'Recent events have cast a very negative light'

What is your estimate of Thailand's intensifying political turmoil?

Are JFCCT members asking you about it?

Unfortunately the situation has escalated, and the main gateway to Thailand, the airport at Suvarnabhumi, has been closed. Some tourists, having enjoyed their holidays in Thailand, were on their way home with great memories; at the same time some were looking forward to coming to Thailand to have great holidays, but all have been disappointed by the unexpected developments and their interrupted travel schedules.

Businessmen who want to come to Thailand to place orders are shut out, and others, having concluded their deals, are grounded and cannot depart. Cargo needing to leave for the Christmas market is grounded. All these developments cast a very negative light on Thailand and make our efforts to bring investment to Thailand much more difficult.

Is the intensifying political chaos reducing investors' confidence in Thailand, and do you think new investors will shift to other countries?

Making an investment can be compared with putting your savings in a bank. Nobody will put the money in a bank where rumours of bankruptcy and insolvency are going around. On the contrary, a run on the bank will occur, and depositors will try to cash in their savings and take them to a strong and safe bank. With foreign direct investment it works the same way: people are hesitant to put their money in Thailand as long as they see instability with an unpredictable situation where negative news assails them.

Do you think the government should announce a state of emergency in Bangkok? What would be the effect on foreigners?

A state of emergency is just as bad news as a coup in the eyes of the foreign community, but as much as democracy enshrines the right of the people to stage demonstrations it also enshrines law and order.

Has the Swiss government reacted to the conflict in Thailand, by for instance, advising tourists or business people to stay away from centres of unrest or postpone travel plans?

I have had no specific discussion on this issue with the Swiss Embassy.