Ministry counts cost of floods

hailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported that typhoons, Usagi and Wutip, caused Bt708 million (US$22 million) in tourism revenue losses in nine provinces.

Tourism minister, Somsak Pureesrisak, said the ministry had assigned the Department of Tourism to survey the impact on tourism from the beginning of September.

“Floods caused considerable damage in nine provinces at an estimated Bt700 million… Phitsanulok had the highest loss of Bt223 million followed by Ayutthaya, Ubon Ratchathani, Suphan Buri, Prachin Buri, Lop Buri, Si Sa Ket, Singburi and Chai Nat.”

The minister added: “Although the loss to tourism was indirect, and that most tourist attractions and hotels were not damaged by floods, there was a loss of confidence and this hit domestic tourism spend.”

Losses in agriculture were far more substantial while village communities suffered the most stress; their homes damaged and a loss of earnings from farming.

However, experts and institutions involved in monitoring national disasters said the situation was not as bad as 2011, when Bangkok’s northern and western suburbs were under a metre or more of water for close to two months.

But this yearf, disaster struck to the east of Bangkok  causing severe flooding in Prachin Buri and Chachoengsao.

Ayutthaya and areas outside anti-flood dykes on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, north of Bangkok floods annually. Repairs to roads and utilities are barely completed before the annual food begins all over again. Bang Pa-in is one area where roads are flooded annually. Highway 347 is still under repair since the 2011 flood.

Tropical storm Nari and run-off water into rivers could cause flash floods in Prachuab Kirikhan, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat over the next few days.

Sourced: ttrweekly