Indonesian haze has no impact on Thai tourism
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, June 24 – The Indonesian forest fire-produced haze, which has affected Singapore and Malaysia, has not yet impacted Thailand’s tourism, said Surapong Techaroowichit, chairman of the Thai Hotels Association.

There is no sign that the haze will affect Thai tourism as there have been no cancellations of room and tour bookings during this period, he said.

Thai tourism is running normally and continues to grow beyond last year's numbers.

Haze in Pekanbaru on Indonesia's Sumatra island worsen Monday, causing eye and nose irritation and forcing residents and tourists alike to wear protective face masks.

Volunteers are distributing masks on main roads in Pekanbaru where visibility has dropped to about 800 metres.

Regarding the joint Thai-Indonesian air force exercise "Elang Thainesia 2013" set to be held today through July 5, the concerned authorities are assessing the haze situation to decide it will impact the drill or not. The first flight exercise will be held tomorrow. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-06-24

Yeah, never mind peoples health, as long as the sacred touristdollar keeps coming!

TAT's concern for the victims shows it's ugly side, again.

TAT's concern for the victims shows it's ugly side, again.

TAT reports that in fact tourist numbers have increased as they flock to Thailand to watch the Indonesian haze from a safe distance.

What about the Thai haze every year? anything to say about that TAT?

Good then. Does the tourism director recommend maybe they burn some more, to spark an exodus from Singapore to boost Thai tourism numbers?

Nothing has an impact on Thai tourism...absolutely nothing.

TAT simply can't help themselves can they. It doesn't matter what's going on they have to have a press release that Thai Tourism is on the up. Anyone living here can see that tourism is dying but not according to the morons at TAT.

Can't see how it would affect Thailand anyhow tourism wise. A long way to go to get here and even then the southern provinces are not noted for tourism.

that is not to say they don't have some really nice pourist places but they have an ugly side to them that is left unchecked and can kill you any where.

Why does this not stop, I had to get an inhaler. Years of not using now again. The Thai's hurt themselves all the time!

Well that's a relief, I mean with rape, murder, extortion, con artists, jet ski scams, taxi mafias, police chiefs wanting to arrest people for using u tube for exposing violent behaviour to the public at large, polluted beaches, drugged tourists being robbed by their companion of choice, dual pricing and a police force that could not give a toss about foriegners, the smog could have been the killer blow TAT fears!

The haze drifts across neighbouring countries, including southern-thailand, and will inevitably affect tourists visiting places like Phuket & Samui, and thus Thailand's own reputation.

But the TAT hope perhaps this may still help attract visitors, heavy-smokers perhaps, or residents of heavily-polluted countries ?

Might one propose a new slogan ... "Visit Thailand - It's less-smoggy than Hell !"

Nothing has an impact on Thai tourism...absolutely nothing.

Agreed.. Even an event similar to the K-T..

Breaking News:

Recent flooding in Germany has no impact on Thai tourism.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has confirmed that the recent heavy flooding in Germany is unlikely to have an adverse effect on the number of tourists arriving in Thailand. While the flood may have put a significant financial burden on many people, it can be assumed that someone who has spent days to clear the basement of his house from mud, shit, oil and wrecked furniture is more inclined to spend his holidays in "Amazing Thailand" and try to forget his troubles for a while.

edit: spelling

Yeah, I bet that Indonesian haze has NOTHING over the annual Chiang Mai haze!

... and the tourists will continue to come...

I just returned from Kuala Lumpar this afternoon and it was terrible,as we flew in visibility was 300 metres at the airport,on the dive into the city it was a really thick fog,on the way back this morning it was even worse,I hope the wind does not blow this north,I was only outside for twenty minutes and I felt physically sick.The newspaper New Straits Times said the government has declared a State of Emergency this morning in the southern Malay states,closing all schools and telling people to stay indoors.

TAT's concern for the victims shows it's ugly side, again.

Shows there ugly side, said like they have ever shown a good side?

Man, the cynicism here is deafening. How is there anything wrong with the government tourism agency reporting on possible impact of the haze on tourism? I live in Singapore, and the equivalent agency has said that tourism may drop by 20% or more depending on how long the problem continues. Is it wrong for a Tourism Board to discuss such issues? No... that's their business. Same for the TAT. These are important issues because of the importance of tourism to the economy. Because one agency discusses the impact on one (important) element of the economy does not mean health consequences are considered unimportant... that's simply not the purview of the TAT. But course, it seems a good number of people here will take any opportunity to take a shot at Thailand or its government...

youd think with all the bad news with this government,,they would welcome a smokescreen,,,,,,,

Breaking news:

TAT announced today, that World War III, so far confined to China and the United States, has no adverse impact on Thai tourism. In fact tourism for Thailand is expected rise about 198.5% over the last quarter of the year as a unusually large number of Chinese tourists are flowing into portions of Northern Thailand.

TAT will make it so in the news

that we will have an influx of wealthy malasia and singapore tourists soon