• 
• 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has cancelled its international road and trade shows for the next three months.

Santichai Euachongprasit, TAT's deputy governor for international marketing, said yesterday the airport crisis has caused a loss of confidence in travel to Thailand.

However, the agency is maintaining events that it has already paid for in places such as in Iran, India and the United States. It will also join the Luxury Travel Mart in France.

Overseas advertising has been halted until the situation returned to normal.

About 50,000 tourists a month would avoid coming to the Kingdom during this high season, which should have seen more than 90,000 arrivals per month, he said.

The airport closure and a weakened global economy are expected to hit the tourism business harder than during previous crises - the 9/11 terrorist attack, Sars, financial crisis of 1997 and Tsunami ' target='_blank'> The Tsunami in 2004.

The Tourism Council of Thailand and Thai Hotels Association said stranded passengers can claim a daily living allowance of Bt2,000 per person at their offices.

Some hotels in Bangkok have reportedly cut back on their staffing levels due to the lack of guests.

A new hotel planning to open in Pattaya is considering postponing its debut because of fewer arrivals. -