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Thailand coup – the latest eyewitness account by Andrew J Wood, Skål International Councillor -Thailand
“The situation is almost as if nothing has happened. Everyone working, every getting on with their lives, even the stock market had only a slight correction today and the baht is holding steady.
As Mr. Luzi Matzig, MD of Asian Trails was quoted recently it was “ a coup as smooth as silk” to paraphrase THAI International Airlines slogan. Even the military apologised for any inconvenience when they went on national TV yesterday.
Something unheard of on previous occasions.
Airlines are all operating normally and Bangkok Airways has even started to use the new airport “Suvarnabhumi” as from today, ahead of the official opening which will take place on the September 28.
TTM – The Thailand Travel Mart is also still on – taking place next week with over 300 buyers still confirmed to attend.
Banks, schools… in fact everything is all open and operating as if NOTHING happened.
In order to prove sincerely that they do not want to hold on to power any longer than is necessary, the military re-affirmed that they will hand over power in two weeks time.
Yesterday I suggested it may take two weeks to get back to normal. Now I think it IS back to normal. My hotel occupancy has steadied and we will be running between 65-85% occupancy over the next three days and over 90% for the following week, which is a few percentage points above budgeted levels.
So I think this may well be my last update as I honestly do believe it was the quietest coup ever.”
Andrew J Wood
General Managerof Chaophya Park Hotel & Resorts in Bangkok and & Skål Int’l Councillor-Thailand
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Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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