THAILAND: TOURISTS TRICKLE BACK TO PHUKET TWO MONTHS AFTER TSUNAMI BUT TRAVEL AGENTS FEAR OVER DEVELOPMENT

Record ID: 649206

  • Title: THAILAND: TOURISTS TRICKLE BACK TO PHUKET TWO MONTHS AFTER TSUNAMI BUT TRAVEL AGENTS FEAR OVER DEVELOPMENT
  • Date: 8th March 2005
  • Summary: (W2) PHUKET, THAILAND (MARCH 6, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF PATONG BEACH 0.05 2. MV TOURISTS WALKING WITH SLV WORKERS REBUILDING IN BACKGROUND; MV MORE WORKERS 0.35 PHUKET, THAILAND (MARCH 5, 2005) (REUTERS) 3. SLV CANOERS RACING ON BEACH; TOURISTS LOOKING ON 0.49 4. SLV PAN OF BEACH PARTY; SLV PEOPLE ON BEACH; SLV BEACH PARTY AT NIGHT; AV FIREWORKS 1.24 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PATTANAPONG AIKWANICH, THE PRESIDENT OF PHUKET TOURIST ASSOCIATION, SAYING: "A little bit slow, I think. We should have recovered a little bit quicker than this. But firstly the government was really worried about the ones who got hurt, the ones who died, the ones who lost, we spent more time on them which is correct. But now is the time to recover the economy because otherwise we will get hit by the second wave, you know," 1.47 6. SLV FASHION SHOW; WIDE OF TOUR AGENTS SITTING 2.05 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAETHE MILLER, TOUR AGENT FROM TEXAS IN THE UNITED STATES, SAYING: "You don't want to get it too touristy. I mean I know that's their business but it's also, you don't want to turn it into a Bahamas or somethingYou know, you just have to be very careful about that. Keep it special." 2.21 KHAO LAK, THAILAND (MARCH 6, 2005) (REUTERS) 8. SLV TOURISTS VISITING DESTROYED SITES; PAN OF DESTROYED RESORT; MV MAN WITH CAMERA WALKING THROUGH RESORT; SLV RESORT (9 SHOTS) 3.15 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH TOURIST FREDRIC OHLSON, SAYING: "Not many tourists want to go on this place and we met some people who had been here after the tsunami and they said it was good, not that many tourists. It was, many people here need some support and we said, 'well, we can go here, no problem'." 3.32 10. SLV PEOPLE SWIMMING IN POOL; SLV/SCU OHLSON READING BY POOL 3.45 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 23rd March 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PHUKET, THAILAND
  • Country: Thailand
  • Reuters ID: LVA7ODBJN5E7S0XW0YLEL7MYA4JW
  • Story Text: Tourists trickle back to Phuket two months after the
    tsunami but travel agents fear over development.

    More than two months after tidal waves ripped
    through Thailand's picturesque coastline killing thousands
    of people, reconstruction efforts are moving full steam
    ahead to bring back much-needed tourist dollars to the
    region.

    Once the premier holiday destination for travellers in
    Southeast Asia, Phuket's tourist-dependent economy has been
    dealt a severe blow by the December 26 tsunami.

    Estimates by the Tourism Authority of Thailand show
    that only 10 percent of hotel rooms on the resort island
    are currently full, compared to up to 90 percent at the
    same time last year.

    With local businesses feeling the pinch, the Tourism
    Authority flew in some 900 travel agents and journalists on
    Friday (March 4) to show them that Phuket is once again
    ready to welcome its nine million annual visitors.

    But organisers admit it will take more than beach
    parties and glitzy fireworks to woe back foreigners, who have only
    recently started to trickle into the region.

    "A little bit slow, I think. We should have recovered a
    little bit quicker than this. But firstly the government
    was really worried about the ones who got hurt, the ones
    who died, the ones who lost, so there was more time spent
    on them which is correct. But now is the time to recover
    the economy because otherwise we will get hit by the second
    wave, you know," said the director of Phuket's Tourist
    Association, Pattanapong Aikwanich.

    With some $2,540 million tourist dollars at stake,
    local businesses have reason to be concerned. But foreign
    travel agents say they are optimistic about Phuket's future
    as a major destination, despite an 18 per cent drop in
    visitor numbers during the aftermath of the tsunami.

    They say they are more concerned about the current
    frenzy to promote and develop the unique sites that have
    attracted travellers to Thailand for decades.

    In their zeal to fast track the recovery, tour agents
    say local businesses may be doing more damage than good.

    "You don't want to get it too touristy. I mean I know
    that's their business but it's also, you don't want to turn
    it into a Bahamas or somethingYou know, you just have to
    be very careful about that. Keep it special," said
    Texas-based tour agent, Kaethe Miller.

    The government has heeded calls for more restrained and
    green development of Phuket's beaches and islands, putting
    aside $30 million to rebuild popular holiday spots in Khao
    Lak, Phi Phi and Phuket.

    Ironically however, it's not the lure of sun, surf and
    sand that is attracting the groups of tourists currently
    making their way through Thailand's southwest coast.

    Driven by curiosity, an increasing number of these
    so-called 'disaster tourists' are helping to boost the
    economy as they satisfy their urge to see the aftermath of
    the tsunami first-hand.

    Tourism authorities say it will take at least another
    five months for the industry to adequately recover. In the
    meanwhile, tourists of any description are more welcome
    than ever before in Thailand.


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