Skal: Timely request for help

Thailand’s tourism industry faces a huge challenge to restore confidence among stakeholders in principal tourism supply markets, Bangkok Skal Club president, Dale Lawrence says in an open letter to Skal members worldwide.
The letter is due to be published in Skal International’s latest email bulletin distributed by the association’s secretariat in Spain to worldwide members.
Mr Lawrence, who is also president of Skal International Thailand that represents all Skal clubs in the country, says that some foreign governments remain slow to amend their travel advisories.
“We need the support of (Skal members worldwide) to spread the word that Thailand is not only open for business, but also remains the value destination for leisure travel and MICE business in Southeast Asia.”
Commenting on the state of affairs in Thailand, he reaffirmed that popular destinations in Thailand are “safe, secure and most definitely open for business.”
Just a week after the military seized power, 22 May, Mr Lawrence notes that Skal International Bangkok hosted International Skal councillors and the executive committee meetings in the Thai capital.
“I am confident that both ISC president Keith Murcott and our global president Karine Coulanges will endorse my words of reassurance without hesitation.”

Dale Lawrence
Mr Lawrence hopes to tap the Skal worldwide network and its good will for Thailand by calling on industry colleagues, worldwide, to share his positive message with their own travel and tourism industry contacts.
The Bangkok club is one of the oldest Skal clubs in the Asian region and successfully hosted an International Skal Congress attracting more than 10,000 foreign delegates in the past.
Last week, statistics released by the nation’s travel agents indicated that group tours arriving through the main aviation gateway Suvarnabhumi Airport were down more than 40% in June.

Sourced: ttrweekly