The Thai Hotels Association said Thursday that room cancellations in Bangkok have been made at about 1,000 rooms per day, although the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has assessed Red Shirt demonstration in the capital has not had a great impact on tourism so far.
Thai Hotels Association director Sakrin Chorsawai said the demonstration has affected tourism operators, particularly in hotel businesses in Bangkok.
A significant drop in the number of foreign tourists was seen and room reservations fell some 10-20 per cent. About 1,000 rooms were canceled daily on average as tourists feared possible violence during the mass demonstrations, in particular from March 12-23, Mr Sakrin said.
However, tourism operators in other regions have not been affected, and are enjoying a normal rate of hotel bookings, he said.
Local tourists, who are worried about the political situation, do not travel. If the demonstration is prolonged, its negative effects on tourism will be clearly seen, said Mr Sakrin.
Meanwhile, TAT director Surapol Svetasreni said the tourism in January and February had recovered but since the Red Shirt protest began in Bangkok last week, the national agency is vigilant on the current situation to alleviate and to minimise possible effects on tourism.
TAT’s promotional campaign this year still focuses on overseas roadshows and targets the number of foreign tourists at 15 million people in 2010.
About 100,000 of supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gathered on Rajdamnoen Avenue on Sunday with an aim to topple the government.
They intensified their campaign without violence by collecting their blood to pour at Government House, the Democrat party headquarters and the house of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva but failed to force him to dissolve the House and to call snap election. (TNA)
Source: http://www.mcot.net
Thai Hotels Association director Sakrin Chorsawai said the demonstration has affected tourism operators, particularly in hotel businesses in Bangkok.
A significant drop in the number of foreign tourists was seen and room reservations fell some 10-20 per cent. About 1,000 rooms were canceled daily on average as tourists feared possible violence during the mass demonstrations, in particular from March 12-23, Mr Sakrin said.
However, tourism operators in other regions have not been affected, and are enjoying a normal rate of hotel bookings, he said.
Local tourists, who are worried about the political situation, do not travel. If the demonstration is prolonged, its negative effects on tourism will be clearly seen, said Mr Sakrin.
Meanwhile, TAT director Surapol Svetasreni said the tourism in January and February had recovered but since the Red Shirt protest began in Bangkok last week, the national agency is vigilant on the current situation to alleviate and to minimise possible effects on tourism.
TAT’s promotional campaign this year still focuses on overseas roadshows and targets the number of foreign tourists at 15 million people in 2010.
About 100,000 of supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gathered on Rajdamnoen Avenue on Sunday with an aim to topple the government.
They intensified their campaign without violence by collecting their blood to pour at Government House, the Democrat party headquarters and the house of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva but failed to force him to dissolve the House and to call snap election. (TNA)
Source: http://www.mcot.net
