“We understand tourists’ concerns about their safety and, given the ongoing violence, we believe no plan will be able to draw in tourists. If we pump money into promotional activities, we will likely just end up wasting our budget,” Prapas Intaprasart, who heads the TAT Southern Office Region 3, said yesterday.

His office oversees tourism in the three provinces.

Prapas said promotional plans would be suspended until the situation in the deep South improves. The latest round of violence in the region erupted in January 2004. Casualties are being reported almost on a daily basis.

Prapas said the unrest has adversely affected tourism in the three provinces, especially Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district, which used to attract Malaysian tourists.

“Occupancy rates at hotels there are just 20 per cent as many tourism businesses are no longer operating,” Prapas said.

He said struggling tourism operators in the three provinces now hope that both government and private organisations will consider holding seminars and training sessions there.

“This will help the operators in such a hard time,” Prapas said.

Prapas said his office was now working on a plan to promote Muslim historical sites such as Krue Se Mosque as attractions but the plan would be used only if the situation improves.