Bangkok tourism adversely affected by street protests: Interview

[webfact]

Interview: Bangkok tourism adversely affected by street protests
English.news.cn
by Surasak Tumcharoen

BANGKOK, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Bangkok's tourism has begun to be adversely affected by prolonged street protests in the heart of the Thai capital, said a highly-placed government official on Friday.

Kongkrit Hirunkit, chief adviser to Deputy Premier/Finance Minister Kittirat na Ranong, said that the anti-government protests on Rajdamnern Avenue might probably cause the Thai tourist industry to decline by about 10 percent from now until the end of the first quarter of next year.

According to the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce's Center for Economics and Business Forecasts, the tourism's earnings might be currently dropping by an estimated 500 million U. S. dollars in the face of the sustained street protests.

Former deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban and several members of the opposition Democrat Party have orchestrated thousands of protesters at Democracy Monument while the so-called Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand and other little-known pressure groups have led hundreds of others nearby since early this month. All those protest sites are on the stretches of Rajdamnern Avenue.

They all have been obviously pressing for an end of the elected government headed by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Kongkrit said such political protests could make a negative impact on the tourism even during a peak of the year-end season which usually lasts between the fourth quarter of one year and the first quarter of the next.

Hotels and inns in the neighborhood of Rajdamnern Avenue have begun to see a drop in the number of their guests who would undoubtedly be concerned about the political protests being prolonged at the expense of their safety and conveniences, according to the deputy premier's chief adviser.

"Not only the government but the tourists are worrying about the current standoffs between the police and the protesters at spots along Rajdamnern Avenue which might possibly end up in clashes and street unrests.

Given the confrontations and barricades set up between the police and the demonstrators, the tourists have difficulties going through to get to sight-seeing spots along the avenue. The police have kept the protesters from proceeding over to the Government House, only about 200 meters from a stretch of Rajdamnern Avenue.

"The unfriendly atmosphere might scare the tourists away not only from Bangkok but from the whole country during high season now," he said.

Thavatchai Thungthanachai, owner of a 36-room guesthouse on Khaosarn Road, said the number of his guests has dropped by half since the anti-government protesters began to gather on the nearby Rajdamnern Avenue earlier this month.

Most of the foreign visitors are usually back-pack travelers who would prefer to walk rather than take a bus or taxi to go anywhere in the neighborhood of the long avenue, he said.

"It's a pity that the protests occur during the peak of the high season. We'd expect many more guests than we have now,'' he said.

Rajdamnern Avenue, known as the Thai version of France's Avenue des Champs-Elysees surrounded by prestigious, tourist-attracting spots such as the Grand Palace and Wat Ratchanadda steel temple, has been used as a venue for massive political protests since the past several decades.

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2013-11/15/c_132891936.htm

-- XINHUA 2013-11-16

[ramrod711]

Most of the foreign visitors are usually back-pack travelers who would prefer to walk rather than take a bus or taxi to go anywhere in the neighborhood of the long avenue, he said.

This is an outrage, TAT said that there would be mostly "quality" tourists, how did these backpackers get here.

[NongKhaiKid]

He better watch his back as TAT are likely to take a contract out on him for daring to suggest tourism is, or ever will be, affected in any way.

[worgeordie]

I will NEVER believe this,unless TAT comes out and confirms

this,if you cannot believe TAT who can you believe !!!,

regards Worgeordie

[Asiantravel]

He better watch his back as TAT are likely to take a contract out on him for daring to suggest tourism is, or ever will be, affected in any way.

[Mosha]

Tourism adversely affected? Blasphemy.

[soi41]

So 10% of the high season tourists are staying in the Rajdamnarn Avenue area??

May I suggest that Khun Kongkrit visits Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin or Samui!!

But with him being chief advisor to Mr Kittiratt (pure genius!) should explain it!!

[h90]

Most of the foreign visitors are usually back-pack travelers who would prefer to walk rather than take a bus or taxi to go anywhere in the neighborhood of the long avenue, he said.

This is an outrage, TAT said that there would be mostly "quality" tourists, how did these backpackers get here.

TAT made it many times clear that they don't want these cheap tourists and only these who are willing to spend KiloDollar, so they should be happy if they get less.

[metisdead]

An off topic post with racist generalizations has been removed.

[Thainy Tim]

What happened to the blurt about no hotel cancellations?

They now seem to be trying the sympathy vote.

500 million USD lost? That's about 15 billion THB and a mere crumb compared to the money lost by the rice scheme and other failed pet projects.

Just hack it off Thaksin's frozen assets, he is the cause of it all anyway.

[chainarong]

Don't book yet folks, there's more street protests to come.

[ginjag]

What happened to the blurt about no hotel cancellations?

They now seem to be trying the sympathy vote.

500 million USD lost? That's about 15 billion THB and a mere crumb compared to the money lost by the rice scheme and other failed pet projects.

Just hack it off Thaksin's frozen assets, he is the cause of it all anyway.

HE wants his assets frozen. good idea

[Prbkk]

Rather walk than take the bus? Definitely a key segment of the market. These people seem to make it up as they go along, a new and different version every day

[PaullyW]

TAT: Number of tourists up 127 percent from this time last year. When interviewed, 100% of the tourists said they actually came BECAUSE OF the rallies. Sombat Wong-Sittisombat na Makkasan, Senior Deputy Minister of The Department for Sporadic, Obvious BS to Build FACE has said that he will order TAT to sponsor more such rallies to build Thai tourism and image.

[GrantSmith]

Keywords... might probably... You really can't make this sh!t up hahaha...

[thaicbr]

So the PTP government are saying protest rallies are causing a problem for tourism BUT are sponsoring further rallies by the RED's..... wonderful

Sent from my phone with the app thingy.

[hellodolly]

So the PTP government are saying protest rallies are causing a problem for tourism BUT are sponsoring further rallies by the RED's..... wonderful

Sent from my phone with the app thingy.

Of course they know the reds will just cause damage and Thaksin will be proud of them.

[smutcakes]

just be thankful they have not closed the airport again...... watch this space. They are not used to not getting their own way.

[Carl64]

I am so confused. Last week the TAT "war room" said the demonstrations and political situation would not effect tourism. I believed them. Dam let down again!

[MJP]

They honestly believe half the expats here understand what's going on let alone tourists?

No, see what it is, is the would be tourists no longer have the disposable income and there's other places to go in the World. Thai tourism has been hit mostly be the vigorous reporting in Western news of the random attacks and killings of holiday makers over the past couple of years.

[thaicbr]

just be thankful they have not closed the airport again...... watch this space. They are not used to not getting their own way.

Oh my goodness that old gem!

Who closed the airport. AOT did after the government of the day and police failed to ensure that protestors gained entry ( where let in by AOT security guards)

And I believe even to this day there is NOT a permanent 24hour police station at Swampy.

Sent from my phone with the app thingy.

[tragickingdom]

Who cares? Certainly not the people of Bangkok who seem to support the Yellow Shirts and the Democrat party as a tiny majority in the country?

The Democrats are unsuitable to rule a country, they cannot even cook their own books without being caught red handed and than let off because the courts have on purpose forgotten to act in time.

[Ulic]

There is not a person outside Thailand other than Thais and a few investment analysts who specialize in Thai investments

who has heard of these protest marches. Let alone cancelling trips here. End of story.

[JRSoul]

The message is clear "don't bother protesting the government's corruption, think about the money that might not be made."

[JRSoul]

Who cares? Certainly not the people of Bangkok who seem to support the Yellow Shirts and the Democrat party as a tiny majority in the country?

The Democrats are unsuitable to rule a country, they cannot even cook their own books without being caught red handed and than let off because the courts have on purpose forgotten to act in time.

Support for the Democrats in the last election was 32-33%. And PAD (the yellows) asked their supporters to cast a non-vote.

In the world of the mathematically challenged, just how big does a minority have to be before it stops being "tiny" and becomes an "overwhelming majority" of 48%?

[roger rederer]

Who cares? Certainly not the people of Bangkok who seem to support the Yellow Shirts and the Democrat party as a tiny majority in the country?

The Democrats are unsuitable to rule a country, they cannot even cook their own books without being caught red handed and than let off because the courts have on purpose forgotten to act in time.

Support for the Democrats in the last election was 32-33%. And PAD (the yellows) asked their supporters to cast a non-vote.

In the world of the mathematically challenged, just how big does a minority have to be before it stops being "tiny" and becomes an "overwhelming majority" of 48%?

Just ask, Merkel, Cameron, Hollande if they would settle for 48% of the vote and they would snatch your arm off. Yingluck was democratically elected. It hurts doesn't it?

[hanno]

Hmmm, been in BKK since last Monday and the hotel I stay in, not a backpacker guesthouse by any means, has been full every day. I also did a bit of the touristy thing yesterday, visiting a couple of Wats along the river, and I wasn't exactly the only visitor.

[Spare]

I always thought the protest is a tourist attraction (apart from the one that shut down the airports)

BTW, Khao Sam Road budget minded backpackers can dine and drink for free in the endless street buffet offered round the clock.

I don't live too far. Now, whenever I am hungry, I just go to the protest site and fill up.

[thaicbr]

 

Who cares? Certainly not the people of Bangkok who seem to support the Yellow Shirts and the Democrat party as a tiny majority in the country?

The Democrats are unsuitable to rule a country, they cannot even cook their own books without being caught red handed and than let off because the courts have on purpose forgotten to act in time.

 

Support for the Democrats in the last election was 32-33%. And PAD (the yellows) asked their supporters to cast a non-vote.

In the world of the mathematically challenged, just how big does a minority have to be before it stops being "tiny" and becomes an "overwhelming majority" of 48%?

 

 

Just ask, Merkel, Cameron, Hollande if they would settle for 48% of the vote and they would snatch your arm off. Yingluck was democratically elected. It hurts doesn't it?

Democratically elected BUT not Democratic. So yes an undemocratic government forcing through contentious bills does hurt. It hurts the country!

Sent from my phone with the app thingy.

[belg]

TAT will give you other numbers

a special adventure for the tourists, come & meet protestors ...

people in the west should do more stuff like this, go protest against the money thrown away to people who never contributes (illegals, economical refugies, family repatriation where none of them work)