Thai gov't strives to restore tourist confidence after floods

Thai gov't strives to restore tourist confidence after floods

The current flooding situation in Thailand is not as bad as it is portrayed in some "misleading" reports that prompt many foreign tourists to reroute their trips, and the local authorities have been tailoring various measures and incentives to rebuild tourist confidence in the country, Suraphon Svetasreni, head of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said here on Wednesday.

According to Suraphon, some 40 of Thailand's 1,200 tourist attractions, or only 3 percent, that appeal to international visitors, have been affected by the floods and most of the country 's best-known tourist attractions and destinations including Pattaya, Phuket, Rayong and Chiang Mai are flood-free.

"Even in the Central Region, places such as Hua Hin and Cha-Am are outside the area affected by the flood," he said.

The Suvarnabhumi Airport, the main gateway to Thailand for international flights since 2006, is not affected by the flood with all-round water management and flood prevention measures and all flights operating as usual, he said.

Meanwhile, in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area, the central part of the city is not flooded and government officials are confident that their flood prevention efforts will keep it dry. Flooding in the Bangkok area is mainly in outlying residential and industrial zones in the city's east and west, the city's northern districts, and the western side of the Chao Phraya River, according to the governor.

"The flood waters are receding and the cleanup has begun. The remaining floodwaters in the affected parts of Bangkok and the surrounding provinces are expected to be clear within the next four to six weeks," he said. "Tourist destinations in the rest of Thailand are ready to welcome visitors."

As to the damage of floods on tourist sector, Supraphon said if the flooding situation gets better at the end of November, estimated losses to tourism will be 520 million U.S. dollars, with 245 million in revenue lost from domestic trips and 275 million from international trips.

Tourism plays an important role in sustaining the country's economy, providing employment and contributing to Thailand's recovery, he said.

More than 2,000,000 Thai people work in Thailand's tourism sector.

Suraphon said China is one of Thai tourism's most important markets and the second-largest contributor of foreign tourists only after Malaysia. During the first nine months of 2011, international tourist arrivals to Thailand reached 14.4 million. Over 1.3 million of these arrivals were from China, a 9.06 percent increase over the same period last year.

"The TAT hopes that more travelers from China will visit Thailand, especially those who plan to come during the high season. They will enjoy all the country has to offer while making an important contribution to the Thai economy," he said.

The TAT has taken many measures to attract more foreign tourists, including laying out chartered planes and adding new routes. In order to ensure that foreign tourists understand the current flooding situation, the TAT plans to bring 100 members of media of China, where many tourists come from, to see first hand that very few of Thailand's tourist attractions were affected by the flood, said Suraphon. Meanwhile, more than 300 media from other countries worldwide will also visit Thailand on similar trips over the next weeks.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn   2011-11-17 02:33:54 FeedbackPrintRSS
By Li Li and Shi Xianzhen

BANGKOK, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)