Big guns descend on Hua Hin to promote tourism confidence in wake of bombings

[rooster59]

Big guns descend on Hua Hin to promote tourism confidence in wake of bombings

 

 

 

HUA HIN:-- Prominent figures from the government and private sector of Thai tourism descended on Hua Hin yesterday to promote confidence in the town's tourism industry after the bombings earlier this month.

One Thai woman was killed and nearly two dozen Thais and foreigners were wounded in the blasts on August 11 and 12. Tourism has suffered as a result and the authorities are scrambling to improve confidence in the next two to three months ahead of the start of the high season.

Leading the way at Hua Hin train station yesterday was the arrival of Sports and Tourism minister Kobkarn Wattanawarangkul who joined representatives from the Thai Tourism association, local chamber of commerce and other interested parties. Some 200 people were involved many wearing sky blue "Hug Hua Hin" shirts and singing the "Our Home" song.

Meanwhile, officers from bomb disposal groups (EOD) were on hand along with two sniffer dogs, just in case.

And police used the opportunity to say that further warrants of suspected bombers are expected to be issued next week.

 

Source: Thai News Agency

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2016-08-28

[Thechook]

Right so these big guns don't live in the area but turn up surrounded by the military and police, the photo doesn't say it's that safe with the large personal security around them.  Was the area where the photo was taken swept to explosives prior.

[PatOngo]

What??? No statement from the minister!

[NongKhaiKid]

38 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

What??? No statement from the minister!

A fantastic chance to assure that tourism hasn't been affected and produce the   '  figures  '   to prove it so what distracted her,   Pokemon   ?

[NongKhaiKid]

58 minutes ago, Thechook said:

Right so these big guns don't live in the area but turn up surrounded by the military and police, the photo doesn't say it's that safe with the large personal security around them.  Was the area where the photo was taken swept to explosives prior.

It's perfectly safe with security all around you then you head off back to your safe comfort zone.

Remember when john McCain said he's driven through Baghdad and felt perfectly safe then it was revealed he was in an armoured Humvee and escorted by a security detail of 100 Iraqi soldiers   ?

[BigBadGeordie]

49 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

What??? No statement from the minister!

Not as yet, but the way it works is, visit today, next week claim an increase in arrivals, due to her visit. Credit where credit is due, or in this instance BS where BS is expected.

[shirtless]

The big guns in Thailand only fire blanks RIP Hua Hin Bombings dont improve tourism or real estate prices.

[canopus1969]

3 hours ago, Thechook said:

Right so these big guns don't live in the area but turn up surrounded by the military and police, the photo doesn't say it's that safe with the large personal security around them.  Was the area where the photo was taken swept to explosives prior.

 

Now now, it was a nice day out in HH with lunch, all paid for by the tax payers - how much better can you get than that 

[DrTuner]

Guns and bombings, nice little headline sure to bring in the high quality tourists.

[poohy]

Unfortunate wording of the headline i feel!

[Eric Loh]

She is no way big gun. The big guns stayed away afraid to be pressed by the media on the investigation progress.

[impulse]

Kind of reminds me of that scene in Jaws where all the business leaders show up at the beach to promote tourism, but none are brave enough to get in the water.

 

They don't know who did it.  They don't know why they did it.  They don't know how many were in on it.  They don't know how long it had been planned, or what other plans the perpetrators may have.

 

But they assure tourists we're safe.

 

I wonder if they have a Robert Shaw character who will make that horrible noise on the blackboard when they have their next meeting.

[elgordo38]

6 hours ago, PatOngo said:

What??? No statement from the minister!

You leave Mrs/Miss Cobofcorn alone. She is always good for a laugh. She is postulating herself for the sake of tourism giving her all for her country and of course the PM is rating her job performance. 

[arrowsdawdle]

It has been raining for centuries and Thais cannot figure out the concept of gravity's affect on water resulting in flooding, they just react instead of plan. Of course, they pay a monk or fortune-teller to tell them everything will be okay and hope it will go away. This trip to Hua Hin is a page from the reactive mindset of superstitious "tell me the good news" Thailand.

[williamgeorgeallen]

giving hollow assurances has been working for a long time in thailand. why change a winning formula?

[sahibji]

presence of top guns can in some measure restore the confidence of the people. what is is more important is that the vigilance is maintained and  and that no untoward events take place, like repeat of the bombing.

[ChrisY1]

This awesome get together, of such esteemed people, would have been appropriate had the plods made some arrests and charges....but when didly squat has been achieved, it really is simply a photo op

[Rorri]

9 hours ago, Thechook said:

Right so these big guns don't live in the area but turn up surrounded by the military and police, the photo doesn't say it's that safe with the large personal security around them.  Was the area where the photo was taken swept to explosives prior.

It does say bomb disposal personal, AND sniffer dogs, came along, one assume the area was well and truly checked, before these "prominent" people arrived. No brave people here. They CAN NOT guarantee anyone's safety, only fools would believe them.

[fish monger]

Better to stick with what we can do best...........

[Rod Gold]

The problem is not with the perception of danger.  The problem is that the Southern Region of Thailand has been smoldering for years.  The problems brought on by Muslim separatists has not been reduced or controlled.  On the contrary, the area of danger has expanded.

 

Good Luck!  You may convince a few naïve tourists to risk it all to visit a militarized zone when most of the rest of the country is comparably much safer.  

[impulse]

5 hours ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

giving hollow assurances has been working for a long time in thailand. why change a winning formula?

  

Sad that they probably believe what they're doing actually works.  Tourists keep coming for the cuties, and in spite of the hollow assurances.

Imagine how they could increase tourism by having the cuties and some activities that actually attract people.  Thunderboat races, jet ski races and stunt competitions, wakeboard competitions, sailboat races, beach volleyball, windsurfing competitions, kite surfing, kayak races, and on and on.

But no.  We’ll just keep the airports open and they’ll keep coming in droves- in spite of deteriorating beaches and an occasional terrorist or nationalist attack.  (And some pretty surly cuties, to boot)