Tsunami: the aftermath

[kamui]

Now Thais start to think about the aftermath. After the fear of terroists, SARS and Bird Flu now many tourist will give SE-Asia a miss during high season again.

 

IMPACT ON TOURISMIMPACT ON TOURISM: 1m-plus may call off bookings

 

Published on December 28, 2004

THE NATION

 

ATTA chief puts estimated loss at Bt30 billion

 

About 1.2 million foreign tourists are likely to cancel their trips to Thailand after one of the country's worst natural disasters on Sunday destroyed many popular destinations in Phuket and other provinces, according to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).

 

ATTA secretary-general Chidchai Sakormbadee said about 10 per cent of the expected 12 million visitors to Thailand this year would revise their plans, resulting in lost revenue of about Bt30 billion, or 10 per cent of total revenue of Bt300 billion.

 

"Phuket alone normally receives about 1.5 million tourists during the four months of the peak holiday season from November to February. It stands to lose a large number of tourists," he said.

 

The association represents inbound tour operators including many who operate in Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Satun, Ranong, Hat Yai and Surat Thani - the six provinces most affected by the disaster, which has claimed more than 800 lives in Thailand and devastated beaches and property over a wide area.

 

"We expect that all Scandinavian, Russian, Japanese and European tourists who were to come by charter flights directly from their homes to Phuket and Krabi will cancel. Other travellers on regular flights might switch to other destinations," Chidchai said.

 

Reports indicate that 10 hotels and resorts in the Patong area of Phuket have been hardest hit by the deadly tsunamis. Phang Nga has almost had its tourism industry completely wiped out, with 70 to 80 hotels and resorts reporting serious damage.

 

About 10 hotels and resorts in Krabi and Ao Nang are damaged, as are about 50 resorts on Phi Phi Island.

 

Overall, financial damage to these hotels and resorts and other buildings amounts to more than Bt10 billion.

 

Despite the haunting memory of the deadly tsunamis, several tour operators have been reluctant to cancel tour packages for the coming New Year for fear of losing deposits paid out to hotels, tour organisers and boat operators.

 

For domestic markets, the Domestic Tourism Promotion Association has reported that all locals have cancelled their trips to the area for the immediate future.

 

The association estimated that this year domestic tourism income would also drop 10 per cent, or more than Bt30 billion.

 

Prakit Chinamourphong, vice president of the Thai Hotels Association, said association members in the five hardest-hit provinces accounted for 30,000 rooms.

 

"They cannot receive tourists. Hotels, which are primarily resorts and groups of cottages along the beach, are popular with tourists. But they have been totally destroyed by the tidal waves. There are no places to stay," Prakit said.

 

Royal Garden Resorts (RGR) said two of its hotels, JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa and Anantara Royal Coco Palm Resort and Spa, were affected by the disaster.

 

JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa has minor damage and is expected to be back in full operation within a couple of days. Damage to the Anatara is still being assessed.

 

RGR said it was covered by property and business interruption insurance.

 

It owns the JW Marriott Phuket outright and has a 40-per-cent stake in the Anatara.

 

Napassorn Kahkai, assistant director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's office in Phuket, said more than 200 beach hotels and resorts, with 3,000 rooms, located on the most popular beaches - particularly Patong, Kata and Karon – have been heavily damaged and cannot open.

 

However, about 15 beach hotels and resorts with 2,000 rooms, located more than 500 metres from the sea, were hardly affected, nor were other hotels in town, which have 4,000 rooms. They will open as normal.

 

Suchat Sritama

 

The Nation

[Torneyboy]

Hi

 

Hard to know what will happen.

 

With my office all bookings from this weekend (Phuket,Phi Phi) not the Samui bookings.... to the end of January have all cancelled.

 

A few changed dates and kept the BKK and Chiang Mai sectors in place.

 

 

Longer term...when the rebuilding is complete the tourists will return...imo.

The pain and hurt will never be forgotten however....

[jxxxl]

I was speaking with a Thai businessman last night he said Thais would be reluctant to return to places where there were high death tolls becuas they are afraid of the ghosts :: I also know the Chinese are very superstitous about this kind of thing.

 

Shame if this actually happens. I'll be back to the area shortly doing my part to help out the local economy.

[Guest]

When it comes to ghost - if the bodies are properly taken care of and proper ceremonies are done, the ghost go away.

 

Phuket has been known all over the world for being able to do such things and a whole lot more. Refer to the Chinessee Vegetarian Festival as an example.

[samak]

i heard the same from some Thais; knowing that there were literally hundreds of dead bodies lying around will frighten many away! glua phee!

[Guest]

Na glua !

 

By the way....for those that do not know,

 

"na glua" means "frightening".

 

"Glua phee" = scary ghost (frightening ghost)

 

All just adds to the complications of it all. ::

 

HT

[Stickman]

"glua pee" means that someone is scared OF ghosts, not scary ghost.

[Guest]

Hi,

 

>>"glua pee" means that someone is scared OF ghosts, not scary ghost.<<

 

ok..."glua pee = scared (of) ghost.

 

I stand corrected.

 

HT

[Guest]

you are correct.. ::

 

HT

[Guest lazyphil]

I've already informed the Mrs ghosts dont exist ...and all will be ok in the south for a holiday, shes not convinced by my wisdom