Post-Flood Rehab Plan For Tourism Sector: Thailand

[webfact]

Post-flood rehab plan for tourism sector

Suchat Sritama

The Nation

With the impact of the severe flooding on the tourism industry estimated at Bt70 billion, international and local tourism organisations are discussing ways of protecting the sector against future disasters.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will host a meeting in Bangkok on Wednesday(Nov 23) focusing on the impacts of the flood crisis and ways to rebuild the tourism industry.

According to Suraphon Svetasreni, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the tourism sector has suffered huge damage and total losses are put at Bt70 billion.

Thai Airways International (THAI) has cancelled more than 500 domestic and international flights due to falling passenger numbers.

Piyasvasti Amranand, president of THAI, said tourism from China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Europe had plunged due to negative travel advisories.

THAI's average load factor - the percentage of seats occupied - dropped from 74 per cent in October last year to 65.8 per cent last month.

NOK AIR SUFFERS LOSSES

Meanwhile, THAI's sister airline, Nok Air, has experienced a loss of Bt40-50 million due to the closure of Don Mueang Airport on October 25.

Piyaman Tejabaibun, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the council would ask government and private organisations to support its three recovery measures: establishing a Bt400 million recovery fund; special assistance worth Bt4 billion; and an loan scheme for affected small and medium-sized enterprises worth Bt1 billion.

Assistance with marketing and cost-reduction plans are also being prepared.

The Association of Thai Travel Agents last week proposed that TAT launched a special competition to promote tourism after the crisis, with the winner being awarded valuable travel packages.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet approved a special additional budget of Bt450 million for the ongoing construction of Chiang Mai Convention Centre, which is expected to be completed in January and begin hosting events in September next year.

Since the flooding reached Bangkok a few months ago, 250,000 business travellers have stayed away, translating into a loss of Bt3.3 billion, according to the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

-- The Nation 2011-11-21

[Atoosa07]

All resort island are effected too all businesses retailers hotels restaurant have had massive drops in turn over how can they be helped by the government????

[Soutpeel]

"Piyasvasti Amranand, president of THAI, said tourism from China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Europe had plunged due to negative travel advisories."

And what did Khun Piyasvasti expect these countries to do, tell their nationals, it all ok go to Thailand, dont worry about the little bit of water.?......What an idiot..

[Buchholz]

With the impact of the severe flooding on the tourism industry estimated at Bt70 billion

Wow...

What happened to Yingluck's Cabinet minister's proclamation:

Thai Tourism Minister: "Floods Not Hurting Tourism"

.

[whybother]

With the impact of the severe flooding on the tourism industry estimated at Bt70 billion

Wow...

What happened to Yingluck's Cabinet minister's proclamation:

Thai Tourism Minister: "Floods Not Hurting Tourism"

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4757825

Give him a break. That was 6 weeks ago, before the government even knew about the floods.

[Ricardo]

With the impact of the severe flooding on the tourism industry estimated at Bt70 billion

Wow...

What happened to Yingluck's Cabinet minister's proclamation:

Thai Tourism Minister: "Floods Not Hurting Tourism"

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4757825

Give him a break. That was 6 weeks ago, before the government even knew about the floods.

The "widespread flooding in many provinces", to which the Minister was referring and discounting any effect of on 11th October, ought perhaps to have given him a clue ? Or perhaps PTP-MPs' constituents might have mentioned the water, flooding their homes and livelihoods, to their representatives !

One can only hope & pray that the declaration from health-officials, that there would be no flood-related health-consequences, is more grounded-in-fact than the Tourism Minister's pronouncements.

Edited November 21, 2011 by Ricardo

[gregb]

establishing a Bt400 million recovery fund; special assistance worth Bt4 billion; and an loan scheme for affected small and medium-sized enterprises worth Bt1 billion.

Given that the cabinet only allocated 3 billion to pay compensation for all the flood victims, these numbers seem rather inflated. Nothing wrong with helping the tourism industry, but helping them while ignoring those who were truly victimized by this disaster seems to be a distortion of priorities.

One of the best ways to help tourism return is to guarantee there won't be any angry, violent protests by those who have lost everything, nor people turning increasingly to crime as the only way to rebuild their lives. Solve this problem if you really want to help tourism.

[moe666]

Chiang mai open for business, now that Loy Katong is over the numbers are low for farang. On the way to night market, last night, my girlfriend talked to a family from Ubon who has been here for a month because of flooding at home.

[Buchholz]

quote OP:

With the impact of the severe flooding on the tourism industry estimated at Bt70 billion

unquote.

Wow...

What happened to Yingluck's Cabinet minister's proclamation:

quoted thread:

Thai Tourism Minister: "Floods Not Hurting Tourism"

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4757825

unquote.

Give him a break. That was 6 weeks ago, before the government even knew about the floods.

One can only hope & pray that the declaration from health-officials, that there would be no flood-related health-consequences, is more grounded-in-fact than the Tourism Minister's pronouncements.

If the other Cabinet Ministers announcements are anything to go by, then we can have serious doubts as to the accuracy of what the Public Health Minister says.

From the Agriculture Minister saying the worst is apparently over 6 weeks ago to the Prime Minister stating we're nearly through it over a month ago to the Tourism Minister saying floods not hurting tourism... the credibility of other Cabinet Ministers' statements is extremely suspect and dubious.

.

[yumidesign]

With the impact of the severe flooding on the tourism industry estimated at Bt70 billion

Wow...

What happened to Yingluck's Cabinet minister's proclamation:

Thai Tourism Minister: "Floods Not Hurting Tourism"

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4757825

Give him a break. That was 6 weeks ago, before the government even knew about the floods.

6 weeks ago the whole of the north of the country was flooded and the massive amount of water on its way to the Bangkok flood plain

[mijan24]

quote OP:

With the impact of the severe flooding on the tourism industry estimated at Bt70 billion

unquote.

Wow...

What happened to Yingluck's Cabinet minister's proclamation:

quoted thread:

Thai Tourism Minister: "Floods Not Hurting Tourism"

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4757825

unquote.

Give him a break. That was 6 weeks ago, before the government even knew about the floods.

One can only hope & pray that the declaration from health-officials, that there would be no flood-related health-consequences, is more grounded-in-fact than the Tourism Minister's pronouncements.

If the other Cabinet Ministers announcements are anything to go by, then we can have serious doubts as to the accuracy of what the Public Health Minister says.

From the Agriculture Minister saying the worst is apparently over 6 weeks ago to the Prime Minister stating we're nearly through it over a month ago to the Tourism Minister saying floods not hurting tourism... the credibility of other Cabinet Ministers' statements is extremely suspect and dubious.

.

Where do these people get the information from? - The hotels and apartments in Khon Kaen are full of people from flooded area south of here as I am sure are many other non-flooded provincal cities. - The worst is over How can they say that and sleep at night Nonthaburi for one is still inundated - water goes down on the low tide back up to at least shin depth in the arvo.

PM you are not to blame you inherited these incompetents but surely without any political thought it is Time for a Clean Out probably timely if it were to coincide with the after flood clean up.

It would be fitting to see those caught with their fingers in the cookie jar heading some of the clean up teams whilst dressed in the standard prison garb. (wishful thinking).

Thailand this is the big "wake - up Call" be warned if it is not heeded INVESTORS will be leaving in droves - all the under the counter deals will not save you - You (Thailand) play the National Anthem daily at 8am and 6pm So stand up and be proud and get on with the job in hand.

[webfact]

Govt's Amnesty Push Causes Concerns in Tourism Industry

The Tourism Council of Thailand opposes the government's plan to pass a royal pardon decree, saying that it could breed further social conflict and violence.

Tourism Council of Thailand Chairman for Policy, Kongkrit Hirunkit said the government's push to pass a royal pardon decree has caused concern in all sectors of society, especially tourism which has just recovered from the impacts of the political conflicts of the past three years.

The number of tourist arrivals declined two to three million each year during the period, representing an economic loss of hundreds of billions baht.

Kongkrit noted that the tourism sector is highly sensitive to both domestic and global events.

He called on the government to rethink the decree's passage and take into account the adverse impact it could have, saying it could be detrimental to the country's image.

The chairman went on to say that the government should try to defuse any situation that could lead to further conflict and should work to promote fairness and equality in Thai society.

He agrees with the fair distribution of resources and sustainable development of infrastructure and community outside of Bangkok.

Kongkrit said the idea of building a new capital or relocating government offices is interesting as he personally believes that there should be another city that serves as a hub connecting Bangkok to other regions of the country.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-21

[Orac]

^ since it has been confirmed that Thaksins name will not be included in the Royal Pardon list this seems a very odd statement from the Tourism Council. It is one thing to argue against the potential return of Thaksin but a whole new ball game to suggest that His Majesty should not give any pardons on his birthday which is a Thai tradition.

[noitom]

establishing a Bt400 million recovery fund; special assistance worth Bt4 billion; and an loan scheme for affected small and medium-sized enterprises worth Bt1 billion.

Given that the cabinet only allocated 3 billion to pay compensation for all the flood victims, these numbers seem rather inflated. Nothing wrong with helping the tourism industry, but helping them while ignoring those who were truly victimized by this disaster seems to be a distortion of priorities.

One of the best ways to help tourism return is to guarantee there won't be any angry, violent protests by those who have lost everything, nor people turning increasingly to crime as the only way to rebuild their lives. Solve this problem if you really want to help tourism.

Excellent points!! Too bad these conceptual ideas relating to being able to project a correlation between massive new poverty and crime increase is well beyond the scope of Thais to grasp. It's a real reality though and it's a certainty that crime has increased substantially already and also that the press is suppressing the news and the government , of course, is "monitoring" and "controlling." The other issue that is beyond the scope of Thai comprehension is that tourists and farangs are not idiots. Thais seem to think that tourists don't know about this. In addition, Thais don't seem to comprehend that foreign tourists do think about disease, contamination, and bacteria. Many tourists already know the low level of health standards and hygiene pre flood in Thailand. Can you imagine now? Think about all those pharmacies flooded over, cleaning the filth and black polluted water off the counters, boxes, and shelves. Think about the seven elevens and the Big Cs cutting corners on the cleanup. Thais think that tourists are idots and don't think about these things or don't care. They project their own character traits on to tourists.

[Samuian]

haven't seen anything ye, wait when the PAD is back on the roads if the Amnesty push get's on....and then the supporters in red and the all colored shirts, one may finally lose track who's who

Edited November 21, 2011 by Samuian

[whybother]

^ since it has been confirmed that Thaksins name will not be included in the Royal Pardon list this seems a very odd statement from the Tourism Council. It is one thing to argue against the potential return of Thaksin but a whole new ball game to suggest that His Majesty should not give any pardons on his birthday which is a Thai tradition.

It was probably a statement that was made before the Justice Minister said that Thaksin wasn't on the pardon list.

[DocN]

They should keep all the money allocated for the "after flood"- management.

If we stumble directly into some nice bloody fights between reds...yellows...olives....they will need all the money they can get to restore confidence in Thailand after that!

[KKvampire]

"The Association of Thai Travel Agents last week proposed that TAT launched a special competition to promote tourism after the crisis, with the winner being awarded valuable travel packages."

There's a surprise ,not really concerned about the low budget pack packers they dont spend much money . well that's what TAT think and when it comes to tourism they know nothing .