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Bangkok floods: It’s not a dry argument
They say there are two sides to every argument. And right now that applies to Bangkok and its floods.
For news outlets not on the spot it is difficult to assess the actual and potential impact of the floods threatening central Bangkok.
For those with vested interests – tour companies, travel associations and the like – the message coming out of Bangkok as the waters test the Chao Phraya River defences is that everything in fine. Carry on, there’s nothing to worry about, is the message.
“Tourists may experience minor inconveniences such as the absence of bottled water at convenience stores,†was the tepid advice this week of the otherwise unperturbed Bangkok-based Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
Asian Trails chief Luzi Matzig blames the media for distorting the facts, claiming that CNN and BBC would have everyone believe that “the whole of Bangkok is under waterâ€.
We carry the Asian Trails view on the floods in a separate story.
Contrast this with the opinions of Travel Trade Report Weekly, a well-respected travel publication with its headquarters (currently under water) in Bangkok.
TTR advises tourists planning a trip to Bangkok during the first two weeks of November that they should either postpone their visit or switch to a destination in Thailand’s South, North or eastern seaboard.
We also carry extracts of the Travel Trade Weekly view on the floods in a separate story.
TravelMole is not on the spot in Bangkok, so all we can do is offer our readers two widely different viewpoints of the floods and the impact they are having – or might have – on travel and tourism.
By Ian Jarrett
Ian Jarrett
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