Tourism industry to be boosted after curfew lifted

[Lite Beer]

Tourism industry to be boosted after curfew lifted
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, June 14 -- Senior executives in Thailand’s tourism industry expressed optimism Saturday that business which had been sluggish due to local political turmoil in the past would become more active again after the curfew was lifted yesterday.

The curfew, starting from 10pm to 5am and later eased to midnight to 4am, was imposed in almost every province in the country following the May 22 bloodless coup.

It was lifted by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on Friday after finding that the overall situation in the country has almost returned to normal and with the aim to boost tourism business in the country.

Porntip Hirunkate, vice president of Tourism Council of Thailand, said she expected more Asian tourists, especially from Singapore and Hong Kong, to visit Thailand.

Ms Porntip said the kingdom could expect more tourists from Europe and the US from the next one to three months.

The lifting of the curfew is considered a blessing to only individual tourists or group tours, she said.

Martial law which is still being enforced in Thailand would pose a psychological effect to the MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) business sector.

Yuttachai Soonthornrattanavate, president of Association of Domestic Travel, said that the lifting of the curfew would help persuade more Thais to travel.

He proposed that further attractive incentives or discounts should be offered to local tourists after tourism within the country dropped more than 20 per cent in the past month due to political unrest.

Mr Yuttachai also asked more Thais to travel in the kingdom to show foreigners that it is safe to travel in Thailand and to also further boost the country’s image. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-06-14

[terryp]

the Country is still under Martial law = NO INSURANCE COVER; many will not take the chance to travel thousands of miles on a possibility that everything will be OK , i know its somewhat different but look at Egypt tourism has been destroyed

Edited June 14, 2014 by terryp

[dinger]

And just like that overnight tourists will be flooding into BKK. Because the prior goings on will have no bearing on peoples decision on where to spend their holiday.

The damage has been done and it is going to be a while before tourism gets fully back on track

[uty6543]

the Country is still under Martial law = NO INSURANCE COVER; many will not take the chance to travel thousands of miles on a possibility that everything will be OK , i know its somewhat different but look at Egypt tourism has been destroyed

But Egypt does not have the sex capital of the world. Tourists will keep cuming here.

Edited June 14, 2014 by uty6543

[khwaibah]

the Country is still under Martial law = NO INSURANCE COVER; many will not take the chance to travel thousands of miles on a possibility that everything will be OK , i know its somewhat different but look at Egypt tourism has been destroyed

But Egypt does not have the sex capitol of the world. Tourists will keep cuming here.

Only the quality tourist that TAT has been attracting. The someones that immigration is cracking down on.

[trainman34014]

Sex tourists will keep coming because they have more on their minds than lack of insurance but, when it comes to family holidays and respectable couples, tour groups from Europe, USA etc, forget it until the Coup is over. I have never been to or taken my family on a holiday to a country where i cannot get insurance cover whilst there.

These people just love to dream and look for the quick fix. Any reason will do to pat themselves on the back and carry on issuing streams of BS.

[Vacuum]

Mr Yuttachai also asked more Thais to travel in the kingdom to show foreigners that it is safe to travel in Thailand

Wouldn't this be a lie?

[useronthenet]

If you want readers to take articles seriously, please state supported facts rather than spreading rumours based on mere speculation.

Its the low season now, and heavy rain will follow in the next few months, hardly the time to attract tourists when the northern hemisphere is

enjoying hot sunny weather.

[Thailand]

The curfew is/ was not the problem.

[Lozza]

the Country is still under Martial law = NO INSURANCE COVER; many will not take the chance to travel thousands of miles on a possibility that everything will be OK , i know its somewhat different but look at Egypt tourism has been destroyed

Does this mean if I needed to go to a hospital with a medical issue I wouldn't be covered.

[englishoak]

Its a bit more than a curfew. Its perception ... such as being the only country inn the world to vote against the UN forced labour initiative... dosnt help your image, nor all the crackdown on gambling and a swathe of people up on les majeste charges here and threats to people abroad being found guilty in absence.

If your going to be a top tourist destination you need to have a good image and keep it ..... that has in the last few years been dragged through the mud and again this year, it really isnt helping itself on the world stage.

There are loads of places to go on holiday not just Thailand and i have to say compared to years gone by its really not been taking care of what it had. Its riding on its reputation more than anything now, keep showing the world its a joke and sooner or later they will go somewhere else.

[englishoak]

the Country is still under Martial law = NO INSURANCE COVER; many will not take the chance to travel thousands of miles on a possibility that everything will be OK , i know its somewhat different but look at Egypt tourism has been destroyed

Does this mean if I needed to go to a hospital with a medical issue I wouldn't be covered.

You will need to read the small print or better still call and ask

[ldnguy]

the Country is still under Martial law = NO INSURANCE COVER; many will not take the chance to travel thousands of miles on a possibility that everything will be OK , i know its somewhat different but look at Egypt tourism has been destroyed

Insurance is still available. What makes you think it isn't?

[ldnguy]

And just like that overnight tourists will be flooding into BKK. Because the prior goings on will have no bearing on peoples decision on where to spend their holiday.

The damage has been done and it is going to be a while before tourism gets fully back on track

You obviously don't understand tourists very well. People love Thailand and they will still come here. I doubt many even know what's going on, as it's not in the news much in other countries.

[ldnguy]

If you want readers to take articles seriously, please state supported facts rather than spreading rumours based on mere speculation.

Its the low season now, and heavy rain will follow in the next few months, hardly the time to attract tourists when the northern hemisphere is

enjoying hot sunny weather.

It's exactly the time to promote tourism to Thailand, because it's now that people are planning their holidays to Thailand for later this year and early next year.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

The shooting dead of 7 migrant workers by police/army isn't going to help much.

Edited June 14, 2014 by AnotherOneAmerican

[bigbamboo]

the Country is still under Martial law = NO INSURANCE COVER; many will not take the chance to travel thousands of miles on a possibility that everything will be OK , i know its somewhat different but look at Egypt tourism has been destroyed

Insurance is still available. What makes you think it isn't?

Wishful thinking?

Cute move on behalf of the junta to threaten to re-impose a curfew in areas where people don't behave. That will really test the local's loyalties.

Edited June 14, 2014 by bigbamboo

[ldnguy]

Its a bit more than a curfew. Its perception ... such as being the only country inn the world to vote against the UN forced labour initiative... dosnt help your image, nor all the crackdown on gambling and a swathe of people up on les majeste charges here and threats to people abroad being found guilty in absence.

If your going to be a top tourist destination you need to have a good image and keep it ..... that has in the last few years been dragged through the mud and again this year, it really isnt helping itself on the world stage.

There are loads of places to go on holiday not just Thailand and i have to say compared to years gone by its really not been taking care of what it had. Its riding on its reputation more than anything now, keep showing the world its a joke and sooner or later they will go somewhere else.

It's guess that less the 1% of tourists have heard of any of the issues you mentioned. Do you really think a tourist decides on a country to visit based on a UN vote, a gambling crackdown or some local prosecutions. You are sadly mistaken if you think they care about any of these.

[ldnguy]

the Country is still under Martial law = NO INSURANCE COVER; many will not take the chance to travel thousands of miles on a possibility that everything will be OK , i know its somewhat different but look at Egypt tourism has been destroyed

Insurance is still available. What makes you think it isn't?

Wishful thinking?

Not all. You can still buy travel insurance for Thailand, and that is a fact. If you don't believe me, then try buying it.

[pbeieio]

The TAT,

The Hub of optimism and spin.

[stickyrice2000]

I would not be surprised to see on tomorrow's news that tourism in Thailand has returned to normalcy.

[khwaibah]

The shooting dead of 7 migrant workers by police/army isn't going to help much.

Source and proof of statement.

[wellred]

i have already booked my trip for January and have no intention of cancelling as I will be spending most of my time in Phuket. Regarding travel insurance is it a given that all will not cover me if martial law is still in place? Do they spell this out or do I need to look at the fine print?

[Artist]

My travel insurance cover with a Westpac black credit card says the following

We do not insure you for any event that is caused by or

arises from:

any act of terrorism; or

– any war or war like activities, whether war has been

formally declared or not, any hostilities, rebellion or

revolution, or civil war, military coup, or overthrow!

attempted overthrow of a government/military power;

So you would only have a problem with insurance if the event was caused by or arises from the coup. If you had been injured by a grenade thrown by a red or yellow shirt before the coup that might not have been covered either as it would have been an act of terrorism.

Don't worry...be happy

If you want to read the full terms and conditions they are here https://www.westpac.com.au/docs/pdf/pb/westpac_credit_card_comp_insurance_policy_after21Oct2012

Edited June 14, 2014 by Artist

[wellred]

My travel insurance cover with a Westpac black credit card says the following

We do not insure you for any event that is caused by or

arises from:

any act of terrorism; or

– any war or war like activities, whether war has been

formally declared or not, any hostilities, rebellion or

revolution, or civil war, military coup, or overthrow!

attempted overthrow of a government/military power;

So you would only have a problem with insurance if the event was caused by or arises from the coup. If you had been injured by a grenade thrown by a red or yellow shirt before the coup that might not have been covered either as it would have been an act of terrorism.

Don't worry...be happy

If you want to read the full terms and conditions they are here https://www.westpac.com.au/docs/pdf/pb/westpac_credit_card_comp_insurance_policy_after21Oct2012

Mine with Virgin says something similar.

4. Any claim that happens as a result of war, invasion,

revolution, rebellion, act of foreign enemy or any similar

event (except for any which the public did not know about

at the time of purchase of this insurance and/or for annual

multi-trip policies prior to the booking of any individual

trip). Please note that this exclusion does not apply to

section B – Medical and other expenses.

So if it's an accident whilst doing a sporting activity covered in say Phuket then I would still be covered yes?

[wealth]

http://www.travelinsurancedirect.com.au/what-we-dont-cover --- quite interesting ...

[dinger]

And just like that overnight tourists will be flooding into BKK. Because the prior goings on will have no bearing on peoples decision on where to spend their holiday.

The damage has been done and it is going to be a while before tourism gets fully back on track

You obviously don't understand tourists very well. People love Thailand and they will still come here. I doubt many even know what's going on, as it's not in the news much in other countries.

I guess you are correct I must not understand tourists very well. Because if I did I wouldn't keep asking myself, if tourists are not aware of what has been going on for the last 6 months and are still coming as usual then why have there been so many articles like this one talking about the recovery of the tourism industry? But according to you there is nothing to recover from so I guess it must by my imagination. But there are some great hotel deals out there right now for some reason

[wellred]

http://www.travelinsurancedirect.com.au/what-we-dont-cover --- quite interesting ...

It's basically saying don't hang around in areas of unrest, which is common sense.

[wealth]

http://www.travelinsurancedirect.com.au/what-we-dont-cover --- quite interesting ...

It's basically saying don't hang around in areas of unrest, which is common sense.

I think the most tricky paragraphs are when the country advices you "Do not travel". The interpretations are wide open. I'd not risk it when high travel alerts.

for example this one from the US

The U.S. Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens reconsider any non-essential travel to Thailand, particularly Bangkok, due to ongoing political and social unrest and restrictions on internal movements, including an indefinite nighttime curfew throughout Thailand. The Department of State has advised official U.S. government travelers to defer all non-essential travel to Thailand until further notice. This Travel Alert supersedes the Travel Alert issued on May 23, 2014, and will expire on August 21, 2014.

Edited June 14, 2014 by wealth

[wellred]

UK seems a bit more relaxed tbh. The only non essential warning is for the Thai-Malay border region. If it stays the same now I will still go in January. It may be even more relaxed come the end of the year.