Thailand?s tourism troubles

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand during the last week of May, while red shirt demonstrators torched shopping malls in Bangkok, the number of arrivals at the capital?s Suvarnabhumi International Airport decreased by as much as 13,000 people per day. In 2008, political unrest caused a drop of 20 per cent compared to the year before.

John, a Scottish expatriate owner of a bar in the northern city of Chiang Mai says intakes have decreased by as much as 30 to 40 per cent since June 2009. He admits that only his Thai wife and their child is stopping him from following the long list of people that have packed up and set up camp in more profitable destinations like Bali.

?[During the unrest] insurance companies in the UK refused to insure people if they went to Thailand, so many decided for Malaysia or Bali,? he says.

?The BBC and the Australian government have all these travel warnings and it hurts, it really does.?

According to Dawn, his business partner, three main factors have contributed in creating the perfect storm for tourism operators.

?Things are going down because of the Thai Baht being so strong, the world economy not doing so well but especially the political situation in Bangkok,? she says.

Sourced=reportageonline