Associations back TTM

The show is scheduled, 2 to 4 June, at Bangkok?s IMPACT Muang Thong Thani exhibition complex with an anticipated turnout of 355 international buyers.

Questions over the advisability of hosting an international travel show emerged in the wake of the state of emergency extension, last night, and the decision of both the US and UK embassies to close, based on their concerns that violence in the capital will escalate over the next few days.

Fielding concerns over the viability of the national travel show, Association of Thai Travel Agents, advisor, Apichart Sankary said: ?It is too late to postpone it. We will have to carry on with the event and try to use it to rebuild confidence in the country with travel industry buyers.?

Thai Hotels Association, president, Prakit Chinamourphong voiced the same sentiment saying, he believed the situation would be resolved by the time the TTM opens.

?TTM should continue as planned despite further announcements of a state of emergency by the government. We have everything ready for this event. There is no need to postpone it?

Tourism Authority of Thailand, deputy governor for marketing communications, Prakit Piriyakiet,  also reaffirmed the authority?s commitment.

? The venue is far from the conflict area and protests will have not impact,? he claimed, while decling further comment on the country?s tourism  outlook.?

With reference to the red shirt protests, the THA president claimed the situation would be ?terminated? soon.

?Then we will have to meet to evaluate tourism directions, solutions as well as the additional budget to revive tourism and the economy.?

Mr Prakit has just completed an inspection of hotels and resorts in Phuket, Krabi and Khao Lak to shortlist  properties for the annual Thailand Tourism Awards.

The trip revealed there had been massive declines in occupancy even in resorts that earlier had claimed to be weathering the storm better than central region resorts.

?Khao Lak is less than 10%, Krabi at 30% and Phuket at 40%, when it should be 70%,? he said. ? Bangkok hotels are surviving with 10% occupancies.?

As for the 15 provinces that are now under the lastest state of emergency law, he said: ?There should be no impact as they are not main tourist attractions.?

His assessment of northern destinations was shared by ATTA advisor, Apichart Sankary who said the impact would be small considering they were not major destinations.

TTM has 398 seller organisations on the books and 355 registered buyers from 49 countries, but that includes 34 buyers registered under Thailand.

Article with thanks from www.ttrweekly.com