Tourism Council Of Thailand: Terror Alert Is Normal Procedure

[webfact]

TCT: Terror alert is normal procedure

BANGKOK, 17 January 2012 (NNT) – The Thai tourism industry views the recent terror attack warning issued on Thailand as a normal security procedure and is confident that the government will keep Thailand free of any possible attacks.

According to President of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) Piyamarn Techapaibul, issuing warnings of possible terrorist attacks is quite normal in every country. Although the threat level raised on Thailand was only a level 2 out of 4, she admitted that it had led some tourists to modify their travel plans to Thailand nevertheless.

However, Mrs. Piyamarn was confidernt that the government would work out this issue in due time and that no violence would take place in Thailand. She also commented that Thailand possessed a great number of tourist attractions outside the alerted zone, which would still attract foreign tourists to visit Thailand.

Meanwhile, Thai Travel Agents Association or ATTA Chairman Sittiwat Cheevarattanaporn has disclosed that a number of Free Independent Travelers (FIT) from Hong Kong and Taiwan have canceled their trip to Thailand in light of the news of possible terrorist attacks, and that the warning has produced a great impact on Thailand’s tourism image.

As a countermeasure, Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary Suwat Sittilor revealed that the Ministry has instructed the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to inform the international community,through its 27 offices worldwide, of the real situation regarding the terror warning. He also admitted that the warning would affect the number of tourists visiting the country during the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, which is expected to generate up to 10 billion baht foe the country.

-- NNT 2012-01-17

[Insight]

They haven't got the first clue, have they?

Would somebody please tell them most people with a clue find their reassurances, mainly in the form of denials, anything but reassuring!

[ttthailand]

money number one.....

[gl555]

No it's not normal! What the hell is wrong with these people? They're gambling with people's lives just for the sake of tourist dollars. Stupid greedy bastards!

[Fookhaht]

Normal procedure to uncover the plot of two Hezbollah-connected shady "tourists" and 4000 kg of bomb-making chemicals in a local warehouse, too, I suppose. Just a normal day in the HOB (Hub of Denial).

[ttthailand]

"However, Mrs. Piyamarn was confidernt that the government would work out this issue in due time and that no violence would take place in Thailand. She also commented that Thailand possessed a great number of tourist attractions outside the alerted zone, which would still attract foreign tourists to visit Thailand."

I guess if she thinks it is ok it must be ok. What does that mean ... like she has some control over this situration.

And just in case you don't really believe her just go to these other places and you will be safe..... 555555 where did these people go to school. Are they for real !!!

[Pib]

Typical positive response of any spokesman for a business sector, company, etc. When is the last time any of us heard such a spokesman say anything negative.

[bigbamboo]

"However, Mrs. Piyamarn was confidernt that the government would work out this issue in due time and that no violence would take place in Thailand. She also commented that Thailand possessed a great number of tourist attractions outside the alerted zone, which would still attract foreign tourists to visit Thailand."

I guess if she thinks it is ok it must be ok. What does that mean ... like she has some control over this situration.

And just in case you don't really believe her just go to these other places and you will be safe..... 555555 where did these people go to school. Are they for real !!!

In other words stay away from those Bangkok bars. Did she mention the south too?

[geriatrickid]

Don't be so hard on the Thais, they haven't really had to deal with this type of terror situation before. The events are overwhelming to those with no experience. It is easy for some westerners to criticize, but the UK has had 2 generations raised in the midst of terror,1st with the IRA and then with events like the Pan Am bombing and the the subway bombs. Most Englishmen/women know what to do. Same for France, Spain etc. The US has lived with this since 9/11. In Thailand, terror attacks have been nicely isolated in the deep south and have not touched anyone outside the region. Now that the realpolitik of foreign terrorists is here, they just don't know what to do. Think back to 9/11 in the USA, the Americans, while not has flustered, spent alot of time thrashing about and in that case they had a real terror attack on their hands. Up until then it was just nutters like Tim McVeigh or the Branch Davidians. The same situation holds for the Thais. Yes they had the Bangkok protests, but they were dealing with local problems and no one was threatening foreigners. Not making excuses, but this is going to be a learning curve and the authorities are basically special ed kids being asked to do university level homework.

[janverbeem]

Don't be so hard on the Thais, they haven't really had to deal with this type of terror situation before. The events are overwhelming to those with no experience. It is easy for some westerners to criticize, but the UK has had 2 generations raised in the midst of terror,1st with the IRA and then with events like the Pan Am bombing and the the subway bombs. Most Englishmen/women know what to do. Same for France, Spain etc. The US has lived with this since 9/11. In Thailand, terror attacks have been nicely isolated in the deep south and have not touched anyone outside the region. Now that the realpolitik of foreign terrorists is here, they just don't know what to do. Think back to 9/11 in the USA, the Americans, while not has flustered, spent alot of time thrashing about and in that case they had a real terror attack on their hands. Up until then it was just nutters like Tim McVeigh or the Branch Davidians. The same situation holds for the Thais. Yes they had the Bangkok protests, but they were dealing with local problems and no one was threatening foreigners. Not making excuses, but this is going to be a learning curve and the authorities are basically special ed kids being asked to do university level homework.

They never had to deal with this type of terror situation?

How about dealing with it on a daily base for the past 5 years or so in the south?

[OZEMADE]

OK so the Terrorist has been arrested and charged. He said that they were going to bomb parts of Thailand but because they got caught the Terrorist Cell called it off. He then gave his mate up and the whereabouts of 4 Ton of explosives and the TAT now say its all over and tourism is back to normal. Yingluck is upset that the USA have not withdrawn the Terror Threat alert, along with all the other countries that have not withdrawn their alert either, but all is well. It has also been stated that Bangkok is only a transit point for all the Terrorists moving around the world and they mean no harm to Thailand. What Bomb material. Sounds like an R&R place for Terrorists before they go off to get the 70 Virgins. This joint cracks me up.

[flying]

Don't be so hard on the Thais, they haven't really had to deal with this type of terror situation before.

While i don't agree with much you post I do agree with this statement you made here.............

To that end i have wondered...........

I agree that they have not had to deal with this but now they do.

But what is *this situation*?

It appears to me to be a situation of of possible targets being US & Israeli citizens

With of course collateral damages being the Thai's themselves.....admittedly not targets.

To that end what possibly does the future hold?

Does Thailand suck it up & deem the tourist/targets a worthwhile risk?

Or do they deem fit to charge more to those who are deemed targets?

After all risk/reward has its limits...if it is going to cost Thailand economically & safety wise

they will surely pass the cost onto those who want to be long term guests through increased visa fees etc.

The number one priority is or at least should be Thailand's people & Thailand's peace within their country.

To what degree is Thailand expected to protect or suffer economic hardships due to external forces

targeting these so called soft targets due to the soft targets governments actions in the world?

I have no idea but again it is something I have wondered about

I will say that when I read the slamming the Thai government takes on this forum I often wonder

if the Thai government ever reads this forum? It would seem likely to me given the fact that TV has a very

large footprint.

I wonder if they do read it what do they think? I know what I would think................

It is not just these events that make me wonder this as I mainly come here for the financial forum.

There in the financial forum in recent years we have seen more & more regulations imposed by the US on Thai banks.

Regulations that force them to report on US account holders. Takes time & costs them $$$

What do they get in return?

Many of us in the financial forum have wondered if at some point the Thai banks say the risk has exceeded the rewards &

just not open any accounts for US passport holders.

I know many think they would never do such a thing & loose all that business but the reality is that it is not all that large a business.

If one reads the financial section or other sections for that matter they will see most do not even bring more to Thailand than they can walk away from as they say.

So to that end again I wonder if this is just one more thing for Thailand to wonder about...

Is the risk/reward ratio worth it?

Yes they have not had to deal with *this* situation before & may eventually decide they need not really deal with

nor be subjected to it in the future.

Edited January 17, 2012 by flying

[slapout]

I have to agree with what 'Kid' brought up, The authorities seem like special ed students asked to do higher education homework/ plus rational thinking. With this in mind the learning curve for mentally handicaped individuals, for real contribution to the social order, is probably more a straight line which may reflect what learning/implemanted programs may be anticipated, by those Thai civil servents who have been so vocal to date

[Skywalker69]

Don't be so hard on the Thais, they haven't really had to deal with this type of terror situation before. The events are overwhelming to those with no experience. It is easy for some westerners to criticize, but the UK has had 2 generations raised in the midst of terror,1st with the IRA and then with events like the Pan Am bombing and the the subway bombs. Most Englishmen/women know what to do. Same for France, Spain etc. The US has lived with this since 9/11. In Thailand, terror attacks have been nicely isolated in the deep south and have not touched anyone outside the region. Now that the realpolitik of foreign terrorists is here, they just don't know what to do. Think back to 9/11 in the USA, the Americans, while not has flustered, spent alot of time thrashing about and in that case they had a real terror attack on their hands. Up until then it was just nutters like Tim McVeigh or the Branch Davidians. The same situation holds for the Thais. Yes they had the Bangkok protests, but they were dealing with local problems and no one was threatening foreigners. Not making excuses, but this is going to be a learning curve and the authorities are basically special ed kids being asked to do university level homework.

They never had to deal with this type of terror situation?

How about dealing with it on a daily base for the past 5 years or so in the south?

100% agreed.

[h90]

Normal procedure to uncover the plot of two Hezbollah-connected shady "tourists" and 4000 kg of bomb-making chemicals in a local warehouse, too, I suppose. Just a normal day in the HOB (Hub of Denial).

But it might be just a setup:

The USA want these 2 guys

Thai politicans want a reason for some expensive anti-terror investment on which they can take 30 % bribe.

And that would be complete "normal procedure" for Thailand.

[animatic]

"no violence would take place in Thailand"

Remedial life in a fantasy movie as OK'd by the Ministry of Culture.

[David48]

Don't be so hard on the Thais, they haven't really had to deal with this type of terror situation before. The events are overwhelming to those with no experience. It is easy for some westerners to criticize ...

WOW, the 'Kid' gets some deserved agreement on this from some posters here and I add my voice to the chorus on your first point quoted above.

While my exposure to Thai Culture is limited in years to the fingers counted on one hand, my experience is that they are exceptionally bad planners on these macro matters and fail to embrace strategic thinking outside of their own experiences.

Therefore I am not as confident as you that they might 'learn from this experience' and develop an anti-terrorist plan unique to Thailand’s physical borders, Cultural and spiritual beliefs, ethnic mixture and religious beliefs.

Though the governments have changed several times over the recent decades, the bureaucrats who should be advising the elected politicians (what ever their colour) have failed to provide a solution to the troubles in the South.

They have proven to have failed with a micro solution (the South) which leaves me with little confidence that they will enable a solution for Sovereign protection.

...

Edited January 17, 2012 by David48

[DocN]

1) (my personal opinion) The threat for Bangkok is not bigger than anywhere else in the world.

2) ...and it is not "over", just because Chalerm says so!

3) there is no security...that's why it's called "terror"

4) what a bunch of morons!

[blackout]

danger by terrorist is real, and Bangkok has no exception. this is not the first time and i am sure it is not the last.

in 1994, we had a truck packed with a massive car bomb target at Israeli Embassy in Bangkok. it was pure luck back then that the truck was abandoned because of a car accident just a few block away from its target.

why some people in this goverment play down the danger is beyond my understanding.

wasn't the tourist authority of Thailand in thaksin government play down the danger of tsunami, and later Thailand got hit by tsunami?

Edited January 17, 2012 by blackout

[Bagwan]

Thai male children are made to wear a Boy Scouts uniform to school one day per week. The motto of the Boy Scout movement is 'Be Prepared' so is it too much to ask any of the Thai Governments (a term I use loosely) that they themselves are prepared and do a little contingency planning? Don't the phu yais realise that they are passing up an opportunity for air travel in First Class paid for by the taxpayers, taking their wives, their 'advisors' (read hangers on) and their wives, for a little so essential shopping for overpriced crap that is available in BKK anyway, while they learn what other countries contigency plans look like and cherry pick the bits that they feel fit the Thai situation? Seems to me that the only looking to the future that concerns them is where the next tranche of 'commission' is coming from.

Being prepared is a phrase that does not solely mean always carry a few condoms in your back pocket.

[erobando]

Don't be so hard on the Thais, they haven't really had to deal with this type of terror situation before. The events are overwhelming to those with no experience. It is easy for some westerners to criticize, but the UK has had 2 generations raised in the midst of terror,1st with the IRA and then with events like the Pan Am bombing and the the subway bombs. Most Englishmen/women know what to do. Same for France, Spain etc. The US has lived with this since 9/11. In Thailand, terror attacks have been nicely isolated in the deep south and have not touched anyone outside the region. Now that the realpolitik of foreign terrorists is here, they just don't know what to do. Think back to 9/11 in the USA, the Americans, while not has flustered, spent alot of time thrashing about and in that case they had a real terror attack on their hands. Up until then it was just nutters like Tim McVeigh or the Branch Davidians. The same situation holds for the Thais. Yes they had the Bangkok protests, but they were dealing with local problems and no one was threatening foreigners. Not making excuses, but this is going to be a learning curve and the authorities are basically special ed kids being asked to do university level homework.

They never had to deal with this type of terror situation?

How about dealing with it on a daily base for the past 5 years or so in the south?

That doesn't effect tourism and it doesn't effect business in Bangkok.

I don't think the central government is bothered by the insurgency in the South very much.

[Gone]

No it's not normal! What the hell is wrong with these people? They're gambling with people's lives just for the sake of tourist dollars. Stupid greedy bastards!

<deleted> are you on about? You don't think they should warn people if there might be a terrorist attack?

Gambling with peoples lives? They are warning us so we DON'T get caught up in it. I think that is called "helping to save lives."

Stupid greedy bastards? Who is? How are they being "greedy" by putting out a warning?

Maybe you were reading a different article mate.

[johna]

Don't be so hard on the Thais, they haven't really had to deal with this type of terror situation before. The events are overwhelming to those with no experience. It is easy for some westerners to criticize, but the UK has had 2 generations raised in the midst of terror,1st with the IRA and then with events like the Pan Am bombing and the the subway bombs. Most Englishmen/women know what to do. Same for France, Spain etc. The US has lived with this since 9/11. In Thailand, terror attacks have been nicely isolated in the deep south and have not touched anyone outside the region. Now that the realpolitik of foreign terrorists is here, they just don't know what to do. Think back to 9/11 in the USA, the Americans, while not has flustered, spent alot of time thrashing about and in that case they had a real terror attack on their hands. Up until then it was just nutters like Tim McVeigh or the Branch Davidians. The same situation holds for the Thais. Yes they had the Bangkok protests, but they were dealing with local problems and no one was threatening foreigners. Not making excuses, but this is going to be a learning curve and the authorities are basically special ed kids being asked to do university level homework.

They have had communist insurgents, southern separatists, numerous bombs in BKK, and their own version of the Red Brigade. how much experience do they need?

[gl555]

No it's not normal! What the hell is wrong with these people? They're gambling with people's lives just for the sake of tourist dollars. Stupid greedy bastards!

<deleted> are you on about? You don't think they should warn people if there might be a terrorist attack?

Gambling with peoples lives? They are warning us so we DON'T get caught up in it. I think that is called "helping to save lives."

Stupid greedy bastards? Who is? How are they being "greedy" by putting out a warning?

Maybe you were reading a different article mate.

First of all, I'm not your mate.

Secondly, I would suggest that YOU reread the article and also my reply before going off your meds.

[Captor]

I believe that the traffic in Thailand kills much more people then all terror actions ever will!!

Why not starting saving lives in that end? To expensive?

I believe that would gain the tourism much more... But that little issue is sweeped under the carpet!

[erobando]

Don't be so hard on the Thais, they haven't really had to deal with this type of terror situation before. The events are overwhelming to those with no experience. It is easy for some westerners to criticize, but the UK has had 2 generations raised in the midst of terror,1st with the IRA and then with events like the Pan Am bombing and the the subway bombs. Most Englishmen/women know what to do. Same for France, Spain etc. The US has lived with this since 9/11. In Thailand, terror attacks have been nicely isolated in the deep south and have not touched anyone outside the region. Now that the realpolitik of foreign terrorists is here, they just don't know what to do. Think back to 9/11 in the USA, the Americans, while not has flustered, spent alot of time thrashing about and in that case they had a real terror attack on their hands. Up until then it was just nutters like Tim McVeigh or the Branch Davidians. The same situation holds for the Thais. Yes they had the Bangkok protests, but they were dealing with local problems and no one was threatening foreigners. Not making excuses, but this is going to be a learning curve and the authorities are basically special ed kids being asked to do university level homework.

They have had communist insurgents, southern separatists, numerous bombs in BKK, and their own version of the Red Brigade. how much experience do they need?

The communist insurgents were anouther era, the southern separatists are not of interest and the BKK bombs were their own political battles.

[theanimaster]

TCT= Tourism Council of Thailand? I thought the "TCT" was the TEACHER'S Council of Thailand? Or is that only when the Democrats rule? Or wait... Do you mean they're one and the same???

[theanimaster]

Oh... And just who the F does the government think theyre kidding? So the nice, sweet, terrorist-guy just told them where all the bomb-making equipment was, and even threw in another hint that it was not meant for Thailand and that it was actually off to some other country that Thailand could care less about.

Hell... If that were all true, we wouldn't need Guantanamo Bay!

[blazes]

Oh... And just who the F does the government think theyre kidding? So the nice, sweet, terrorist-guy just told them where all the bomb-making equipment was, and even threw in another hint that it was not meant for Thailand and that it was actually off to some other country that Thailand could care less about.

Hell... If that were all true, we wouldn't need Guantanamo Bay!

We don't need Guantanamo Bay, period.

[OzMick]

Hezbollah has been stockpiling bomb-making materials on BKK's doorstep for a year, and nobody noticed, at least until a mate slipped them the good news. But outside the alerted zone, it's perfectly safe.

Why do I feel that if they don't know what's going on in their backyard, then they will know SFA about what is happening in Phuket, Samui, Pattaya,...........................

Oz has quite a few Lebanese immigrants, and names like Bayeh, Ibrahim, Nassour, Sayour, Macris regularly appear in our newspapers - crime and court reports mainly - far out of proportion to their percentage of the population.