts, even it it rarely happens.

news organizations are probably not being told the truth

Gov't is doing a lousy job in communicating the real facts

All I hear about the flooded out factories and how they will help them

I hear nothing about the people who are losing everything, possessions homes cars ....

Gov't s trying to protect Thailands business image and does not give two hoots about

the general population

Media are left to guess what is going on

Not only the media guess whats going on. Everyone does including the thai governmentand especially the people in the meter high flooded areas without electric and phone.

[zorro1]

Confusion is Rampant amongst the locals. What hope would tourists have in understanding any of it

A statement on overseas travel warnings saying....Bkk flooded however flood waters diverted from Nana plaza and soi cowboy . That would clear it all up and get the panes flying again

[bkkjames]

Mr Bailey said that that if people search for "Thailand flooding" online, they will see mostly negative news in international media.

So what is positive about the flooding I wonder. What does he expect?

There are always the higher tourist attractions with extended routes of rice barges, dinner cruises, and city tours on boats for consideration.

None of which are operating currently. (around bkk that is).

[FOODLOVER]

Loss of tourists=more places for the aqua afflicted. Open yer doors gentleman!

[sparebox2]

Some part of Bangkok and most part of central Thailand is in flood. This is a fact.

bangkok DM Airport is under a meter of water (at least). This is a fact.

The logistic is breaking down causing almost NO drinking water available for sales. This is a fact.

Not only water, MANY stores are also empty of rice, instand noodle, can food and many other essental. This is a fact.

Tourist destination like Pattaya, Hua Hin, rayong, tec are fully booked, mostly by the evacuating BKK elite. This is a fact.

If I am the government, I would advise potential tourist to postpone their trip.

I am not saying don't come, but just delay a little, like 6 months to 1 year.

in the mean time, enjoy bali.

[toenail]

Most farangs I know head out to Phuket, Krabi, Chiangmai , or Pattaya when landing at the airport. Bangkok is not on their first stop...so it does need to be stressed that the other tourist areas are fine and not under water

[ChangMaiSausage]

Confusion is Rampant amongst the locals. What hope would tourists have in understanding any of it

News coverage is terrible they show flooded areas but do not explain the locations affected in relation to the centre of Bangkok. I have two friends who have cancelled as they thought Bangkok was under water!

Year after year there are issues in Thailand, it makes you think what will be next?

[Mugg]

Learn to adapt

[nikster]

Why should the tourists be better of than the citizens?

We all have no clue, what is really going on, so....

Hehehe, exactly what I was going to say. Everyone is confused - in no small part because the "official" news channels constantly produce conflicting reports. Why should tourists know more than the locals?

The other thing about the media is that they love to exaggerate - that sells. So if there is any way they can make the flood seem worse than the tsunami and the nuclear meltdown in Japan at the same time... guess what... they will! Drama sells! That's why I don't watch TV - it's all BS. Stories loosely based on reality, at best, passing themselves off as facts. In other words, lies. The only thing on TV that's not a lie is sports.

If TV news shows flooded towns for 20 hours and empty supermarket shelves for 4 you might get the idea that all of Thailand is under water and there are shortages. Whereas, in Chiang Mai, everything is dry, no floods in sight, sunny days, and the supermarkets are stocked.

I've had to tell a few people that were planning trips to Thailand that, yes, they can come, and no, there won't be any flooding where they're going to, nor any other problems. Samui, Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Chang, Chiang Mai - all dry.

[namoi]

I am flying in on the 20th, (at the moment if swampy still has it`s head above water) IF the hotels have some good deals on I will hang around for a few days maybe, otherwise just the 1 night and gone like a dog shot in the ring

[TackyToo]

Mr Bailey said that that if people search for "Thailand flooding" online, they will see mostly negative news in international media.

So what is positive about the flooding I wonder. What does he expect?

That's what happens if censorship is out of reach and the usual suspects for the tea money are beyond borders!

[DocN]

Most farangs I know head out to Phuket, Krabi, Chiangmai , or Pattaya when landing at the airport. Bangkok is not on their first stop...so it does need to be stressed that the other tourist areas are fine and not under water

I can only speak for the German market and I have no exact numbers, but my guess would be that at least 75 percent of German tourists have a stop in BKK, mostly on the way in and mostly for 2 nights. So...it is important!

[dtaanic]

I have been living here only for 8 month now and must say that any information for tourist or expats has been non existent. Any country i know of would have some english information website or news channel about the situation, with maps showing closed roads and flooded areas in a situation like there is now and the past month. Any time i have to go to the center of bangkok, my gf screams and shows me the footages on TV and call me stupid. I ask her for information and get nothing other than Bangkok is flooded. Actually it seems that nobody in this country is well informed and asking questions and information is impolite.