Road to Recovery: Thailand’s risky business
The Thai tourist industry has set itself the challenge of helping travellers to distinguish between the perceived risk and the actual risk of travel to Thailand, says a Bangkok-based golf tour operator.
“When you compare the actual risks of traveling to Thailand today, and compare them to traveling in countries where tourism is routinely affected by violent religious extremism, or countries where crime against tourists is somewhat routine in urban centres, there really isn’t a comparison at all,†said Mark Siegel, CEO of Golfasian Co. Ltd.
The United States, Britain and other countries have eased their warnings against travel to Thailand after the political protests in Bangkok came to close.
Australia downgraded its travel advisory on May 29.
“The divisions in Thai society are real, but they are political and internal and restricted to Thai citizens,†Siegel added. “Tourists were certainly inconvenienced by the difficulties in April and May, but they were never endangered.â€
This perspective, Siegel and others admit, may be lost on a critical mass of prospective travellers.
May’s demonstrations caused losses estimated at 60 to 70 billion Thai baht ($1.9 billion to $2.2 billion USD) in tourism-related revenues, according to Atthachai Burakamkovit, permanent secretary of the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
The Thai government has earmarked five billion baht ($154 million) to help tourism-related businesses affected by the turmoil and rioting. The package now awaits the Cabinet’s approval.
Stakeholders throughout the country are now examining a slew of strategies on how to best communicate the facts and salve the country’s wounded image.
“Cash incentives to stimulate travel aren’t the answer,†Siegel said. “Thai golf holidays, Thai holidays in general, are already affordable.
“We need to emphasise that not only is it safe travel here, but it was safe even at the height of the crisis in May.â€
Ian Jarrett
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