Airport drama has no happy ending for Thai tourism

[firebird]

Agree there Jonk and the worst part of it to me personally is that I have my son over there .
He is married to a very nice Thai girl and they have 2 great children, my grand kids boy and girl and I have not even seen the little girl yet and she will be 3 next April.

[jumpjockey]

I also agree with red,s comments but would add,

Reports at least 2 months ago stated that there would be a lag effect for Asian economies. The exact reason for this is beyond me but it is certainly starting as predicted.

The price of raw materials has crashed, ie steel, copper, and so on. China is now starting to feel the recession big time and as we all know this can only be negative for the Thai economy.

The latest reports from the Bank of England and the IMF last week were that the recession will last well into 2011, and maybe beyond.

And of course we must remember that when the recession is over we will all have to pay back the Trillion pounds and rising back in higher taxes.

Not just the UK of course, but many nations who are borrowing to save the banks and other industries.

On a final note, look out for more Hedge fund companys going t-ts up and leaving banks and pension funds in more trouble.

[margaretcarnes]

This thread ties in with so many others on HHAD at the moment that it's difficult to see the joins. But please think on this - the Reuters report posted by the OP is your typical sensationalist Thailand reporting by farangs, and certainly doesn't help. 'Nana Plaza Khatoi says so and so' for example, isn't exactly calculated to improve Thailands image.
And maybe - just maybe - the Foreign Ministers 'fun' comments were also taken out of context. In reality the PAD occupation of the aiports WAS largely peaceful. Hugely disruptive to a lot of farang travellers - yes. But the PAD had a ball with a very organised support network. They even had one American stay there to support them.
It is such a shame that regular visitors are already opting for other destinations in the region. Understandable for tourists who have jobs to get home for of course, but hopefully backpackers, retired, and regular visitors won't be so easily put off. Those of us who know the place will still be back regardless.

[hogus]

Even the "Nana Plaza Khatoi" is part of Thailand's way to attract visitors like the Sheraton Hotel.
So it's just fair in my eyes, that not just a GM but also simple people in the tourism-industry can have a word in the Reuter's report.

That many people canceled their journey to Thailand is not the result of sensational reports, it's the result of the fact that Thailand is a "failed state" in the moment.
They aren't able to protect essential infrastructures as the whole world could see by the occupation of Bangkok's airport, and before in Phuket.
If there is no power anymore, which is able to stop Terrorists or Warlords to take hostage of 100,000s of innocent people, than this isn't a joke or an acceptable way to express a different political opinion anymore...it's just a disaster.
I can't find any excuse for this!
May be the crash down of tourism & economy will help, that responsible authorities wake up finally!

[lomuamart]

I'd go along with that hogus - and more.
PAD were simply allowed by the army and police to occupy the airports. As a point of reference, look what happened at Stanstead in the UK (think I've got that airport correct?). The protesters lasted a few hours.
Thailand is viewed as a third world country by the rest of the world and with the fiasco at the airports they should be. Who can trust them? Maybe not tourists who have to spend 25% more in this country now, let alone getting here. And will they get back on time?

[cookmanchef]

Obviously the fall in tourist numbers is very bad news Thailand but I would say that the world recession and dreadful exchange rates are probably more responsible than the airport closure.

The loss of revenue from falling tourist numbers is nothing compared to the loss that the collapse in the export market will cause, Thailand's main export revenue sources are electrical goods and components and auto motive industries.

These are the very things that Americans , Europeans and North Asians will hold off from buying, Toyota posting first losses in 50 years or so this week!!

There will be well over 1,000,000 job losses here in the next year, some will return to their villages but others will sit tight and try to see it through and find money in other ways!!

Tough year for almost everyone without doubt.

[Toy]

I agree with you, but in Thailand's case it is a combination of the global recession, the airport closure and the political situation in the country.

And I fear that figure will be much higher than 1 million job losses. Much of the money spent in Isaan comes from the tourism industry, and I think that crime in Thailand will increase and it will be an amplifier to more tourists will be gone. It is a vicious circle.
But I hope the best for Thailand and its people

[Spitfire]

And I fear that figure will be much higher than 1 million job losses. Much of the money spent in Isaan comes from the tourism industry, and I think that crime in Thailand will increase...............

1. Yes, I think it will be higher than 1 million, all in all, everything 'slung' into the complete equation. It's only just started!

2. Yes, also Isaan is partly, not completely, supported by funds "channelled" from "other" locations. By that I'm including factory workers, taxi drivers etc, not just the blindly obvious one. It will certainly be an eye-opener to see how the area 'adjusts' to a demise of such an abundant source of revenue or whether they are ambivalent to the reality, only time will tell there, could make predictions but will refrain from being cynical, not yet the time for such statements.

3. Crime will be a consequence of all of this, it always is in almost all societies. If people have jobs and an income then they often tend to be OK/uncriminally motivated, not all I know, but a large section. Once hard times hit and people in large numbers start to lose their jobs then it is inevitable that crimes such as theft/burglary/fraud etc start to arise in a noticable fashion, it's already started with the counterfeit money etc. I rent a house from a Lt Colonel and last time he came round he mentioned that there is a rising theft/fraud/burglary problem almost everywhere.

The interesting part to the last bit about rising crime is that it might start to happen in the rural areas which they haven't really had before on such a large level. It will be interesting to see how they 'handle' the problem of people that are used to living/working in a city for the last 10 years suddenly reappearing in the village.

From going to work on this




to going down the road like this




But will still be hoping for this




We'll see! Strange mix, must say.