Lifting martial law expected to boost tourism in Q4 2014

[webfact]

Lifting martial law expected to boost tourism in Q4 2014

BANGKOK, September 5, 2014 (NNT) - Representatives from the private sector have shown support to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s move to consider lifting the martial law in tourism areas.

Anek Srichiwachat, the Chairman of the Association of Thai-Japanese Tourism Promotion, revealed should the martial law be cancelled, then it would restore the confidence of several tourists, especially the Japanese.

According to Mr. Anek, most Japanese tourists are vacationing in Thailand during the end of the year. However, they have been a bit reluctant this year due to their concerns over the martial law.

Meanwhile, Ms. Pornthip Hirunket, the vice chairwoman of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), stated that the cancellation of the martial law would have a positive impact on Thailand’s tourism sector in the fourth quarter of this year.


-- NNT 2014-09-05

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Army mulls possibility of lifting martial law

BANGKOK, 5 September 2014 (NNT) - A meeting of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) members is expected to take place amid pressure for the army to lift the martial law.

Prime Minister and NCPO chief General Prayuth Chan-Ocha arrived at the Army headquarters this morning to preside over the meeting. NCPO secretary-general Udomdej Sittabutr is expected to join him at the base.

The meeting is set to focus on the progress of the body’s operations and to consider the possibility of lifting martial law in some provinces.

The military is reportedly evaluating the political situation. If no group was found to be staging any political activity against the NCPO, the idea may be proposed at today’s meeting.

The martial law has been imposed since May of this year.


-- NNT 2014-09-05

[webfact]

Third Army chief says lifting martial law must be considered with caution

BANGKOK: -- The Third Army Region says lifting martial law needs cautious consideration as underground resistance movements still prevail.

Lt-Gen Preecha Chan-ocha, commander of the Third Army Region, said any proposal to lift martial law in 17 northern provinces needed to be considered with caution.

He said although overall situation in the 17 northern provinces remain calm, but there is still underground resistance movement which authorities are monitoring closely.

Therefore lifting of martial law should take into consideration of all dimensions, not just tourism, to prevent outbreak of disturbance or unrest again, he said.

He said the First Army Region commander who is also commander of the Peace Keeping Force of the National Council for Peace and Order has the sole authority to propose the lifting to the NCPO chief Gen Prayuth.

The First Army Region commander is to propose lifting martial law in more provinces where tourists frequenting to the NCPO at a meeting today.

The aim is to promote tourism.

(Photo : file photo from http://www.3armyarea-rta.com/admin/shownews_new.php?id=1953)

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/third-army-chief-says-lifting-martial-law-must-considered-caution/


-- Thai PBS 2014-09-05

[NongKhaiKid]

i suppose intending tourists are in the starting blocks already just waiting for an announcement.

[CiaranO]

Regardless of lifting martial law the country is till being run by the army so no real difference.

[Aachen]

I know nobody beeing withheld from his wish to visit Thailand by the momentary situation. Most tourists welcome the clear rules now.

[terryp]

these people are so dumb ...even if 1 province is still under Marshall law ..travel Insurance company's view the whole Country as such

still rocket science is not a thai speciality just like common sense

[Thailand]

Nothing has changed.

Countries that made recommendations are not going to change them.

The military will still be in power no matter how they try to spin it?

[shirtless]

I think Thailand needs to do more than just lift martial law, scams and double pricing, should be discouraged and clean up the beaches .

[DrLom]

Lt-Gen Preecha Chan-ocha, commander of the Third Army Region

My bother's an entrpeneur, my sister's a nurse, my other sister's an accountant........ we found our own paths in life - without CORRUPTION or family help and old-boy networks.

These guys must be shit-hot at what they do, and have the capacities of nobody else in Thailand to have sustained and maintained such positions.

What's the PM's surname again?

[Kooweerup]

Have friends over in Chiangmai and they tell me the Army comes around and shuts everything up in the tourist areas at midnight. They say it is crap treating tourists like children and sending them home to bed. They have vowed never to return to Thailand.

[Kooweerup]

I know nobody beeing withheld from his wish to visit Thailand by the momentary situation. Most tourists welcome the clear rules now.

Really "Most Tourists" welcome the martial law? Every single one that I have spoken to absolutely hate it.

[mikebike]

Have friends over in Chiangmai and they tell me the Army comes around and shuts everything up in the tourist areas at midnight. They say it is crap treating tourists like children and sending them home to bed. They have vowed never to return to Thailand.

So Thailand should govern based on the needs of entitled tourists?

[Kooweerup]

Have friends over in Chiangmai and they tell me the Army comes around and shuts everything up in the tourist areas at midnight. They say it is crap treating tourists like children and sending them home to bed. They have vowed never to return to Thailand.

So Thailand should govern based on the needs of entitled tourists?

No but they should bloody well stop crying that tourism numbers are down because they make the country unwelcoming for tourists. Can't have you cake and eat it to. If you want them to come and spend billions then give them something. Let them enjoy thier time so they will tell friends and they will return. If the place is unfriendly and soldiers are sending them back to sit in hotel rooms, they won't come back

[laurentbkk]

Maybe Thailand should realized that there are other countries where tourists want to go , I dont know why they are so obsessed with tourism which is a very versatile industry. I am not sure lifting martial law will bring full planes in the LOS ... They are very naive but that's only my opinion.

[mikebike]

Have friends over in Chiangmai and they tell me the Army comes around and shuts everything up in the tourist areas at midnight. They say it is crap treating tourists like children and sending them home to bed. They have vowed never to return to Thailand.

So Thailand should govern based on the needs of entitled tourists?

No but they should bloody well stop crying that tourism numbers are down because they make the country unwelcoming for tourists. Can't have you cake and eat it to. If you want them to come and spend billions then give them something. Let them enjoy thier time so they will tell friends and they will return. If the place is unfriendly and soldiers are sending them back to sit in hotel rooms, they won't come back

Is it not better, in the long term - for tourists AND the country in general, to swallow the bitter pill which is the reform the Kingdom requires to move forward within ASEAN and the world in general? Let the tourists and tourism industry bitch and whinge in the short-term - reap the benefits in the long term. Of course they will come back, or others will fill the void. Tourism is a fickle, volatile 'industry' any way you frame it.

[catweazle]

It's not gonna happen, stop sugarcoating the situation!

[Benmart]

these people are so dumb ...even if 1 province is still under Marshall law ..travel Insurance company's view the whole Country as such

still rocket science is not a thai speciality just like common sense

Those that cast the wide net of bigoted generalizations, also seem a good fit into the common sense void.

By the way, I believe it's martial law, as opposed to the law enforcement type Marshal(l).

[Norvid]

Does the end of martial law means the end of the successful reforms?

[Kooweerup]

Does the end of martial law means the end of the successful reforms?

Does it mean the end of the one sided propaganda being shoved down people's throats on every T.V stàtion. The mindless brainwashing of the population? Let people be individuals, let them think for themselves instead of force feeding your thoughts down thier throats. Thailand will slide back hundreds of years in a dictatorship. Cease with the brainwashing broadcasts to totally control the population. People are not commodities of the government, the government below to the people.

[Strangebrew]

Why so worried over tourism? You wanted quality tourist so you gave Chinese free Visa's but failed to do same for others.

[h90]

Regardless of lifting martial law the country is till being run by the army so no real difference.

Think you are a common tourist who doesn't know anything.

"There was a military coup, but Thailand is considered as safe"

"There was a military coup, there is still martial law in Thailand, but it is safe for tourists"

Version 1 doesn't sound too bad.

Version 2 sounds scary.

[h90]

Does the end of martial law means the end of the successful reforms?

Does it mean the end of the one sided propaganda being shoved down people's throats on every T.V stàtion. The mindless brainwashing of the population? Let people be individuals, let them think for themselves instead of force feeding your thoughts down thier throats. Thailand will slide back hundreds of years in a dictatorship. Cease with the brainwashing broadcasts to totally control the population. People are not commodities of the government, the government below to the people.

While I like what you write, really no one in Thailand has such an ideology.

Thaksin made the worst restrictions....the internet censorship, the stupid alcohol selling laws destroyed independent news in the newspapers.

The Democrats did nothing to change. OK you could argue that didn't had much time, but there were no traces of change.

The Army is just doing the same now.

With whoever I spoke, I never heard any libertarian ideas about let people decide themself. The only one arguing that are some Farangs.

[spidermike007]

Regardless of lifting martial law the country is till being run by the army so no real difference.

I believe the primary difference is the ability of travelers to secure travel insurance. Perhaps the lifting of martial law would help with that. A lot of people will not travel to Thailand without the ability to have health insurance coverage, while here.

[kurnell]

these people are so dumb ...even if 1 province is still under Marshall law ..travel Insurance company's view the whole Country as such

still rocket science is not a thai speciality just like common sense

I wouldn't be so sure about the rocket science.

[techboy]

these people are so dumb ...even if 1 province is still under Marshall law ..travel Insurance company's view the whole Country as such

still rocket science is not a thai speciality just like common sense

"Dumb" eh? "Dumb" is any reader who believes that you have a clue as to what you are talking about. I have searched the internet and most people either do not consider travel insurance or simply assume that they are getting it automatically with their credit cards- and they leave it at that. That moots whether or not a single province maintains martial law makes a difference to travel insurance services. However I would like to know where you got that information from. Although I did not contact any particular services, I did not see anything listed in general information about travel insurance that could be construed this way.

I will tell you what is even more difficult than "rocket science". It is understanding how anyone could take a jaundiced offhand crack as having a reliable source.