Thai Tourism Thrives Despite Terrorist Warning

[webfact]

Thai Tourism Thrives Despite Terrorist Warning

BANGKOK: -- The government and the private sector expect a continuous stream of foreign tourists to arrive in Thailand from now until April despite the recent terrorist warning.

They also plan to meet this year's goal of 22.5 million tourists.

Permanent Secretary of Sports and Tourism Ministry Suwat Sithilaw has reported that the tourism industry has been recovering rapidly from the flood disaster since early January, but slowed down a little due to the warning recently issued by the United States of possible terrorist attacks in Bangkok.

However, foreign tourists have started to return since the Chinese New Year holidays.

Meanwhile, many countries are confident in Thai security officials.

Some have already lifted travel restrictions on Thailand.

Suwat added that from now on, the government will work hard to ensure security in order to rebuild tourist confidence.

It is expected that a total of 22.5 million tourists will travel to Thailand this year, increasing from 19.5 million last year.

Meanwhile, Executive Vice President of Travel and Leisure Marketing at Krung Thai Credit Card Pittaya Vorapanyakul believes that authorities will try to prevent any incident in an attempt to boost the tourism industry from now until April.

At the same time, President of Praya Palazzo Hotel Priyatorn Pitakworarat pointed out that despite the flood disaster and political problems, Thailand is still one of the most attractive destinations among foreign travelers, thanks to continuous promotional campaigns organized by the government and the private sector.

The Krung Thai Credit Card has recently joined hands with Krungthep Turakij Newspaper, Mastercard, the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion and Nok Air in organizing Thailand Boutique Awards 2011.

A total of 40 awards were given to small- and medium-sized hotels throughout the country.

For this, Praya Palazzo has been awarded the gold medal for its cultural hotel theme.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-27

[webfact]

Tourism Min Set to Ask U.S. to Lift Terror Warning

BANGKOK: -- Sports and Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-arhca revealed that Germany and France, among many other countries, have cancelled their travel advisories against Thailand.

He said he is set to ask the United States to lift its terror warning as a result.

-- Tan Network 2012-01-27

[BOS2BKK]

As long as you stay away from Patong and Pattaya, Thailand is <deleted> AWESOME!!

[Galong]

"Travel restrictions"??? I thought it was just a warning to be cautious. I'm glad that there is a huge number of travelers who don't pay attention to the puppet master's wish to keep the world in constant fear.

[toenail]

??? Can't the Thai media and government officials understand that a "terrorist watch...threat...warning" (which is a warning from an embassy to its citizens)is for a short time (unless you live in Afghanistan or Iraq). This kind of embassy warning is normal in all big cities around the world and it doesn't keep tourists visiting New York, Madrid, London, Bombay, Jakarta, Paris and these cities have been attacked by terrorists. The warining a few weeks ago for Bangkok will not keep tourists away unless the government and media keeps talking about it.

[slapout]

They keep telling us, the various natural and man made problems have had virtully no affect on tourist numbers, air travel, income etc. Maybe their new theme song should be "We have overcome" We get enough reruns on true television, now we have TAT, Sports and Tourism, Hotel associations, AOT, etc throwing out numbers on a weekly basis (at least).

[exeter]

Well they would say that wouldn't they.

[Jingthing]

Thailand has NO BUSINESS telling or asking a foreign country what to advice to their own citizens. The gall of them!

[surangw]

On a similar note, I was checking on a cathay pacific flight and noticed they have an alert stating some flights may be cancelled to thailand .

[zzaa09]

"Travel restrictions"??? I thought it was just a warning to be cautious. I'm glad that there is a huge number of travelers who don't pay attention to the puppet master's wish to keep the world in constant fear.

Heh heh....all part of the game, my friend.

Keeps us baffled and bedazzled.

Nothing up their sleeves, mind you.

[wxyz]

Travel Warning to Thailand Canceled

Israel has called off its serious travel warning regarding after Thai authorities detained Lebanese suspect, uncovered arms cache. Thai forces discovered of 400 boxes of bomb-making material. However, the CTB says that there are additional terror infrastructures in the area.

http://www.israelnat...55#.TyLyv8VSRks

Severe Travel Warning for Thailand Cancelled

The task force called on Israeli tourists to remain alert

http://www.israelnat...08#.TyLyy8VSRks

Edited January 27, 2012 by wxyz

[wxyz]

Still there and still true.

Emergency Message to U.S. Citizens: Possible Terrorist Threat

This message alerts U.S. citizens in Thailand that foreign terrorists may be currently looking to conduct attacks against tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future.

http://bangkok.usemb...ncymessage.html

Thailand Country Specific Information

http://travel.state....s/cis_1040.html

Edited January 27, 2012 by wxyz

[Macmundi]

Who are they joking??!!! the numbers of tourists declined to a low margin and have stayed low ever since! thrive where? Its only the local Thais travelling over new years.!! normally I would have a few dozen friends show up every year for new years, This year NONE! Your old tricks' not working anymore, youse better think of some real action plan!!!

[noitom]

Gives Thais the incentive and rationalization to do nothing.

[Galong]

Thailand has NO BUSINESS telling or asking a foreign country what to advice to their own citizens. The gall of them!

Likewise, the US has no business negatively affecting the economies and peace-of-mind in other countries due to their extremely horrid foreign policies. By causing alarm, the US embassy has basically done exactly what the terrorists (or potential terrorists) want, that being, to cause people to be scared... the basic definition of terrorism. In essence, the terrorists are winning the war on terrorism with the help of the constant warnings, justified or not.

[wxyz]

Thailand has NO BUSINESS telling or asking a foreign country what to advice to their own citizens. The gall of them!

Likewise, the US has no business negatively affecting the economies and peace-of-mind in other countries due to their extremely horrid foreign policies. By causing alarm, the US embassy has basically done exactly what the terrorists (or potential terrorists) want, that being, to cause people to be scared... the basic definition of terrorism. In essence, the terrorists are winning the war on terrorism with the help of the constant warnings, justified or not.

And that explains the arrests and finding the bomb making supplies HOW?

So sad, so you still want to see dead innocent people, or right, they are not innocent, all people are legitimate targets, at least for the group that is the perps of terrorism. I guess the targets of terrorism should apply that approach to the perps of terrorism.

Edited January 28, 2012 by wxyz

[wxyz]

Informed decisions are always better than uninformed decisions.

Ignorance may be bliss, but it will get you killed. Like lambs led to the slaughter.

I may like KSN, but I am not dying to be there.

Edited January 28, 2012 by wxyz

[JurgenG]

On a similar note, I was checking on a cathay pacific flight and noticed they have an alert stating some flights may be cancelled to thailand .

On the days leading to Chinese New Years (from Wednesday last week), they add 2 to 3 flights a day and there was not ONE seat available. And it was the same on all the companies flying from Hong Kong to Bangkok.

I know it because I didn't book my seat, not sure of the flight I would be able to take and I almost spent the New Year in the cold (6 to 10C !!!) in Hong Kong.

For the Chinese at least, and I believe they are the tourists that really matter nowadays, there were zero impact. And the flight I was eventually able to take was full of westerners who didn't seem to be remotely concerned by the warnings either.

Edited January 28, 2012 by JurgenG

[JurgenG]

And I just checked the return flights (We will resume work on Monday in China), they are full too despite an additional two flights a day

[JurgenG]

Thailand has NO BUSINESS telling or asking a foreign country what to advice to their own citizens. The gall of them!

Likewise, the US has no business negatively affecting the economies and peace-of-mind in other countries due to their extremely horrid foreign policies. By causing alarm, the US embassy has basically done exactly what the terrorists (or potential terrorists) want, that being, to cause people to be scared... the basic definition of terrorism. In essence, the terrorists are winning the war on terrorism with the help of the constant warnings, justified or not.

And that explains the arrests and finding the bomb making supplies HOW?

So sad, so you still want to see dead innocent people, or right, they are not innocent, all people are legitimate targets, at least for the group that is the perps of terrorism. I guess the targets of terrorism should apply that approach to the perps of terrorism.

If you look hard enough, you can always find someone who suspiciously look like a terrorist and stuff that suspiciously looks like bomb making material. And in few weeks there will be two lines in the news that the "terrorists" have been freed because of a lack of evidence.

They were able to justify a war based on WMD that never existed, how hard is it to find a dark skin tourist who can look like a terrorist in front of the the cameras for a couple of days ?

Edited January 28, 2012 by JurgenG

[ginjag]

And I just checked the return flights (We will resume work on Monday in China), they are full too despite an additional two flights a day

A defender of the government, a defender of any criticism, so why you didn't, or don't you travel Thai ?? don't they operate on that route ?? just an observation.

Well look at your major tourist areas, packed out with chinese ??? NO. but if they are arriving in such vast numbers where are they staying ??? and how much money are they spending ??

they sit at bars-NO they take the boys and girls-NO they buy Thai food in the street-NO they go into the cinema-NO they go on banana boats -NO they sit on the beach and have manicures-NO this is money that keeps Thailand going, this money goes into pockets of local people-and on to families. The Chinese money goes to travel agents direct, most is on a package. This also good BUT never gets back to the people, into their homes.

[wxyz]

Thailand has NO BUSINESS telling or asking a foreign country what to advice to their own citizens. The gall of them!

Likewise, the US has no business negatively affecting the economies and peace-of-mind in other countries due to their extremely horrid foreign policies. By causing alarm, the US embassy has basically done exactly what the terrorists (or potential terrorists) want, that being, to cause people to be scared... the basic definition of terrorism. In essence, the terrorists are winning the war on terrorism with the help of the constant warnings, justified or not.

And that explains the arrests and finding the bomb making supplies HOW?

So sad, so you still want to see dead innocent people, or right, they are not innocent, all people are legitimate targets, at least for the group that is the perps of terrorism. I guess the targets of terrorism should apply that approach to the perps of terrorism.

If you look hard enough, you can always find someone who suspiciously look like a terrorist and stuff that suspiciously looks like bomb making material. And in few weeks there will be two lines in the news that the "terrorists" have been freed because of a lack of evidence.

They were able to justify a war based on WMD that never existed, how hard is it to find a dark skin tourist who can look like a terrorist in front of the the cameras for a couple of days ?

Blame saddam, he pretended he had them.

Edited January 28, 2012 by wxyz

[Ricardo]

The number of tourists visiting Thailand will increase approx 50%, compared to last year, despite the GEC and floods and catching a terrorist with bomb-making equipment here, of course it will !

Why not make all of us permanent-residents make weekly border-runs, and double the number of arrivals, whilst they're at it ?

[alstaxi]

They keep telling us, the various natural and man made problems have had virtully no affect on tourist numbers, air travel, income etc. Maybe their new theme song should be "We have overcome" We get enough reruns on true television, now we have TAT, Sports and Tourism, Hotel associations, AOT, etc throwing out numbers on a weekly basis (at least).

They also act surprised that the bib are running casinos, go figure.

[JurgenG]

And I just checked the return flights (We will resume work on Monday in China), they are full too despite an additional two flights a day

A defender of the government, a defender of any criticism, so why you didn't, or don't you travel Thai ?? don't they operate on that route ?? just an observation.

We have a contract with Cathay . But if it was up to me I prefer the food and the service on Thai.

Well look at your major tourist areas, packed out with chinese ??? NO. but if they are arriving in such vast numbers where are they staying ??? and how much money are they spending ??

they sit at bars-NO they take the boys and girls-NO they buy Thai food in the street-NO they go into the cinema-NO they go on banana boats -NO they sit on the beach and have manicures-NO this is money that keeps Thailand going, this money goes into pockets of local people-and on to families. The Chinese money goes to travel agents direct, most is on a package. This also good BUT never gets back to the people, into their homes.

That's the habits of western tourists, chinese are different ! They don't like too much the beach, but they love shopping and eating. And for the men, drinking and partying but different places that's why you don't see them.

[atyclb]

A single ministry called "Ministry of Delusion and Deceit" would suffice

[anterian]

Ok this is just word of mouth, but my Thai partner visited Khaosan road 3 days ago and said there were no farangs to be seen.

[TantraMantra]

Thailand has NO BUSINESS telling or asking a foreign country what to advice to their own citizens. The gall of them!

Likewise, the US has no business negatively affecting the economies and peace-of-mind in other countries due to their extremely horrid foreign policies. By causing alarm, the US embassy has basically done exactly what the terrorists (or potential terrorists) want, that being, to cause people to be scared... the basic definition of terrorism. In essence, the terrorists are winning the war on terrorism with the help of the constant warnings, justified or not.

And that explains the arrests and finding the bomb making supplies HOW?

So sad, so you still want to see dead innocent people, or right, they are not innocent, all people are legitimate targets, at least for the group that is the perps of terrorism. I guess the targets of terrorism should apply that approach to the perps of terrorism.

If you look hard enough, you can always find someone who suspiciously look like a terrorist and stuff that suspiciously looks like bomb making material. And in few weeks there will be two lines in the news that the "terrorists" have been freed because of a lack of evidence.

They were able to justify a war based on WMD that never existed, how hard is it to find a dark skin tourist who can look like a terrorist in front of the the cameras for a couple of days ?

Agreed. He'll be released soon.

[chard]

The number of tourists visiting Thailand will increase approx 50%, compared to last year, despite the GEC and floods and catching a terrorist with bomb-making equipment here, of course it will !

Why not make all of us permanent-residents make weekly border-runs, and double the number of arrivals, whilst they're at it ?

SHUSH!!!!!!!!! Someone may be listening

[Oberkommando]

22.5 million? Oh ma sides.