- Title: THAILAND-BLAST/TOURISTS Bangkok blast hits tourism, operators stay positive
- Date: 19th August 2015
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (AUGUST 18, 2015) (REUTERS) TOURISTS WALKING ON KAOSAN STREET SIGNS OF SHOPS ON KAOSAN STREET VARIOUS OF TOURISTS WALKING ALONG STREET TOURISTS LOOKING AT BRACELETS BRACELETS ON TABLE TOURISTS WALKING WITH LUGGAGE PADTHAI FOOD VENDOR COOKING TOURISTS SITTING AT BAR VARIOUS OF TOURISTS WALKING BANNER OF TRAVEL AGENCY INTERIOR OF TRAVEL AGENCY (SOUNDBITE) (
- Embargoed: 3rd September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Thailand
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA3KIQ1SOD3K9RTX9MZNTLWUU15
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A bomb that ripped through a religious shrine in Bangkok's commercial heart, killing 22 people and wounding more than 100, is likely to hit the country's tourism industry in the short term, business operators said on Wednesday (August 19).
The sector has been one of the few recent bright spots for Thailand's struggling economy.
On Tuesday (August 18), less than 24 hours after the rush-hour blast, some tour operators were already reporting cancellations and Hong Kong issued a "red alert" travel advisory warning against non-essential travel to the Thai capital.
Welcome Travel, a travel agency in Kaosan street, a popular backpacker area of Bangkok, said they expected the number of clients to decline.
"It will affect (our business) because now we're in high season. Tourists are now coming into the country. It will affect the number of tourists who are coming in," said Jennie Mehra, a Thai tour operator.
Mehra said if the government assured the safety of the people, the situation can return to normal.
"If our country (government) explains that it is still safe to travel here, it will help ease the impact. If there is no other incident, the situation should be better by the end of this year," she said.
The chairman of Thai Hotel Association Surapong Techaruvichit agreed that the situation will return to normal quickly if there were no more attacks.
"If there is nothing after this (bombing), and the Thai government can make sure that we are safe and calm country, and the breaking news stop, then I think people will consider to come back to Thailand again. Every time we have bad things happened in Thailand, we always have our visitors come back in a very quick respond," he said.
After shunning Thailand during months of political turmoil leading up to a coup in May last year, tourists had been returning to a country famed for its beaches and nightlife. Foreign arrivals were up 29.5 percent to 14.9 million in the first half of 2015.
However, some tourists decided to leave the country early following news of the blast.
"After the bomb blast we figured might as well cut it a few days short and try to find the way home a little bit early, we are a little bit nervous to stay in Bangkok the extra days because we heard the blast was focusing at tourists," said Justin Nasielski, a tourist from United States.
Others said they wouldn't change their plans, but would instead be more vigilant whilst travelling in the country.
"May be we will pay a little more attention to be safe and to be on our right way, but I think it's ok," said Nisa Meier from Germany.
On Monday (August 18), Thailand reported sluggish economic growth of 2.8 percent in April-June from a year earlier, with tourism the key driver. The sector directly accounts for around 9 percent of output, and as much as a fifth of GDP including indirect effects, according to economists at Australian bank ANZ. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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