Tour firms fear B100bn in revenues could vanish

CHATRUDEE THEPARAT

Tourism operators are calling on the government to scrap the state of emergency declaration as soon as possible to help restore travel sentiment.

”The declaration has been a heavy blow to the tourism industry. Tour operators, notably from China and Japan have cancelled their trips immediately after the declaration was made,” said Anake Srishevachart, the president of the Thai-Japan Tourist Association.

”We hope the government lifts the order as soon as possible before everything goes from bad to worse.”

Apichart Sankary, the president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, agreed, saying the tourism industry during the five-month high season (October to February) would be hardest hit of all sectors if the protests were prolonged.

”Should the protests last until the end of this month, we fear that revenue worth about 100 billion baht for the high season will totally disappear.”

The most lucrative high-season market is Europeans, who spend an average of two to three weeks in Thailand.

Mr Apichart said he also feared that the impact would last until the first quarter of next year. That means Thailand could lose an estimated 200 billion baht.

New figures show arrivals via Suvarnabhumi Airport down 30% from the normal levels of 80,000 to 100,000 visitors per day since Aug 26, after the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) took over Government House.

Surapong Techaruvichit, the vice-president of the Thai Hotels Association, said the political standoff was starting to affect the entire hotel business, even though the protests were currently limited to a small area of Bangkok.

Occupancy rates for hotels in Phuket were off 30% in August from normal levels, with rates in Pattaya and Samui down 5-10%, he said. Airline seats filled on flights to Phuket airport have also dropped to 50% from 85%, he added.

”Immediately after the clashes, all markets in Asia, which are normally sensitive to safety measures, have cancelled their trips to Thailand,” said Mr Surapong. ”But as soon as the declaration is lifted, we expect those visitors are ready to come back to Thailand.”