Hong Kong restarts Bangkok tours

24 Mar 2010 2092 | World Travel News

Hong Kong agents have resumed group tours to Bangkok from today after a two-week stop following a Travel Industry Council suggestion to avoid mass demonstrations in the Thai capital.

The decision was reached swiftly yesterday between the TIC and major travel agents based on information provided by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai industry partners that the continuing protests posed negligible risk to tourists.

Today?s resumption comes while Hong Kong's security bureau has maintained a red alert, the second highest level in its warning system.

A bureau spokesman told TTG Asia e-Daily that it considered the red alert as necessary at this stage.

Leading agencies such as Hong Thai Travel Service, however, believe the time is right to restart tours as the protests have been taking place in areas away from group tour itineraries.

Xpress Travel executive director Sunny Wong cited: ?Though the red warning is still on, we agents cannot shelve the tours indefinitely as it causes a huge loss.?

Asked if customers could obtain insurance given the red alert, Wong said clients understood the risks. ?Our role is to sell travel insurance and would leave the insurance company to answer clients? queries and concern.?

Sourced = The TTG TravelHub