Japan calls off all tours to Thailand

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FOREIGN ARRIVALS
Japan calls off all tours to Thailand
Prakaidao Bengsantia
The Nation

Singapore airlines also slash flights to Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- The decision to impose an emergency decree to manage the spreading and intensifying anti-government protests in Bangkok has led to cancellations of all Japanese tours to Thailand, according to Anake Srishevachart, president of the Thai-Japan Tourist Association.

To foreign tourists, the emergency decree is a sign of a possible outbreak of violence between the government's foes and its supporters, and with security forces.

Last year, 1.4 million Japanese tourists visited Thailand. They spent an average of Bt20,000-Bt30,000 per person and stayed in Thailand for an average of about five days on each trip. Thus the cancellation of Japanese tours to Thailand will likely be a big blow to the revenue of the tourism and service sectors, especially during the current high season.

The association is urging the government to review the possibility of lifting the decree as soon as possible to restore some of the confidence of foreign tourists and promote calm about the current situation for the sake of the Thai economy and employment, especially in the tourism and service sectors.

Meanwhile, The Straits Times reported yesterday that fewer flights were being operated between Singapore and Bangkok as travellers shunned the volatile Thai capital.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has confirmed a second round of cuts to its flights to Bangkok, while budget carrier Tigerair axed its first flights on Monday. Singaporean travel agents foresee more cancellations in the coming weeks after the imposition of a 60-day state of emergency.

SIA spokesman Nicholas Ionides said that in view of the current situation, the airline would cut another 24 flights to Bangkok from now until February 27 on top of a previously announced reduction of 19 flights.

Tigerair is also cutting flights, a spokesman said.

Budget carriers AirAsia, Jetstar and Scoot have not axed services but are monitoring the situation in Bangkok, according to The Straits Times.


-- The Nation 2014-01-25

[Tokay]

Using TAT arithmetic, "all tours cancelled" should result in at least a 127% increase in Japanese tourism.

They should be announcing this any moment now.

[jalansanitwong]

If all sex tours to The land of smiles are cancelled its goodnight Thai economy. Theres not all that much else here.

[Tatsujin]

No, TAT will simply change the promotional branding/tagline to include something about the State of Emergency:

"Travel to Thailand, even safer now there are troops on the street to take care of you".

[FangFerang]

If all sex tours to The land of smiles are cancelled its goodnight Thai economy. Theres not all that much else here.

Maybe not much more for tourists, but there is a great deal for travelers to see -- the beauty of Ayutthaya and the Wats nationwide, watching the sunrise over the Andaman Sea, the short rugged mountains of the north, the scintillating waters of Phretchabkirikahn...

There is so much more here than sex tours I could not fit it into two books.

[thesetat2013]

If all sex tours to The land of smiles are cancelled its goodnight Thai economy. Theres not all that much else here.

It just means you will have to pay more the next time you go get a bar girl. Heeehee:-):-)

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[jalansanitwong]

If all sex tours to The land of smiles are cancelled its goodnight Thai economy. Theres not all that much else here.

Maybe not much more for tourists, but there is a great deal for travelers to see -- the beauty of Ayutthaya and the Wats nationwide, watching the sunrise over the Andaman Sea, the short rugged mountains of the north, the scintillating waters of Phretchabkirikahn...

There is so much more here than sex tours I could not fit it into two books.

When i visited Ayuthaya there wouldnt of been enough visitors to fill a bus. Scintillating waters ? LOL Blackpool ,UK has cleaner beaches than Thailand.

Ive been past the Grand palace on many occassions and few tourists about.

Most men and some women are found in the sexy sauna- spas and bars of Bangkok and beyond. Sex is very cheap by Japanese and western standards.....Seen one temple you've seen 'em all.

.

[alfalfa19]

I have seen lots of scintillating and crystal clear waters in Thailand. Admittedly, they were nowhere near pattaya, jomtien, patong, etc. I remember taking a half day snorkeling trip from Koh Chang, on some of the little islands we visited, one could see clearly to the bottom, in 20-30 feet of water. The water was teeming with fish as well. Also, on a day trip from phuket, to some little island just off the south tip, the water was stunning, the beach was clean and pure white sand. The bottom was covered with healthy corals, with thousands of beautiful little fish swimming around. One must get away from the centers of sleaze and sex tourism to see these beautiful places.

[IMA_FARANG]

If all sex tours to The land of smiles are cancelled its goodnight Thai economy. Theres not all that much else here.

------------------

Pure nonsense...... Industries in Thailand that export products made in Thailand (even if they are Japanese cars) are a far greater proportion of the real Thai economy than tourism actually is.

Only a small percentage of the Thai economy actually depends directly on Tourism, and only a small part of that actually trickles down to the street level Thai worker.

It may have been true 30 or 40 years ago that tourism was a major player in the Thai economy, but that has changed now.

When I worked in Greece on the island of Crete I used to shop in a large Greek supermarket chain.

I remember they sold canned Tuna there.

That Tuna was packed in Thailand at a packing plant just outside of Bangkok and it said so on the label.

I won't give you the name, but it was a major international brand name well known all over Europe and the U.S. also.

Just last week there was an article in an English language Thai newspaper about the large investment that Ford Motor Company was making in Thailand where their cars would be assembled.

And actually, "packaged sex tours" are only a minor part of the Japanese tourist traffic anyhow.

This is 2014, not 1980, and the Thai economy has changed drastically since then.

Times have changed, my friend.

(The first time I came to Thailand was in 1977, and I can remember the illustrated Japanese books with the girl's photos in the massage parlors for Japanese tourists back then.)

No more.

Edited January 25, 2014 by IMA_FARANG

[CraigSchuler]

If airline tickets were not so damn expensive more people would be flying!

[smedly]

If all sex tours to The land of smiles are cancelled its goodnight Thai economy. Theres not all that much else here.

------------------

Pure nonsense...... Industries in Thailand that export products made in Thailand (even if they are Japanese cars) are a far greater proportion of the real Thai economy than tourism actually is.

Only a small percentage of the Thai economy actually depends directly on Tourism, and only a small part of that actually trickles down to the street level Thai worker.

It may have been true 30 or 40 years ago that tourism was a major player in the Thai economy, but that has changed now.

When I worked in Greece on the island of Crete I used to shop in a large Greek supermarket chain.

I remember they sold canned Tuna there.

That Tuna was packed in Thailand at a packing plant just outside of Bangkok and it said so on the label.

I won't give you the name, but it was a major international brand name well known all over Europe and the U.S. also.

Just last week there was an article in an English language Thai newspaper about the large investment that Ford Motor Company was making in Thailand where their cars would be assembled.

And actually, "packaged sex tours" are only a minor part of the Japanese tourist traffic anyhow.

This is 2014, not 1980, and the Thai economy has changed drastically since then.

Times have changed, my friend.

(The first time I came to Thailand was in 1977, and I can remember the illustrated Japanese books with the girl's photos in the massage parlors for Japanese tourists back then.)

No more.

so since you seem to be so well informed perhaps you'd like to share some solid figures to support your post - otherwise it is just a post full of words - no insult intended

[harrry]

No, TAT will simply change the promotional branding/tagline to include something about the State of Emergency:

"Travel to Thailand, even safer now there are troops on the street to take care of you".

Now you do just have the Tourist Police as your first friend you have the whole army as friends tool.

[khunJeroen]

Who cares about the Japanese. Let them stay in Japan country, remember the bridge over the river Kwai.

[diehard60]

THANK YOU SUTHEP! you are really doing a great job for Thailand. A great job of killing Thailand.

[ezzra]

Oh Oh, the girly bar owners and the ladies them selves wouldn't like this bit of news

as those Japanese men are the biggest revenue source...

[Alwyn]

If all sex tours to The land of smiles are cancelled its goodnight Thai economy. Theres not all that much else here.

Maybe in your case that's true but for normal non-sex tourists there's lot's to do and lot's to see.

[orosee]

I find that news odd. "Japan cancels all tours"? Who, the Japanese government? The one single Japanese tour operator? All individuals who booked tours?

Questionable info...

[technologybytes]

If all sex tours to The land of smiles are cancelled its goodnight Thai economy. Theres not all that much else here.

Tourism is not a major part of Thailand's economy as a whole.. though it is important in some locations such as Phuket, Samui etc.

[PaulHamon]

Who cares about the Japanese. Let them stay in Japan country, remember the bridge over the river Kwai.

racist much.

[diehard60]

If all sex tours to The land of smiles are cancelled its goodnight Thai economy. Theres not all that much else here.

Maybe not much more for tourists, but there is a great deal for travelers to see -- the beauty of Ayutthaya and the Wats nationwide, watching the sunrise over the Andaman Sea, the short rugged mountains of the north, the scintillating waters of Phretchabkirikahn...

There is so much more here than sex tours I could not fit it into two books.

When i visited Ayuthaya there wouldnt of been enough visitors to fill a bus. Scintillating waters ? LOL Blackpool ,UK has cleaner beaches than Thailand.

Ive been past the Grand palace on many occassions and few tourists about.

Most men and some women are found in the sexy sauna- spas and bars of Bangkok and beyond. Sex is very cheap by Japanese and western standards.....Seen one temple you've seen 'em all.

.

No slick you are wrong about alot of things here in Thailand. It is obvious you dont know too much about this country.

[Bpuumike]

If airline tickets were not so dam_n expensive more people would be flying!

Tickets are cheap, it's the taxes that make them expensive.

[kurnell]

I might be able to get a foot in the door at Thermae now

[alfalfa19]

If I didn't have to work, I would be there in an instant. Cool weather, and the dollar quite strong now as compared to recent years.

[MJP]

If airline tickets were not so dam_n expensive more people would be flying!

They're not expensive.

A Swindon to London rail season ticket is expensive.

[noitom]

If airline tickets were not so dam_n expensive more people would be flying!

Good point.

[Lupatria]

If all sex tours to The land of smiles are cancelled its goodnight Thai economy. Theres not all that much else here.

Maybe not much more for tourists, but there is a great deal for travelers to see -- the beauty of Ayutthaya and the Wats nationwide, watching the sunrise over the Andaman Sea, the short rugged mountains of the north, the scintillating waters of Phretchabkirikahn...

There is so much more here than sex tours I could not fit it into two books.

The two books wiill be found in the book shelf next to: 500 years of German humor / Italian hero sagas / Democracy for Dummys and Gourmet Guide Bangladesh…

[Aardvark]

Yes, so much to do for the old guys who at age 70 go to essan and find a 15 year old for a wife. So sick, but so true!!!

Rubbish .....

[Carrerakiss]

If all sex tours to The land of smiles are cancelled its goodnight Thai economy. Theres not all that much else here.

Maybe not much more for tourists, but there is a great deal for travelers to see -- the beauty of Ayutthaya and the Wats nationwide, watching the sunrise over the Andaman Sea, the short rugged mountains of the north, the scintillating waters of Phretchabkirikahn...

There is so much more here than sex tours I could not fit it into two books.

When i visited Ayuthaya there wouldnt of been enough visitors to fill a bus. Scintillating waters ? LOL Blackpool ,UK has cleaner beaches than Thailand.

Ive been past the Grand palace on many occassions and few tourists about.

Most men and some women are found in the sexy sauna- spas and bars of Bangkok and beyond. Sex is very cheap by Japanese and western standards.....Seen one temple you've seen 'em all.

.

Well don't come here then. Those that see beyond the end of a beer bar and/or the inside of a minibus will have plenty to do.

I recently cycled from Udon to Chiang Mai along the edges of two national parks. Quite stunning scenery. Next month I will be trail running in Khao Lak national park.

As for your temple quote, others might say, seen one naked body, seen em all.

Horses for courses init? But there is more to Thailand than sex for those that, want it. But for me, it's off the tourist trap trail.

[GentlemanJim]

If all sex tours to The land of smiles are cancelled its goodnight Thai economy. Theres not all that much else here.

Maybe not much more for tourists, but there is a great deal for travelers to see -- the beauty of Ayutthaya and the Wats nationwide, watching the sunrise over the Andaman Sea, the short rugged mountains of the north, the scintillating waters of Phretchabkirikahn...

There is so much more here than sex tours I could not fit it into two books.

When i visited Ayuthaya there wouldnt of been enough visitors to fill a bus. Scintillating waters ? LOL Blackpool ,UK has cleaner beaches than Thailand.

Ive been past the Grand palace on many occassions and few tourists about.

Most men and some women are found in the sexy sauna- spas and bars of Bangkok and beyond. Sex is very cheap by Japanese and western standards.....Seen one temple you've seen 'em all.

.

I bet you have tatoos grey hair below the ears and smoke cigs using your thumb and index finger and sit in the bars all day telling any other farang that may be sat at the same bar table that you were a member of the SAS. Oh, just so you can start to get slightly more 'accurate' statistics, I for one have never been found in the 'sexy sauna, spas and bars of Bangkok', so I am not in your 'most men' catagory, but then again it may come as a shock to you that 'most men' don't feel the need to pay for sex.

Who cares about the Japanese. Let them stay in Japan country, remember the bridge over the river Kwai.

I assume that as you hold us all guilty for the sins of our forefathers then you believe the Germans should get out of most of Europe and that the Brits and Americans should be limited to their own land as centuries of occupation and slavery should exclude the great great great Grandchildren of the wrongdoers from traveling the world. (can you understand that sentence?).

It seems reading the thread we have some of the stupid crew on this morning, I can't work out if they all get up early on a Saturday morning (very unlikely) or more likely that they are still awake from the drinking last night. This post is not meant to insult anyone, but if it does then it is an unintended bonus considering some of the posts on here.

Edited January 25, 2014 by GentlemanJim

[maxme]

Seriously, what did they expect? Who wants to come to a country where coups and protests are considered fashion.