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Rubber protest impacting South tourism revenue
BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROIENRIT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE RUBBER FARMERS' protest in Surat Thani is causing a loss of at least Bt10 million a day to the domestic tourism industry in the South.

"Sales of salted eggs as a flagship product of Chaiya in Surat Thani are an example. The business is being hit because of a drop in tourist numbers," Yutthachai Soonthronrattanavate, president of the Association of Domestic Travel, said yesterday.

Related businesses like restaurants, souvenir shops, local bus operators and vendors are also feeling the pinch. As a whole, the rally is making a psychological impact on the industry. The scene is tending to decimate tourist sentiment, he said.

Tourist destinations south of Surat Thani or islands such as Krabi and Phuket are also impacted because the flow of visitors to the area is obstructed due to blockades facing land transport.

The evidence is clear that foreign tourists in khao san in Bangkok are having a hard time. It is becoming inconvenient to travel to the South by bus. The bus they board gets delayed.

The government needs to find a solution very quickly or else the tourism industry would take a bigger hit. It is a key industry with liquidity to fuel the national economy.

If the government does not solve the problem soon, the association and tourism operators would submit an open letter to the prime minister, calling for the government to treat all industries equally, not just any single one. What the government does unfairly to industries has a domino impact on other industries, including tourism, he said.

He said he understood the hardship of rubber growers under current market conditions. Although their movement is giving the tourism industry a big headache, he could accept and share their suffering. However, they should stage their demonstrations in limited areas, not spread out to other locations, especially the airport, as that is the heart of tourism.

If the airport is closed or becomes enwrapped in the chaos, the whole tourism industry may be ruined. Then the country would need a long time to restore its image, he warned.

Clearly, what the government should do right now is to try to create a good atmosphere. Tourism feeds on sentiment, not just economic boost to enhance spending power. The country needs a peaceful environment to encourage travelling, he added.

Thanongsak Somwong, president of the Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association, called on the government to solve the problem quickly, otherwise its impact would be big and wide, especially on Phuket, Trang and Krabi.


-- The Nation 2013-09-05

[phosphorescent]

"THE RUBBER FARMERS' protest in Surat Thani is causing a loss of at least Bt10 million a day to the domestic tourism industry in the South"

It has absolutely nothing to do with all the bombings, shootings and killings! Blame it on the protesters.

[geriatrickid]

"THE RUBBER FARMERS' protest in Surat Thani is causing a loss of at least Bt10 million a day to the domestic tourism industry in the South"

It has absolutely nothing to do with all the bombings, shootings and killings! Blame it on the protesters.

The fact is that despite the violence in the south there is almost no impact on tourism on a year to year basis. Do you know of any tourists that were actually planning a trip to Pattani who have since cancelled their trips? The terrorism has left the southern destinations of Samui, Krabi, Phuket alone.

The southern rubber grower protests are political. In this region, the Democrats ae the dominant force and there can be no doubt that the Democrats are the enabling political group behind the protests. The intent is to destabilize and to embarrass the government under the guise of a legitimate protest.

The Democrats have miscalculated, because the people who will immediately suffer are its constituents. Despite the valiant attempts of Democrat supporters such as the Nation to "blame" the government, the lack of a national protest and the restriction only to a Democrat dominated region says it all.

Tourists will still come to Thailand. However, they will just pick a different destination. The Surat Thani airport is a local airport serving mostly Thais. The main Koh Samui airport is still operating as is Phuket. Ok, some land routes are blocked. It's not a crisis. Yes, some tourist business in the region is impacted. Good. Let the Democrat supporters feel the pain. If the tourist operators have a problem they should direct their anger at the Democrats who have backed these protests. Foreign tourists are not buying salted eggs. Local Thai tourists are. Those local Thais will visit another region. let the tourists spend their money in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Pran Buri , Chiang Mai, Pattaya etc.

[LuckyLew]

"The intent is to destabilize and to embarrass the government under the guise of a legitimate protest."

Wrong ... it is a truely legitimate protest. Why should rice farmers get paid way above market value for their crops but the rubber farmers get nothing?

[dcutman]

"THE RUBBER FARMERS' protest in Surat Thani is causing a loss of at least Bt10 million a day to the domestic tourism industry in the South"

It has absolutely nothing to do with all the bombings, shootings and killings! Blame it on the protesters.

The southern rubber grower protests are political. In this region, the Democrats ae the dominant force and there can be no doubt that the Democrats are the enabling political group behind the protests. The intent is to destabilize and to embarrass the government under the guise of a legitimate protest.

The Democrats have miscalculated, because the people who will immediately suffer are its constituents. Despite the valiant attempts of Democrat supporters such as the Nation to "blame" the government, the lack of a national protest and the restriction only to a Democrat dominated region says it all.

So this has absolutely nothing to do with the Rubber Farmers feeling they are not being fairly treated, as compared to the Red Shirt/ PTP dominated rice farmers in the north? Its all about some opposition Democrats conspiracy?

Just another "dream world" diatribe by GK

BTW the PTP does not need any assistance embarrassing themselves, they have mastered that on their own.

Edited September 5, 2013 by dcutman

[Pimay1]

"THE RUBBER FARMERS' protest in Surat Thani is causing a loss of at least Bt10 million a day to the domestic tourism industry in the South"

It has absolutely nothing to do with all the bombings, shootings and killings! Blame it on the protesters.

I would have thought with all the murders, bombings and mayhem happening almost daily in the South, tourism would have ceased long ago.

Edited September 5, 2013 by Pimay1

[geriatrickid]

"THE RUBBER FARMERS' protest in Surat Thani is causing a loss of at least Bt10 million a day to the domestic tourism industry in the South"

It has absolutely nothing to do with all the bombings, shootings and killings! Blame it on the protesters.

The southern rubber grower protests are political. In this region, the Democrats ae the dominant force and there can be no doubt that the Democrats are the enabling political group behind the protests. The intent is to destabilize and to embarrass the government under the guise of a legitimate protest.

The Democrats have miscalculated, because the people who will immediately suffer are its constituents. Despite the valiant attempts of Democrat supporters such as the Nation to "blame" the government, the lack of a national protest and the restriction only to a Democrat dominated region says it all.

So this has absolutely nothing to do with the Rubber Farmers feeling they are not being fairly treated, as compared to the Red Shirt/ PTP dominated rice farmers in the north? Its all about some opposition Democrats conspiracy?

Just another "dream world" diatribe by GK

BTW the PTP does not need any assistance embarrassing themselves, they have mastered that on their own.

The Surat Thani region rubber farmers are being manipulated.

How come the Songkhla region rubber farners and processors are not as heavily involved in the protests and their particular regiuon is not marred by the protests?

Songkhla is the most important region for rubber in Thailand since most of the processing operations are there. I would hardly consider this region a big fan of the PTP.

[geriatrickid]

"The intent is to destabilize and to embarrass the government under the guise of a legitimate protest."

Wrong ... it is a truely legitimate protest. Why should rice farmers get paid way above market value for their crops but the rubber farmers get nothing?

The rubber sector is to receive 20 billion baht.

You must be quite the wealthy chap to dismiss it as "nothing".

[Thait Spot]

"THE RUBBER FARMERS' protest in Surat Thani is causing a loss of at least Bt10 million a day to the domestic tourism industry in the South"

It has absolutely nothing to do with all the bombings, shootings and killings! Blame it on the protesters.

The fact is that despite the violence in the south there is almost no impact on tourism on a year to year basis. Do you know of any tourists that were actually planning a trip to Pattani who have since cancelled their trips? The terrorism has left the southern destinations of Samui, Krabi, Phuket alone.

The southern rubber grower protests are political. In this region, the Democrats ae the dominant force and there can be no doubt that the Democrats are the enabling political group behind the protests. The intent is to destabilize and to embarrass the government under the guise of a legitimate protest.

The Democrats have miscalculated, because the people who will immediately suffer are its constituents. Despite the valiant attempts of Democrat supporters such as the Nation to "blame" the government, the lack of a national protest and the restriction only to a Democrat dominated region says it all.

Tourists will still come to Thailand. However, they will just pick a different destination. The Surat Thani airport is a local airport serving mostly Thais. The main Koh Samui airport is still operating as is Phuket. Ok, some land routes are blocked. It's not a crisis. Yes, some tourist business in the region is impacted. Good. Let the Democrat supporters feel the pain. If the tourist operators have a problem they should direct their anger at the Democrats who have backed these protests. Foreign tourists are not buying salted eggs. Local Thai tourists are. Those local Thais will visit another region. let the tourists spend their money in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Pran Buri , Chiang Mai, Pattaya etc.

You keep blabbering on about these protests being "political" and that the Dems arfe behind it.

Can you offer one item of proof? Or is this more hot red air?

[cornishcarlos]

I live just outside Suratthani. I have never seen a bombing anywhere near hear !! There might be the odd murder but probably less than the 'hubs' of murders ? The only mayhem I see is in Syria on the news...

[Thait Spot]

"The intent is to destabilize and to embarrass the government under the guise of a legitimate protest."

Wrong ... it is a truely legitimate protest. Why should rice farmers get paid way above market value for their crops but the rubber farmers get nothing?

The rubber sector is to receive 20 billion baht.

You must be quite the wealthy chap to dismiss it as "nothing".

Compare it to the Trillion odd baht thrown in the rice scam

[Krabi King]

Tourist destinations south of Surat Thani or islands such as Krabi and Phuket are also impacted because the flow of visitors to the area is obstructed due to blockades facing land transport.

I think the writer of this article should have another look at the map of Thailand... Krabi is an island???

[Mosha]

"The intent is to destabilize and to embarrass the government under the guise of a legitimate protest."

Wrong ... it is a truely legitimate protest. Why should rice farmers get paid way above market value for their crops but the rubber farmers get nothing?

The rubber sector is to receive 20 billion baht.

You must be quite the wealthy chap to dismiss it as "nothing".

Depends who the "sector" is.

[SlackJawChef]

If they all had not rushed into cutting down their fruit orchards to plant the latest get rich quick crop rubber & oil palm... their would not be such a surplus, simple supply and demand ... the price of fruit is going up because the demand is becoming more than can be supplied .... Same goes for the rice ..... it is only being subsidised to get the isan vote.... but the subsidies can't go on much longer .....

S.J.C

[dcutman]

"THE RUBBER FARMERS' protest in Surat Thani is causing a loss of at least Bt10 million a day to the domestic tourism industry in the South"

It has absolutely nothing to do with all the bombings, shootings and killings! Blame it on the protesters.

The southern rubber grower protests are political. In this region, the Democrats ae the dominant force and there can be no doubt that the Democrats are the enabling political group behind the protests. The intent is to destabilize and to embarrass the government under the guise of a legitimate protest.

The Democrats have miscalculated, because the people who will immediately suffer are its constituents. Despite the valiant attempts of Democrat supporters such as the Nation to "blame" the government, the lack of a national protest and the restriction only to a Democrat dominated region says it all.

So this has absolutely nothing to do with the Rubber Farmers feeling they are not being fairly treated, as compared to the Red Shirt/ PTP dominated rice farmers in the north? Its all about some opposition Democrats conspiracy?

Just another "dream world" diatribe by GK

BTW the PTP does not need any assistance embarrassing themselves, they have mastered that on their own.

The Surat Thani region rubber farmers are being manipulated.

How come the Songkhla region rubber farners and processors are not as heavily involved in the protests and their particular regiuon is not marred by the protests?

Songkhla is the most important region for rubber in Thailand since most of the processing operations are there. I would hardly consider this region a big fan of the PTP.

How would you know how involved the Songkhla rubbers are? I dont the think protesters are wearing signs as to where they live. I am quite sure some of the 20,000 or so protesters in Surat Thani are from other provinces.

What exactly are the Devil Democrats doing to manipulate these farmers? ( A GK conspiracy theory not accepted) Is it something other than the sympathy they are given to be treated fairly with crop subsidies like Red Shirt Rice farmers in Issan are receiving?

[trainman34014]

Maybe they could use hardened off salted eggs to build rice warehouses !

[MrSlatersParrot]

IS it not the case that many of those protesting in Surat Thani are just tenant farmers and some of the major landowners just happen to be Democrat MP's.

Also there are large stockpiles of rubber warehoused in the area.

There is an oversupply. The price has come down.

Poverty on the one hand and greed on the other.

[EyesWideOpen]

Silly protesters. They need to take a page from French farm protesters, which is to drive their tractors directly into

Bangkok. THAT will get the attention of the government !!! Or block the road into Phuket ......

[johnnie20110]

The southern rubber grower protests are political.

The southern rubber grower protests are economical.

[Nickymaster]

"The intent is to destabilize and to embarrass the government under the guise of a legitimate protest."

Wrong ... it is a truely legitimate protest. Why should rice farmers get paid way above market value for their crops but the rubber farmers get nothing?

The rubber sector is to receive 20 billion baht.

You must be quite the wealthy chap to dismiss it as "nothing".

Depends who the "sector" is.

20 Billion for the rubber sector is about 2.5 % of what the rice sector has received. Not bad for a sector that contributes more to Thai exports than rice.

Edited September 5, 2013 by Nickymaster

[drdoom6996]

"THE RUBBER FARMERS' protest in Surat Thani is causing a loss of at least Bt10 million a day to the domestic tourism industry in the South"

It has absolutely nothing to do with all the bombings, shootings and killings! Blame it on the protesters.

Like Brother like Sister!

[animatic]

"The intent is to destabilize and to embarrass the government under the guise of a legitimate protest."

Wrong ... it is a truely legitimate protest. Why should rice farmers get paid way above market value for their crops but the rubber farmers get nothing?

The rubber sector is to receive 20 billion baht.

You must be quite the wealthy chap to dismiss it as "nothing".

Depends who the "sector" is.

20 Billion for the rubber sector is about 2.5 % of what the rice sector has received. Not bad for a sector that contributes more to Thai exports than rice.

And it also being a segment that votes for Suthep Taugsaban and not Thaksin.

There being the MAIN reason so little is going to support the rubber farmers.

Edited September 5, 2013 by animatic

[tingtongteesood]

Over the top bs so they can blame it all on the dems later, but nothing compared to the chaos caused by the reds closing down Ratchaprasong for 2 whole months !!!

[Bagwan]

Silly protesters. They need to take a page from French farm protesters, which is to drive their tractors directly into

Bangkok. THAT will get the attention of the government !!! Or block the road into Phuket ......

The French farm protesters were ultra valiant in having mobs waylay UK lorries carrying sheep, dead or otherwise, and sending them up in smoke. That sounds more like red shirt behaviour than the Dems.

[northernjohn]

"THE RUBBER FARMERS' protest in Surat Thani is causing a loss of at least Bt10 million a day to the domestic tourism industry in the South"

It has absolutely nothing to do with all the bombings, shootings and killings! Blame it on the protesters.

The fact is that despite the violence in the south there is almost no impact on tourism on a year to year basis. Do you know of any tourists that were actually planning a trip to Pattani who have since cancelled their trips? The terrorism has left the southern destinations of Samui, Krabi, Phuket alone.

The southern rubber grower protests are political. In this region, the Democrats ae the dominant force and there can be no doubt that the Democrats are the enabling political group behind the protests. The intent is to destabilize and to embarrass the government under the guise of a legitimate protest.

The Democrats have miscalculated, because the people who will immediately suffer are its constituents. Despite the valiant attempts of Democrat supporters such as the Nation to "blame" the government, the lack of a national protest and the restriction only to a Democrat dominated region says it all.

Tourists will still come to Thailand. However, they will just pick a different destination. The Surat Thani airport is a local airport serving mostly Thais. The main Koh Samui airport is still operating as is Phuket. Ok, some land routes are blocked. It's not a crisis. Yes, some tourist business in the region is impacted. Good. Let the Democrat supporters feel the pain. If the tourist operators have a problem they should direct their anger at the Democrats who have backed these protests. Foreign tourists are not buying salted eggs. Local Thai tourists are. Those local Thais will visit another region. let the tourists spend their money in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Pran Buri , Chiang Mai, Pattaya etc.

Well that is pretty much the answer one would expect from a PTP backer. The fact that the people did not vote for the PTP has nothing to do with the fact that the government will not help them out as it did with the rice growers who are their main supporters.

You can only build a house of cards so high and then it falls apart. The PTP should have consider the other industries before it went and made such extravagant payments for the rice.

[moe666]

You need to over look GKs rant he is still upset that the rice pledging scheme didn't work out the way Big T wanted it to, hoard Thai rice drive up the world price and rake in the profit. It seems India, and Vietnam came along and ruined Big Ts rice monopoly scheme. I remember the nice article GK wrote last year supporting the scheme.

[EyesWideOpen]

Blocking roads may affect commerce , but I doubt it will affect tourism. I did a big motorcycle loop around south Thailand a few years ago.

When Thai people asked me where I had gone, I told them where. They looked at me like I was stark raving mad, to be having lunch in

Yala..... I do not believe they are blocking roads into Phuket. If they did, the government would be ramming through them with

tanks. Wait.......Perhaps the government considers Phuket to be a democratic stronghold, and then the phrase som nam na comes

into play.