tourism buoyed but tat has work to do

Tourism operators yesterday expressed optimism that ending the state of emergency in Bangkok would win back visitor confidence, noting that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would need to work harder to tell the world that the political situation has returned to some sort of normalcy.

Apichart Sankary, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), said the tourism industry should get nearly back on track during the coming high season, following the interim government's withdrawal of the emergency decree on Sunday.

ATTA expects many countries will now cancel their travel advisories issued during the weeks of political chaos, but operators have not seen any such move yet.

Many foreigners who postponed their trips during the turmoil will come back, Apichart said. However, inbound tour operators this week saw slow advance bookings.

"ATTA and the Tourism Council of Thailand and 60 tourism associations will talk about the situation in Bangkok today to initiate measures to boost tourism," Apichart said.

Somboon Jirayus from the Phuket Tourism Business Association said the lifting of the state of emergency was the first step in letting the world know that Thailand was recovering its composure.

The TAT must inform all countries, particular the 23 that issued warnings against travelling to the Kingdom, including China, which is now planning to send some groups to Thailand during the long holiday early next year, he said.

The two protesting camps need to talk about solutions so that tourist confidence can be restored. However, the tourism business will run as usual despite the soaring oil price, he said.

Methee Tunmanatrakul, vice president of the Thai Hotels Association's southern chapter, said tourism in Phuket and the Andaman Coast would be better in 2009 thanks to the emergency decree's revocation.

The tourism industry will benefit from the absence of the state of emergency, as more foreign visitors should return, said Krabi Tourist Association president Amarit Siripornjuthakul.  

Sentiment in the provinces along the Andaman Coast has improved but the government should strive to inform the international community that conditions in Thailand have stabilised and the tourism industry is ready to accommodate visitors.

Itthirit Kinglek, owner of the Ao Nang Princeville Resort, said that while the state of emergency was in place, about 10 to 20 per cent of bookings at the resort had been cancelled. He said the resort had since won back some guests.

Chinaphat Mannae, manager of the Krabi Southern Free Shop, said the benefits of the revocation remained unclear. She said 70 to 80 per cent of customers had disappeared during the political disturbance, which included the provincial-airport siege as well as the state of emergency.

Visut Buachum, tourism bureau chief in Mae Hong Son, said more tour packages had been sold to foreign investors since the lifting of the state of emergency. He noted that if the news did not spread as fast as expected, business operators may need to come up with promotions and public relations activities.

"Overall, the situation is not that worrisome. Though the number of foreign tourists is declining, the number of newcomers has been rising. This should offset some losses," he said.