Thailand Extends Tsunami Air Fare Offer

[Farma]

Thailand extends tsunami air fare offer

Thursday Nov 17 10:40 AEST

Thailand has extended until next week its deadline for survivors and relatives of victims of last year's Boxing Day tsunami to take up an offer of free air fares and accommodation to attend anniversary services.

The Thai government had expected around 10,000 relatives of tsunami victims to take advantage of its offer, including Australians, but so far only 400 people have signed up for the series of events at several centres on December 26.

The Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Region 4, Suwalai Pinpradab, announced the government had decided to extend the deadline for applications for the program, which is also open to people who were injured by the waves, until November 25.

"Some people have booked hotel accommodation by themselves, some don't want to come at this time, and some countries, such as Sweden, have already held tsunami commemoration ceremonies.

"This is a sensitive issue and it is difficult to predict how many people will come to take part."

The huge earthquake-driven waves which ravaged the Andaman Sea coast in southern Thailand killed nearly 5,400 people, about half of them foreign tourists.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=65766