Political instability causes tourism losses of B50-100bn

Post by **buksida** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:04 pm

The red-shirt riots during the Songkran festival would cost the tourism sector 50 billion to 100 billion baht in lost revenue this year, the Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC) reported on Thursday.

The think tank predicts the tourist industry will suffer even more than last year because of the continuing political instability.

If the turbulence ends quickly, the losses could be reined in to about 50 billion baht, but this could easily double if the situation prolongs.

In the first quarter of 2009, the number of foreign tourist arrivals fell 16 per cent and could sink to 35 per cent this quarter. However, the numbers would likely rebound to a loss of only 25 per cent in the third quarter.

The KRC forecasts that about 11.7 million foreign tourists will visit the country this year, almost 20 per cent down on 2008.

The 2009 tourism revenue should be around 380 billion baht, 27 per cent down on last year.

Source: Bangkok Post

Thoughts: What with the yellows closing the airport and having folk music concerts and the reds in the streets throwing petrol bombs the news is hardly surprising.

Spoke to my brother on messenger last night and asked him when he was coming over for a holiday. Not bloody likely he said, its a war zone over there. This is the view most of the west now has of Thailand.

Good to see the government making a grand effort to encourage foreigners to live in or visit Thailand: higher bank charges for your ATM cards, no rest bite from immigration, over valued currency .... way to go.

Post by **komfortablynumb** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:27 pm

Sadly the recent antics by both the yellow and red shirts hasn't helped LOS tourism.
Pictures of buses burning and police shooting doesn't create a good image.
Many in the UK will stay at home this year.
Doesn't take Einstien to work out that people short of cash may cancel the exotic holidays.
I wonder why the TB is running around the 50ish=£1.
Makes you wonder how deeply the £ is in the shit.
Sadly the high season will be a little lower this year.

Post by **STEVE G** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:18 am

Yes, obviously the political turmoil is having an effect on tourism but the financial crisis is perhaps a big part of the downturn as well.
I see that other countries in the region are also having problems:
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2B ... 67469.html

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:41 am

Sadly, they(Thais) are well used to "shooting themselves in the foot" on many matters but the blinkered belligerence that they display with obvious contempt to all things such as economy/tourist industry/fellow citizen etc etc makes one wonder if they are even worthy of having these positive things in the first place.

I don't think they give a shit, which shouldn't surprise anyone that has resided here for a while. I think it's the rest of the world that blows sunshine up their arses, not them.

Hmmmm.

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:55 am

spitfire wrote:I think it's the rest of the world that blows sunshine up their arses, not them.

Hmmmm.

But what about the culture, great food and lovely smiling people?

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:59 am

Nothing definitive dude, just murky sometimes.

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:05 am

spitfire wrote:Nothing definitive dude, just murky sometimes.

Just referencing what to tourists masks over the obscene ATM Charges, Visa rules, etc, etc, etc.

Post by **pookie** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:11 am

I have heard people openly saying they will NOT go to Thailand anymore due to the political situation, the gouging that goes on, the infrastructure of some of the places lacking somewhat etc, etc. But the one that DID suprise me was quite a few people are saying they wont come because of the xenophobic attitudes of the Thais.
Varying levels of it, from the "powers that be" right down to the working girls themselves. Lots of us know this already, but word is spreading apparently

Pookie

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:15 am

spitfire wrote:I don't think they give a shit, which shouldn't surprise anyone that has resided here for a while. I think it's the rest of the world that blows sunshine up their arses, not them.

And bizarrely enough, as much as I disagree with them in many ways, their lack of concern for 'world opinion' is one of the things I quite like... sometimes!

This is how we are - take it or leave it; like it or lump it. Sounds almost... American! Or... speak it softly... Yorkshire...

Warts and all, I'm still here, and wild elephants wouldn't drag me back to the UK! (Or Norway, lazerlab)

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:17 am

pookie wrote:But the one that DID suprise me was quite a few people are saying they wont come because of the xenophobic attitudes of the Thais.

What surprised you Pookie? That holidaymakers have spotted it?

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:25 am

pookie wrote:I have heard people openly saying they will NOT go to Thailand anymore due to............. the infrastructure of some of the places lacking somewhat

I personally think the transport Infrastructure is superb, you can travel everywhere efficiently, certainly better than the UK.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 3:33 am

Thais will be like .... "yeah whatever, you'll be back."

SJ

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 5:46 am

Spitfires comment - the 'obvious contempt' shown to tourism - was summed up very well Thursday morning on a UK radio programme.

Unfortunately I don't know, and can't trace, what programme it was. Probably one of the BBCs national stations. Sadly my attempt to concentrate on the lengthy debate was hampered by elderly relatives!
An interviewer had gone to LOS to discuss the current situation with reds, yellows, and locals. One PAD leader, when questioned about negative effects on tourism of last years' airports occupation, replied 'so what?' - 'not important' And he certainly sounded very contemptuous.

By contrast some Thaksin supporters interviewed were full of praise for him. An ex rice farmer in Udon claimed to have been enabled to change to a now thriving mushroom business due to his development loan.
A Bangkok student dismissed the fraud charges against Thaksin as an accepted feature of all politicians, which shouldn't detract from the benefits he had (she said) brought to Thai people.

Overall a very interesting programme which I will try to track down. If anyone else stumbled across it and can provide a link it is well worth a listen. Just make sure the elderly relatives are out of the way!

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:18 am

Got it got it! The link to the programme is www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00jz7c9

Radio 4. Shame I can't open it......?

Post by **moja** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:14 am

just back from a week in Kota Kinabalu and it seems people are still travelling just not to Thailand.
I know it was Easter and a busy time but the hotel was 100% full and I would say 70% of the guests were British, have not heard so much English spoken since I was last in the UK.

Most European countries were represented there as were America and Australia, there were also a lot of Asian tourists.

Went into the town one evening and it was the same there, every restaurant was full.

We asked a few people about Thailand and the most common reply was that the Country was not stable enough anymore!

The added attraction to the resort we were staying in was the Orang-utans in the reserve next door and they certainly drew the crowds. Wonderful animals

Hua Hin Forum

Political instability causes tourism losses of B50-100bn

Political instability causes tourism losses of B50-100bn

Political instability causes tourism losses of 50 - 100 bill

Political instability causes tourism losses of 50 - 100 bill