Tourism could lose Bt100 bn

The closure of Suvarnabhumi Airport could cost the tourism industry about Bt100 billion over the next six months, coming as it does right at the beginning of the high season.

Tourism Council of Thailand president Kongkrit Hirunkit said the November-February holiday period contributes 40 per cent of Thailand's annual tourism revenue of about Bt200 billion. The political discord could cut this figure by half. And tourism growth targets for next year of 10 per cent in revenue and 5 per cent in visitors now also look shaky, he said.

Tourism Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said the country normally welcomes 100,000 visitors per day, of whom 70 per cent drop an average of Bt3,500 per day while here - a total of Bt245 million per day.

It would take time to restore the confidence of travellers, he said.

The ministry has proposed to Deputy Prime Minister Olarn Chaipravat to allocate part of the SME fund worth Bt70 billion to support the tourism industry during this economic and political turmoil, he said.

Surapong Techaruvichit, vice president of the Thai Hotel Association, said tourists with hotel bookings for the high season are likely to cancel due to the airport closure.

Anek Srichiwachart, president of the Thailand-Japan Tourism Promotion Association, said Japanese and Chinese tour groups have already called off trips during the peak season.

Some 10,000-20,000 Japanese and Chinese tourists usually arrive per day, but they may hesitate to come now because they are sensitive to political chaos, he said.

Somkiart Chuentheerawong, president of the Tourism Association of Chiang Rai, said upcountry tourism was hit by Suvarnabhumi's closure. He received a report of foreign tourists cancelling hotel reservations  and trips to Chiang Rai.

Wattana Thanasakcharorn, president of the Krabi Chamber of Commerce, forecast the provinces would lose Bt4 billion-Bt5 billion over the next two months.