Chinese ditch travel plans
The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has estimated inbound cancellations will reach 40,000 by the end of this month, resulting in Bt800 million in lost tourism revenue.
Chinese tourists account for the most cancellations, followed by Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, India and the UK. Not much effect is expected from European countries and the North America.ATTA president Apichart Sankary said 50 per cent of all cancellations were made by Chinese tourists. Their numbers will drop by 80-90 per cent from last month. Most travel on charter flights. He added 50 per cent of Japanese had also cancelled and most were individual travellers. Travellers from other countries had already paid for packages, so fewer cancellations were expected from them. But, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) played down the effects, saying that local and international travel trade associations, travel operators and media have said there had been a minimal impact on Thai tourism. TAT domestic offices have been monitoring the situation in their respective areas of responsibility, with some reporting no change to tourism as travellers wait and see how the situation develops. There have been no cancellations of media-familiarisation trips in Thailand organised by overseas TAT offices for the rest of September and all of October. A total of 57 media representatives from nine countries are scheduled to come. A news report filed by BBC business reporter Will Smale on Wednesday titled "Wait and see for Thai tourist sector" echoed that sentiment: "Tour operators say they have no plans to cancel flights to Thailand, and UK holiday companies insist that it's very much business as usual." All tourist destinations and transport in the country are operating normally. All domestic and international airports, airline services and airport transfers are also operating normally. Suchat Sritama The Nation
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