Thai ATTA reports tourism revival after partial lifting of curfew

[webfact]

ATTA reports tourism revival after partial lifting of curfew

BANGKOK, 11 June 2014 (NNT) – The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) indicates that the Thai tourism sector is bouncing back after the curfew was withdrawn in some major tourist destinations.

Following the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s announcement to cancel the curfew in ten of Thailand’s most popular vacation spots, ATTA President Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn affirmed that recovery was already being witnessed in local tourism businesses.

The ten curfew-free areas consist of Pattaya City of Chon Buri, Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Cha-am district of Phetchaburi, Koh Chang of Trat, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui of Surat Thani, Hat Yai district of Songkhla, Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga.

Mr Sisdivachr expressed his view that tourism would be able to fully rebound, with significant improvement becoming evident in a matter of two weeks, if the curfew restrictions were revoked in Bangkok as well. He cited the capital as the country’s foremost destination and the gateway to all other provinces.

Nevertheless, the ATTA President encouraged the NCPO to be prudent before deciding to cancel the curfew in Bangkok. He conceded that public safety remained the top priority and any violence occurring in the city would affect the national image.


-- NNT 2014-06-11

[lee b]

It's very good for tourism. Most like to party all night after doing what ever activities they like in the day. Its a little difficult to do that when your told you have to be at your hotel by a certain time in the evening...Ive got a feeling that CM will be one of the last places that has the curfew stopped, but hopefully it will be coming soon !!

[thesetat2013]

Bouncing back! Does that mean more women on streets asking more money and more foreigners who are already here going to lady bars and discos and drinking through the night? I seriously doubt it means more tourists so soon after curfew was lifted

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[EricBerg]

"Mr Sisdivachr expressed his view that tourism would be able to fully rebound, with significant improvement becoming evident in a matter of two weeks, if the curfew restrictions were revoked in Bangkok as well. He cited the capital as the country’s foremost destination and the gateway to all other provinces."

Kicking in open doors. Hardly newsworthy.

[Thailand]

[chainarong]

One would like to see what happens when they lift all the curfew , talk about a load of bullocks ,khun Sisdivache must be a reject from the Bull!!t PTP to issue this statement , he certainly is not on the same level as General Prayuth's team.

[NongKhaiKid]

Not to be outdone just what will TAT have to say ?

[stickyrice2000]

Wow... It's like waving a magic wand and everything is coming back to normal. I know why they called it "Amazing Thailand" now.

[Travel2003]

Sure, people around the globe rush to the travel agencies the very same moment it is lifted.

lol

[lostmebike]

^ Agreed.

It's a bit quick for a 'revival' isn't it?

[korkenzieher]

So a few people decamp from Bangers, where they can't drink, to Patters and Hua Hin - where suddenly they can. Hotels get a handful of check-ins, and all is right with the world.... Ludicrous.

[chotthee]

I begins to see more pax in TG flights already. Outbound.

[Travel2003]

^ Agreed. It's a bit quick for a 'revival' isn't it?

Yep.

The spin-doctors playing with numbers again.

[Emster23]

Friends wife works at nice little Jomtien hotel, says only 1 room rented out of 40. Bouncing like a cow pie.

[upena]

Where can I order my rose colored glasses?

[wabothai]

Yeah, all farang tourists are waiting in line to book their last minute travel to thailand. Unless mr Cheerawath... is talking about Thai tourists.

[HUAHIN62]

One would like to see what happens when they lift all the curfew , talk about a load of bullocks ,khun Sisdivache must be a reject from the Bull!!t PTP to issue this statement , he certainly is not on the same level as General Prayuth's team.

ATTA represents private businesses and not PTP nor the junta.

[belg]

how many agencies are there like this in thailand, seems to never end, do they invent some to give their friends & family a good paying job ?

TOT, TAT, THAI, TATA, ATTA, HUTU, TITI, PUPU

[slk350]

I begins to see more pax in TG flights already. Outbound.

yes thats the way it is. I came in Yesterday on Airbus380 with Thai from Frankfurt. about 150 People on board. most of them Thai women with kids and Falang husband.

Plus Thai canceld the evening flight to Bkk. swampi also is fare from being buisy.

[northernjohn]

Have no figures just observations. Mind you I am not talking about the bar crowd. I have seen quite a few foreigners in the day time here in Chiang Mai. I live in town and walk around. I do not live out side of town and drive through it.

Also I go to the Chiang Mai Ex Pat club. On May the 24th they had one of their biggest meetings in a long time. They have a morning coffee on the first and third Friday of the month. On June 6 they had the biggest group I have seen. It has a buffet and is nothing but a social meeting no program.

Don't know it probably is hurting the bar fly's but the tourists seem to be still here and not worried a bit. If this was not Shinawatra country I am sure the curfew would have been lifted by now.

[bunuel]

Anyone with any knowledge of the global tourism industry knows it takes a long tine for any destination to rebound after a blizzard of bad publicity like the one that has hit LOS over the past 6 months. Risk-averse foreign travel agents will send their clients elsewhere until they are sure things are okay - their professional reputations are at stake. Simultaneously, they have seen enough of the world to know that Thai organzations and associations need to parrot the party line for their own survival, and will ignore statements of this kind.