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Thailand’s tourism challenges continue
BANGKOK: Thailand’s tourism efforts continue to stall as visitors from neighbouring countries remain wary of a destination that is perceived to have security and political challenges.
Official statistics show that tourists have been soft-pedaling on Thailand despite greater access to the country provided by low cost airlines.
The number of tourists arriving from East Asia dropped by 7.3 per cent in the first two months of the year, compared to the same period in 2006, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) figures.
The TAT numbers showed a drop-off in February among tourists from around the world, as overall arrivals fell six per cent from January. Arrivals were still slightly up from the year before. ??The New Year’s Eve bomb blasts in Bangkok, on-going troubles in the south of Thailand and travel warning by foreign embassies are thought to be responsible for the modest visitor numbers.
Tourism groups are also concerned that Thailand could see its tourism earnings hit by a proposal to tighten rules on alcohol sales. ??A new bill, which is awaiting approval from the military-installed government, bans alcohol sales within 500 metres of schools, temples and government offices. ??It would prevent many bars and restaurants from selling alcohol.
Meanwhile, the stand-off continues between the YouTube website and Thai authorities. The YouTube site was banned in Thailand last week (TravelMole Asia, April 5) after a user posted a video mocking the King of Thailand.
A YouTube spokeswoman said the company had spoken to Thailand’s Information and Communications Technology Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom about the ban.
“Minister Sitthichai reported his government is inflexible on the blocking of individual objectionable videos and that the ministry’s technical people have difficulty understanding how to block individual videos,” she said.
“While we will not take down videos that do not violate our policies and will not assist in implementing censorship, we have offered to educate the Thai ministry about YouTube and how it works,” she said.
“It’s up to the Thailand government to decide whether to block specific videos, but we would rather that than have it block the entire site,” she added.
Ian Jarrett
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