Koh Tao revival planned

[webfact]

Koh Tao revival planned
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The TOURISM Council of Thailand plans urgent measures to restore tourism on Koh Tao, which has been battered by the case surrounding the murder of two Britons.

The council has also devised a strategy to bring visitors back to Bangkok and other provinces in the coming high season.

Ittirit Kinglake, the new president of the TCT, said yesterday that the association would ask the government and local administrative bodies to launch an intensive recovery campaign specifically to rebuild tourism on Koh Tao, where a couple of British tourists were killed on September 15.

The council wants to move quickly move to refurbish the island's security image now that homicide suspects are in custody.

The TCT will ask airlines operating flights to the South and hotels on the island to offer special packages at attractive prices to lure visitors to the island.

The local administrative office will soon organise beach guard teams to take care of tourists and beach-goers. A grand event is also being planned for Koh Tao. Some authorities are now starting rebuilding efforts through online and social media.

"These are immediate measures set to be done this month in a bid to rebuild tourism on the island. The key targets are Westerners and tourists from neighbouring countries," Ittirit said.

He will ask for help from the central government if regulations need enforcement.

The TCT is considering establishing a special team to run campaigns especially for Koh Tao.

It is also planning to revive tourism in Chiang Rai in the North, which was hit hard by an earthquake months ago.

The council also aims to launch attractive promotions to boost tourism in Bangkok during the peak season. Forward bookings at hotels in the capital have been slow because tourists feel wary of visiting the city while martial law has been prolonged.

"Tourists' confidence can be rebuilt by providing information that the tourism business is running normally in Bangkok," he said.

For long-haul markets, especially the United States and Europe, where people fear an Ebola outbreak, the TCT will seek a short-term marketing blitz to lure tourists to Thailand.

"Thailand is free of Ebola. This is the place that Western tourists should come to," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Koh-Tao-revival-planned-30245135.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-10

[jaidam]

Just think, if the crime had been solved none of this would be necessary. Protecting the select group of island "officials" has destroyed Koh Tao, don't shed tears, it was a long time coming.

[ATF]

Who is the TCT? Isn't this TAT's job?

The TCT will ask airlines operating flights to the South and hotels on the island to offer special packages at attractive prices to lure visitors to the island.

I would very suspicious of being lured anywhere.

[MikeENZ]

I hate to break it to the TAT, but tourists concern isn't Ebola, its getting raped and killed by the locals. And you can't fake a cure for that in Siriraj Hospital.

[englishoak]

I got one thing to say....These arnt the only murders

Koh Tao Thailand beach death: Parents convinced son murdered – and his killing on new years day covered up to protect tourism. http://1clicknews.com/thailand-beach-death-parents-convinced-son-murdered-and-his-killing-covered-up-to-protect-tourism/

stick that in your revival.

Edited October 10, 2014 by englishoak

[Thai at Heart]

There it is.

They will "lure" visitors. Aaaaaaaarghhhhh

[shirtless]

The only thing that can fix koh tao is time,

[MJP]

Time for the UK Foreign Office to grow a pair and issue a much more severe travel warning for Thailand.

Edited October 10, 2014 by MJP

[kurtramsbottom]

I'd rather spend an all-inclusive fortnight in a Liberian pop-up Ebola clinic than visit Thailand right now.

[borisloosebrain]

You can't polish a turd TAT. Flush the police then start again.

[Prbkk]

This is so cheap and tacky. On the day before the funeral of one of the victims and in the context of very widespread doubt about the events/perpetrators, a bureaucrat announces to the media about plans to "lure" more tourists to KT.

Of course it makes sense for them to plan: many innocent victims in this case will end up losing their jobs in addition to the real tragedy. But public pronouncements of plans are really ill-timed and disrespectful. This kind of planning is best done quietly and to give at least the appearance that Thailand is not simply obsessed with revenue from tourism but has a genuine concern for the welfare of visitors

[kotsak]

The only thing that can fix koh tao is time,

A mix of naphthenic acid and palmitic acid will get things done faster..

[Mosha]

I got one thing to say....

Koh Tao Thailand beach death: Parents convinced son murdered – and his killing on new years day covered up to protect tourism. http://1clicknews.com/thailand-beach-death-parents-convinced-son-murdered-and-his-killing-covered-up-to-protect-tourism/

stick that in your revival.

Covered up to protect the "big people".

[dcutman]

Apparently the TCT has not been following this story very closely. They dont seem to be aware there is a very strong possibility there are still brutal killers/rapists on Koh Tao.

Or maybe they are aware and just dont @&$%ing care.

[bertty]

This is so cheap and tacky. On the day before the funeral of one of the victims and in the context of very widespread doubt about the events/perpetrators, a bureaucrat announces to the media about plans to "lure" more tourists to KT.

Of course it makes sense for them to plan: many innocent victims in this case will end up losing their jobs in addition to the real tragedy. But public pronouncements of plans are really ill-timed and disrespectful. This kind of planning is best done quietly and to give at least the appearance that Thailand is not simply obsessed with revenue from tourism but has a genuine concern for the welfare of visitors

Sadly it doesn't give a damn about the welfare of visitors. And it is all about money.

[jewel]

Disgusting:-(

[MJP]

Hannah's funeral is today.

[lildragon]

Hannah's funeral is today.

Rest in peace young lady.

As for the article posted. How about instead of hotel deals that SUPPORT the scum mafia on the island, that TAT go to the junta and demand them to actually clean up the island of this scum?

I'll wait to see pigs fly first.

[catweazle]

Eradicate the mafia on the island, arrest the real murderers, show the public that mafia and corruption on Koh Tao are a thing of the past and tourists might return. Otherwise, the cesspit of an island deserves to go down the drain and all the cowards too afraid to NOW - at the point of best timing - to open their mouths along with it!

Edited October 10, 2014 by catweazle

[The stuttering parrot]

I just can't understand the silence of the British government on not only this but the events over the last couple of weeks.

Two of their subjects have been murdered and the only thing I have seen is a twitter saying we are watching events closely.

[wackybacky]

Hang on.

Whatever happened to 90% occupancy of rooms over the full moon party, and all the bragging about pulling 100 million baht out of tourists in just 1 day?

Not only do i find this ruthless, but also highly insensitive and to be quite frank.... SICK!

[NongKhaiKid]

This is so cheap and tacky. On the day before the funeral of one of the victims and in the context of very widespread doubt about the events/perpetrators, a bureaucrat announces to the media about plans to "lure" more tourists to KT.

Of course it makes sense for them to plan: many innocent victims in this case will end up losing their jobs in addition to the real tragedy. But public pronouncements of plans are really ill-timed and disrespectful. This kind of planning is best done quietly and to give at least the appearance that Thailand is not simply obsessed with revenue from tourism but has a genuine concern for the welfare of visitors

and refurbishing the island's security image now that homicide suspects are in custody.

Does it matter if they may not be the actual culprits ?

All of this means a trial is definitely not on the cards as if it went pear shaped there wouldn't be enough egg to cover all the faces, not that it's a worry in a country where accountability is non-existent.

[seahorse]

I got one thing to say....These arnt the only murders

Koh Tao Thailand beach death: Parents convinced son murdered – and his killing on new years day covered up to protect tourism. http://1clicknews.com/thailand-beach-death-parents-convinced-son-murdered-and-his-killing-covered-up-to-protect-tourism/

stick that in your revival.

Wow. Just wow.

When the family, of the Mickleover suburb of Derby, brought Nick’s body home a week later, a post-mortem revealed he had drowned. The coroner opened an investigation, on the grounds it was a suspicious death.

Tracy said: “Nick had no broken bones which seemed strange for someone who’d fallen all that way. The postmortem report said the possibility he was assaulted before death could not be excluded.” Their demands for answers are being backed by British police who are working with the Foreign Office to try to question the Thai authorities ahead of a UK inquest in December.

Well played, Englishoak. Well played, indeed, sir.

[Katipo]

The problem with Koh Tao isn't so much the murders, but how they have been subsequently handled. The only way to restore confidence is to make sure the correct people are arrested and dealt with in accordance with the law.

As long as it is felt by tourists that there are people on the island (or anywhere else in Thailand) that feel confident enough to commit murder without fear of prosecution, tourism will suffer.

[daveAustin]

The TOURISM Council of Thailand plans urgent measures to restore tourism on Koh Tao, which has been battered by the case surrounding the murder of two Britons

Well you could start by catching the REAL killers!!!

[NeverSure]

I just can't understand the silence of the British government on not only this but the events over the last couple of weeks.

Two of their subjects have been murdered and the only thing I have seen is a twitter saying we are watching events closely.

We don't know that they aren't doing anything. If they did, they wouldn't announce it. "Something" is astir internationally and some international groups are being vocal. The RTP's investigation may be going to hell in a handbasket leaving them with international egg on their "face."

The Brits have diplomacy to think about (something that never occurs to Thais) and ongoing international relationships are very important.

I'm waiting to see how this plays out. ATM it is getting very interesting.

[Chris Lawrence]

'Thailand is free of Ebola.'

Now that is catchy?

Run with it guys, as you would have to be <deleted>##ing geniuses to come up with that one.

[lucpez]

I got one thing to say....These arnt the only murders

Koh Tao Thailand beach death: Parents convinced son murdered – and his killing on new years day covered up to protect tourism. http://1clicknews.com/thailand-beach-death-parents-convinced-son-murdered-and-his-killing-covered-up-to-protect-tourism/

stick that in your revival.

!!!

[spidermike007]

Message to both the tourism authorities, the government, and the army:

How to fix the most serious problems on Koh Tao.

1. The most important factor in addressing the rampant crime, drugs, and lack of law enforcement on Tao is to revoke the land leases of the five families, effective immediately. They have been nothing but a problem for this island, ever since the people who completely lacked vision, granted them these leases. They continue to behave in a completely irresponsible manner. They continue to commit crimes and continue to live above the law, in the land of the untouchables, due to the massive wealth these leases have bestowed upon these terribly unworthy families.

2. Seize their illegal wealth, which is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Use that for some good and purposes.

3. Arrest, convict, and imprison most of the family members who have brought this island to it's knees, through abuse of the system, and decades of illegal land sales.

4. Replace the entire police department. They have shown how compromised they are, with this latest fiasco.

5. Figure out a way to get the central government to show the slightest bit of concern for the islands of Tao, Phangan, and Samui. The forgotten islands of the south.

I could go on, and on, and on. But, that would be a good place to start. And stop jawboning about the islands recovery, without addressing any of the fundamental issues. The authorities are sounding sillier and sillier by the day.

[mrtoad]

Koh Tao can go <deleted> itself