Tourists Not Deterred By Travel Warnings

[baboon]

you are right Bruce, it is only to the advantage of the Junta. They have deployed a secret army division to spy on people, they have not kept promise by lifting martial law, they were not able to prove any corruption, they could not seize Thaksin's assets as he did not cheated as claimed. But in the process they have pissed off their rich supporters, with the dumb action of imposing monetary controls that made them lose 850 billion in one day, they have pissed off military top brasses that they removed from their posts, they have pissed of the police for the same reason. If there is a little bit of turmoil they can confiscate money (they simply claim a terror conspiracy) they can keep the martial law in place, they can put extra muscle on the constitution draft writers (I see no difference with the Burmsese situation here) and so on. And it might encourage the people fromABAC to declare people , person of they year by simply surveying just 17 provinces. Brace yourself for far more turmoil. The poor would be crazy to take it lying down, abandoning the 30 baht scheme and still banning them fom being chosen in office because they do not have an University degree, should bring them on the street. Bangkokians should learn that each and every junta is always more desasterous than the wost democratically elected government.

There is some most interesting discussion on this thread [see above, for example] but has anyone not considered these bombings may just have been an act of simple hooliganism? Remember the thread about the "bus bombings" in Bangkok a few months ago?

[Gongchime]

I love Southeast Asia and I hate to see this development. All the Southeast Asian countries are already disenfranchised under the thumbs of the heavy players. They don't need to also be fighting among themselves or within themselves.

They need to unify to stave off threats to their solidarity. Sadly, what we might consider to be minor cultural, ethnic, and political differences makes for a bunch of disunited small groups trying to assert the dominance of their little pocket which will only leave them as isolated and powerless as before.

Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia and the Philippines need to band together and set aside their differences to have a voice in the modern capitalist world but seems like it's so far removed from any future possibility. Maybe any idea of some sort of unified Southeast Asia or even unified Thai identity is hopelessly misguided. Just ideological power struggles ad nauseum till Shiva's dance finally destroys the universe.

[JemJem]

Let's not fool ourselves here....Thailand WILL unfortunately experience some decline in the no. of tourists visiting the country in the coming weeks. HOWEVER, the important things to consider are how much of a decline there will be and how long will take for the situation to get back to normal. In my opinion, assuming that there are no more of these incidents in Bangkok or other major touristy areas (the problems in the South are unfortunately bound to continue but this affects the tourist situation only very very little), Thailand will recover very fast.

The bombings in America, England, Indonesia, India, Turkey and Spain have all affected the tourism industry of those countries badly but they were all major terrorist acts.

So, my guess is that Thailand will experience only a slight and short-term decline in tourist numbers.

Regards,

Jem

[The Professor]

The headline of this article is ludicrous and offers nothing to back that up. The people here who talk about Thailand like it's a one of a kind are wrong. It may be that for them as they are literally married to the place but not for your average tourist family. OK so maybe most of the people who already have their vacations booked will go thru with them, I'll buy that, but folks planning new vacations will be deterred by multiple bombings in Bangkok. This much I can guarantee. Maybe all of this will be good for Bali though.

[tectronic]

c'mon, give it some time... wait and see

All the self reassurances aside... there are plenty of places to go in the world where there aren't bombs exploding.

[beejoir]

I've seen the Thai police come out with some great quotes but the one in todays Bangkok post was a classic, they have a lead on who is responsible for the bomb attacks! Great I thought and read on....... the bombers left their mark in the phone booths they bombed......! a mark, its a Tag! a graffiti Tag, every bloody phone booth in Bangers is covered in Tags, ###### I even know one of the guys whos Tag is shown in the photograph, he's 16 years old, and wouldent know what to do with a bomb even if it smacked him in the face!

This is going to be one botched up Thai investigation!... and whats all this about PornThip the forensics nutcase not being allowed into the crime scene... until the police had ''cleaned it up''?

[Ijustwannateach]

People who already know how things are here- that the drama is "controlled" and that things will only get out of hand a certain extent and in certain locations- will have no big fear of coming here (or no more than normal) and keep their plans. However, prospective new visitors who take the headlines and outside news at face value will be put off, so the percentage of new tourists is likely to drop over the short-to-medium term.

[belidofan]

he did it again "the minister", the sickiest most fascist demon on this forum, that's how i think of you.

If you had the slightest geniune heart for this country and its people, if you had been READING the newspapers the past 7 or 8 years instead of just looking at the headinglines, you would know that the gentlemen who represent this "junta" are the King's Men, the local Knights of the Round Table, noble men with the spirit of the Bushido. You better pray they succeed in their unselfish honourable endeavour to "save" this country in keeping its thainess, if not, it will be completely "chinasised" and devoured by this new "elite" of money-sharks.

I need not say no more!

truly concerned

Its all very sad.

I assume the opponents just want to create mayhem and instability and undermine the Surayed Government. I can't see this helping the pro-Thaksin cause, as it will just make the authorities more wary of him and his supporters.

I hope their efforts totally fail and this govt is given a chance to complete its work and restore democracy.

Meanwhile, I shall be telling everyone I know not to give up on Thailand, which I love.

you are right Bruce, it is only to the advantage of the Junta. They have deployed a secret army division to spy on people, they have not kept promise by lifting martial law, they were not able to prove any corruption, they could not seize Thaksin's assets as he did not cheated as claimed. But in the process they have pissed off their rich supporters, with the dumb action of imposing monetary controls that made them lose 850 billion in one day, they have pissed off military top brasses that they removed from their posts, they have pissed of the police for the same reason. If there is a little bit of turmoil they can confiscate money (they simply claim a terror conspiracy) they can keep the martial law in place, they can put extra muscle on the constitution draft writers (I see no difference with the Burmsese situation here) and so on. And it might encourage the people fromABAC to declare people , person of they year by simply surveying just 17 provinces. Brace yourself for far more turmoil. The poor would be crazy to take it lying down, abandoning the 30 baht scheme and still banning them fom being chosen in office because they do not have an University degree, should bring them on the street. Bangkokians should learn that each and every junta is always more desasterous than the wost democratically elected government.

[chuchok]

he did it again "the minister", the sickiest most fascist demon on this forum, that's how i think of you.

If you had the slightest geniune heart for this country and its people, if you had been READING the newspapers the past 7 or 8 years instead of just looking at the headinglines, you would know that the gentlemen who represent this "junta" are the King's Men, the local Knights of the Round Table, noble men with the spirit of the Bushido. You better pray they succeed in their unselfish honourable endeavour to "save" this country in keeping its thainess, if not, it will be completely "chinasised" and devoured by this new "elite" of money-sharks.

I need not say no more!

truly concerned

You are kidding right?

[solodennis]

...have plans to be in BKK by mid February. No change for me.

[Phil Conners]

Yet

[mumbojumbo]

and both tourist and foreign residents heading for a plan B outside in nearby countries such as Malaysia....

Just what i want to do-move to a very high muslim country.

[The Professor]

AP

Thailand Blasts Concern Tourism Experts

Monday January 1, 5:00 pm ET

By Dean Visser, Associated Press Writer

Thailand Bombings' Impact on Tourism Concerns Experts; Tourists Say Blasts Won't Deter Visits

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Deadly New Year's bombings have failed to shatter Bangkok's charms for most visitors -- even one wounded in the blasts.

"I can't see why this would deter me from coming back," said Paul Hewitt, a Briton on holiday who was hurt when nine bombs went off across the Thai capital on New Year's Eve and Monday, leaving three people dead and 38 wounded, nine of them foreigners.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I just happened to be standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. It could've happened anywhere in the world," said Hewitt, 55, a retired flight attendant from Horsham, England who was hospitalized Sunday night but released Monday after being treated for debris that had lodged into his left arm.

Other tourists in Bangkok on Monday agreed with Hewitt. But travel industry insiders and analysts were more worried about the bombings' effects on tourism, a crucial driver of the Thai economy.

"What happened will most certainly hurt tourism, and will likely hurt consumer confidence as well as consumer spending," said analyst Aekpittaya Iemkongaek at brokerage BFIT Securities.

Aekpittaya said the unprecedented series of attacks in Bangkok could keep growth in gross domestic product -- the value of good and services a country produces -- from reaching the government's projection of 4.5 percent to 5 percent in the next year.

Thailand typically gets about 1 million visitors a month. In November 2006, 1.14 million arrived, up 2.4 percent from the same month in 2005, according to the latest available figures from the Bank of Thailand, the central bank.

Many tourists make repeated trips to enjoy Bangkok's elegant temples, blazing-hot food, riotous nightlife and sidewalks jammed with vendors selling everything from risque T-shirts to fried insects to high-end furniture.

But some governments cautioned their citizens about traveling in Thailand.

Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States issued grim warnings to their citizens, with some advising them to avoid movement within Bangkok and saying more attacks were possible.

Sunathee Ihvarphornchai, vice president for corporate communications at the national airline Thai Airways International, said the carrier has not been getting cancellations.

However, she said that "if more foreign countries issue more travel warnings, we might get cancellations in the future and the tourism industry may be hurt in the long term."

No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts and less than 12 hours after they occurred, the sirens, screams and breaking glass seemed incomprehensible as the usual crowds of tourists eyed souvenirs and rifled through pirated Hollywood movie DVDs on Bangkok's Sukhumvit Road.

At the Central World Plaza shopping complex -- the site of one blast -- just-arrived Andrew Tomlinson, who works in marketing in London, said there is now no hiding anywhere from random danger.

"Everywhere you go, you get this," said Tomlinson, 33. "Spain has bombs. England has bombs."

Associated Press writers Ambika Ahuja and Michael Casey in Bangkok contributed to this report.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070101/thailand_bo...urism.html?.v=3

[Rinrada]

So what do you recon Lass shall we book up our holidays in Thailand this year or WOT?...getting fed up wiff all that Spannish muck....

I hiv heard that they have nice beaches that the kids will love ...according to your Aunty Dora whose got a sister whos knows a guy who married a local...in somewhere called Pattaya ..or summit...sounds a reel nice place ...so wotcha....

O Arfur Aaaaa dunno...its been on the radio......although some nice Thai man wots in charge of the Toorist Authority says its OK and not to worry....

ear......why not check wiff the British Govs websit ...they always tell the truth.....dont they dear..?

from the BG web......

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Terrorism/Security

A number of bombs exploded in Bangkok on 31 December 2006. It is not yet clear who is responsible and there is a possibility of further attacks in coming days.

British Citizens are advised to exercise caution when travelling within Bangkok and wherever possible to avoid crowded public places.

There is a high threat from terrorism throughout Thailand.

Attacks can be indiscriminate and could be against places frequented by foreigners.

Following the increased violence in the far south, the Thai authorities have taken additional security measures in other parts of the country, including tourist centres and Bangkok.

We advise against all but essential travel to, or through, the far southern provinces of ....

http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagena...d=1013618386505

SO Arfur wot you recon.............BLACKPOOL should be nice.......

[SiriusBlack1]

Am I the only one who notices something strange about the article at the head of this thread?

The title is "Hardy tourists undeterred by..." but there isn't a shred of support for this assertion in the article.

Some of you have offered anecdotal evidence that the tourists are as yet undeterred, but the newspaper itself didn't bother.

Perhaps they are in urgent need of a headlines editor?

[Heng]

Oops, where's that gremlin with my message?

Sure, lots of great no-bomb places to go in the world, but none have the same flavour as Thailand.

Yeah, I wasn't talking about flavor. I'm all for flavor. I'm less enthusiastic about shrapnel. That said, I'm not moving anywhere. And that said, I still think there are plenty of folks out there (especially those unfamiliar with a country) who would prefer the no bombs option when choosing their vacation destination. Would you prefer to go to Disneyland Beirut or Euro Disney?

Edited January 2, 2007 by Heng

[jefro]

I took the authorities advice and stayed home on New Year's Eve. Of course, I wouldn't have gone any place anyway. I've always found the city quite dangerous over New Years--too many drunk drivers etc. So that night, I either stay home or I plan to be home by 7:00 p.m. Works well for me.

I was at a movie, a comedy at Paragon with Thai friends when the first news of a bomb reached us by mobile phone. A veteran of a few bombings from Vietnam to The N.Y. Trade Center, I was talked into going home and not continue the festive night. Respecting the fears of my friends, I went home.

It is a mistake to let terrorists put fear into the entire population of Bangkok, and give CNN a field day reporting the tragedy. Ten bad people can put a hurting on 13 million, but not for long. One must bounce back not letting fear strangle the New Year's celebration, or, hopes of a better 2007.

nice photo r u gay ?

[LivinLOS]

he did it again "the minister", the sickiest most fascist demon on this forum, that's how i think of you.

If you had the slightest geniune heart for this country and its people, if you had been READING the newspapers the past 7 or 8 years instead of just looking at the headinglines, you would know that the gentlemen who represent this "junta" are the King's Men, the local Knights of the Round Table, noble men with the spirit of the Bushido. You better pray they succeed in their unselfish honourable endeavour to "save" this country in keeping its thainess, if not, it will be completely "chinasised" and devoured by this new "elite" of money-sharks.

I need not say no more!

truly concerned

This is sarcasm right ???

I just cant tell any more..

[Ijustwannateach]

Steady as she goes, people. Check the topic before posting, don't spit into the wind, and don't eat the yellow snow.

"Steven"

[gudy]

I love Southeast Asia and I hate to see this development. All the Southeast Asian countries are already disenfranchised under the thumbs of the heavy players. They don't need to also be fighting among themselves or within themselves.

They need to unify to stave off threats to their solidarity. Sadly, what we might consider to be minor cultural, ethnic, and political differences makes for a bunch of disunited small groups trying to assert the dominance of their little pocket which will only leave them as isolated and powerless as before.

Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia and the Philippines need to band together and set aside their differences to have a voice in the modern capitalist world but seems like it's so far removed from any future possibility. Maybe any idea of some sort of unified Southeast Asia or even unified Thai identity is hopelessly misguided. Just ideological power struggles ad nauseum till Shiva's dance finally destroys the universe.

Do you know what I'm wondering so much about.... Why can all totally different ethnic groups of people live so PEACEFULLY in Malaysia........... I think we all lack the true information about islam.... me too... but at least when you try to listen to them and try to understand them... we will see that its maybe not that differend...

.... things to think about....

[stepenwolf1958]

Hardy tourists undeterred by drama, warnings

BANGKOK: -- Several foreign governments issued travel warnings for their citizens yesterday after the bombs in Bangkok on New Year's Eve, which killed three and injured 37.

Australia, Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States all issued travel advisories to their citizens to stay at home and avoid moving about the city. They also warned that more attacks were possible in coming days.

New Zealand's foreign ministry issued a travel warning saying there was some risk to security and recommended tourists to exercise "a high degree of caution" in Bangkok following the bombings.

The ministry on its travel safety website advised New Zealanders in Bangkok to avoid unnecessary travel within the city and said terrorist attacks may also occur elsewhere in Thailand, including tourist areas.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also issued a travel advisory on its website, saying: "There is a possibility of further attacks in coming days. Australians are urged to avoid unnecessary travel in Bangkok."

Earlier, the United Kingdom's Foreign Office warned British travellers not to travel around Bangkok "unless absolutely necessary".

Other countries also warned their nationals via CNN broadcasts to exercise extra caution when travelling in Thailand.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called a meeting yesterday to prepare an explanation to other countries about what happened.

They also distributed an English translation for embassies here of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's comments to the media, following his meeting at the Internal Security Operations Command headquarters on Sunday night.

Three Serbian, two British, and four Hungarian tourists were among the wounded.

Meanwhile, Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani said he had instructed Tourism Authority of Thailand offices worldwide to explain the bombs and to formulate working plans to restore confidence in Thailand.

Suvit yesterday visited badly injured tourist Marina Kovassco, from Hungary, who is being treated at Bumrungrad Hospital.

Kovassco was recovering from surgery but did not have a leg amputated, as widely reported earlier. She was one of two foreigners still in hospital.

Agence France-Presse reported that, while some tourists admitted to being stunned by the bombings, others said they would not let them ruin their holidays.

Emi Supati, 37, from Singapore, in Bangkok to see in the New Year with his wife, said he was stunned when he heard about the Central World Plaza bomb. They had walked by the site of the blast half an hour before it happened, he said.

"We wanted to enjoy the party, but it hasn't happened that way."

Karmen Skender, a tourist from Slovenia, backed the government's decision to cancel the New Year party.

"For those who were victims and their families, they will definitely think it's appropriate," she said.

--The Nation 2007-01-02

Even i think situation is serious,going in so familiar way for me(we already saw and living beside muslims in Bosnia) i don't think this is good way...To spread panic in this moment would be really stupid to do...Somebody count on that and things will be under control of Thai authorities very soon...I hope so and i believe in that...All i know is that response should be very fast and very sharp...Otherwice,they will not stop,no way...I would not be happy to see farangs leave Thailand in some kind of exodus...

All is very delicate but all of us should just be carefull and nothing else...Milos from Serbia (curently living and working in Thailand)

[JimsKnight]

he did it again "the minister", the sickiest most fascist demon on this forum, that's how i think of you.

If you had the slightest geniune heart for this country and its people, if you had been READING the newspapers the past 7 or 8 years instead of just looking at the headinglines, you would know that the gentlemen who represent this "junta" are the King's Men, the local Knights of the Round Table, noble men with the spirit of the Bushido. You better pray they succeed in their unselfish honourable endeavour to "save" this country in keeping its thainess, if not, it will be completely "chinasised" and devoured by this new "elite" of money-sharks.

I need not say no more!

truly concerned

This is sarcasm right ???

I just cant tell any more..

No man! This guy is serious!

Who is the facist demon?

Is he referring to the overhyped title by the OP?

I think that the title of the post is ridiculous! George did you dream that up off the top of your head! Or is it in the spirit of defiance 'gainst terrorism?

I'm up in the North of Thailand and I can assure you plenty of falang, expat and tourist alike are most concerned about it and if they are then 'outside tourists' will be too.

[Snowbirds]

All the self reassurances aside... there are plenty of places to go in the world where there aren't bombs exploding.

Where can you better the feeling of appreciation and happiness that Thai Culture and people give you?

Name me one place..

" "

Ok....

Its only a matter of time before your "places" incur the wrath of psychotic low lifes.

The world has changed forever..

Please don't look at Thailand in that way.

Happy new year...

[kozi]

What a load of old crap.

So far over the years while holidaying and living in Thailand, I have survived all the terrible warning disasters predicted by Western Governments to hit Thailand, including:

YK2, (planes falling out of the sky, etc etc etc), earthquakes, the likelyhood of long haul flight planes being blown up by terrorists, sars, bird flu and now being blown to bits by bombs.

My friends and family in England find it hard to believe that I am still alive and kicking in this land of extreme danger.

Is there some sort of conspiracy going on to destroy Thailand`s tourist industry.

In Britain during the Christmas period on line buying increased by 1000%, people were afraid to go out shopping because of street crime. Now there is a place to avoid visiting.

Ignore all the warnings. Thailand is one of the safest places to be on the planet and the Thais love tourists, who are well cared for here.

[wolfmanjack]

he did it again "the minister", the sickiest most fascist demon on this forum, that's how i think of you.

If you had the slightest geniune heart for this country and its people, if you had been READING the newspapers the past 7 or 8 years instead of just looking at the headinglines, you would know that the gentlemen who represent this "junta" are the King's Men, the local Knights of the Round Table, noble men with the spirit of the Bushido. You better pray they succeed in their unselfish honourable endeavour to "save" this country in keeping its thainess, if not, it will be completely "chinasised" and devoured by this new "elite" of money-sharks.

I need not say no more!

truly concerned

This is sarcasm right ???

I just cant tell any more..

No man! This guy is serious!

Who is the facist demon?

Is he referring to the overhyped title by the OP?

I think that the title of the post is ridiculous! George did you dream that up off the top of your head! Or is it in the spirit of defiance 'gainst terrorism?

I'm up in the North of Thailand and I can assure you plenty of falang, expat and tourist alike are most concerned about it and if they are then 'outside tourists' will be too.

It says "HARDY" tourist and I think it is correct. The tourist that are used to bombs going off will continue to come. People from Israel and Ireland will not even blink an eye at this news. Also most of the tourist that come here on a regular basis will still come but stay away from bkk. However the families with kids from middle class america, japan, etc that want to come and ride an elephant will stay away.

[Ulysses G.]

Do you know what I'm wondering so much about.... Why can all totally different ethnic groups of people live so PEACEFULLY in Malaysia...........

The Muslims are already in charge there, so they are not slaughtering innocent civilians and setting off bombs everywhere like they do in other countries!

[helenaj]

FACT OR FICTION? HELP!!!

Right now, I'm visiting my brother in Phuket, but I live and work in Bangkok. My Thai friends are freaking out about this and thinks it's unsafe to return. One of friends said there was a threat near Silom where I live, but I cannot find any such report. Also, the bomb threat at Central Lao Prao was false - thank you God!!! Has anyone heard anything new? On CNN, Bangkok seems to be back to normal. She is also worried because I'm American and there are rumors that the U.S. may be connected somehow and may build resentment with these bombers! OY! Can someone clear up these conspiracy theories? Thanks and Happy New Year!!!

[inf]

No panic please!

My wife and I spent the past weekend in Bangkok and never felt threatened or in danger at any moment.

Around 8:30 pm Sunday we were planning to grab a bite at the Paragon food court on our way back to the hotel, but the restaurants were turning down new customers, and some were turning lights off even though there were still guests eating.

We thought it was just overzealous employees trying to get off work early to celebrate new year's eve, so it was only back at the hotel we learned of the news by watching tv.

My wife had been planning to see the fireworks, but since that was canceled, she stayed at the hotel. I went off on the Skytrain - yes, that was almost deserted, 50 percent of passengers were foreigners - and spent the next few hours, until 2 am, at the Q bar party, which was packed as usual.

On Monday, we went shopping around the Siam area, and looking for stuff around Pratunam, but no feeling of danger whatsoever.

We both love Bangkok and have no qualms about returning. In fact, my wife will be passing thru again early next month on her way to Laos and Vietnam.

The big 'if' for tourism the coming months is that if the bombings continue, and/or if they don't find who did it (and I mean arresting people rather than naming politicians), then tourism will be damaged and all of Thailand will suffer.

But if things calm down, tourism will go on strong, because Thailand has just too many strong points. Remember bombings in Spain and the UK? Are tourists avoiding those countries? No way.

[Bruce1]

A Thai friend speculates that people who benefitted from corruption under Thaksin, and who want to keep their gains, might be sending a warning that they still have power and will sacrifice Thaksin as the "fall guy" as long as the govt. doesn't dig too deep into other murky waters. No idea if this is right or not, but it's an interesting theory...

[andy1308]

The thing we will never know is how many people who are/were CONSIDERING coming to Thailand will not think again and opt for an alternative destination. That will only become apparent when tourism figures are released that show a decline, or not, as the case may be.