April 8th, 2007, 22:10
Asian tourists turn away from Thailand amid political uncertainty - The Nation
Asian tourists have begun turning away from Thailand, official statistics show, prompting concern that holidaymakers might be avoiding the kingdom because of its continuing political woes.
The number of tourists arriving from East Asia dropped by 7.3 percent in the first two months of the year, compared to the same period in 2006, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said. "Sensitive Asian tourists, from Japan for example, have been scared away from Bangkok due to security concerns," said Pornthip Samerton, managing director of travel agent Destination Asia.
The TAT numbers showed a general drop-off in February among tourists from around the world, as overall arrivals fell six percent from January. Arrivals were still slightly up from the year before. Pornthip said that many tourists may have reconsidered their travel plans following the deadly New Year's Eve bomb blasts in Bangkok that killed three and injured dozens.
Since then, several foreign embassies have upgraded their travel warnings for Bangkok, citing the threat of more blasts.
Meanwhile, a separatist insurgency in southern Thailand has sharply escalated, and the junta that took power in a coup last September has threatened to invoke a state of emergency in Bangkok over political protests.
"After the bombs, the political situation and the insurgency in the south have added to tourists' concerns. Meanwhile, changing regulations regarding foreign investments have had an impact on business arrivals," said TAT spokesman Chattan Kunjara na Ayudhya.
Full storyhttp://www.nationmultimedia.com/20 ... 031400.php (storyhttp://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/08/headlines/headlines_30031400.php)
Asian tourists have begun turning away from Thailand, official statistics show, prompting concern that holidaymakers might be avoiding the kingdom because of its continuing political woes.
The number of tourists arriving from East Asia dropped by 7.3 percent in the first two months of the year, compared to the same period in 2006, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said. "Sensitive Asian tourists, from Japan for example, have been scared away from Bangkok due to security concerns," said Pornthip Samerton, managing director of travel agent Destination Asia.
The TAT numbers showed a general drop-off in February among tourists from around the world, as overall arrivals fell six percent from January. Arrivals were still slightly up from the year before. Pornthip said that many tourists may have reconsidered their travel plans following the deadly New Year's Eve bomb blasts in Bangkok that killed three and injured dozens.
Since then, several foreign embassies have upgraded their travel warnings for Bangkok, citing the threat of more blasts.
Meanwhile, a separatist insurgency in southern Thailand has sharply escalated, and the junta that took power in a coup last September has threatened to invoke a state of emergency in Bangkok over political protests.
"After the bombs, the political situation and the insurgency in the south have added to tourists' concerns. Meanwhile, changing regulations regarding foreign investments have had an impact on business arrivals," said TAT spokesman Chattan Kunjara na Ayudhya.
Full storyhttp://www.nationmultimedia.com/20 ... 031400.php (storyhttp://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/08/headlines/headlines_30031400.php)