Political unrest can damage fragile recovery in tourism

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From The Nation

A new government must be formed quickly to prevent protests triggered by political disputes from damaging the fragile recovery of the tourism industry, the Tourism Council of Thailand said on Saturday.

The tourism industry has only recently recovered from the pandemic and is not yet strong, the council’s president, Chamnan Srisawat, said.

Political turmoil and protests will damage the tourism industry – the country’s main economic engine, Chamnan added.

He made the statement before meeting Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, the candidate for prime minister of an eight-party alliance.

Some pundits have warned that massive demonstrations are possible if Pita fails in his bid to become Thailand’s next prime minister.

His party won the most seats in the House of Representative in the May 14 election, and swept 32 of Bangkok’s 33 constituencies, but it faces hostility in the coup-appointed Senate.

Chamnan said his council is ready to work with any new government.

However, it had extended an invitation to Pita to be Thailand’s global tourism ambassador and Pita accepted the invitation on Saturday at an event that drew national media attention.

Chamnan urged the next government to implement tourism policies to assist small business owners, noting that previous initiatives, like the Rao Tiew Duay Kan (We Travel Together) project, have expired.

He also called for a simplified visa system to make it easier for foreign tourists to enter Thailand. In particular, he called for an easier visa process for Chinese nationals, saying they could significantly boost tourism revenues in the third quarter.

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Prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat on Saturday accepted an invitation from the Tourism Council of Thailand to become its brand ambassador, saying that after assuming office, he will travel overseas to meet leaders of foreign governments and promote Thailand as a destination.

Pita met with the council’s president, Chamnan Srisawat, and other executives at the Rama Gardens Hotel to discuss ways to increase the number of foreign tourists to Thailand, particularly those from China.

He noted that the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand remains 30-40% lower than the pre-pandemic level, and that the drop in Chinese tourists was particularly steep.

Before the pandemic, they accounted for 20% of all foreign visitors, but now they represent just 2%, he said.

 

 

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Prachachart Party leader Wan Mohamad Noor Matha will be the Move Forward-led coalition's House speaker candidate, PM hopeful Pita Limjaroenrat said on Monday.

He was speaking at a press conference at ‎Lancaster Bangkok Hotel after ending the stand-off between Move Forward and Pheu Thai – the two biggest partners of the next coalition government.

Pita said there will be two deputy House speakers -- a Move Forward and a Pheu Thai candidate.

He said the eight-party coalition comprising Move Forward, Pheu Thai, Thai Sang Thai, Thai Liberal, Prachachart, Fair, Plung Sungkom Mai, and Peu Thai Ruamphalang parties have all agreed to support the candidates.

Pita also pledged that Pheu Thai and Move Forward were ready to approve laws in the people's interest, including pardon for political prisoners and military reform.

He said that this move would help boost the coalition's efficiency in forming the government based on transparency and the people's interest.

 

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My 2008 visit was delayed four days but I was rebooked OK on the first Northwest flight out of Narita when demonstrators ended boycott. It was businesses as usual on arrival as if nothing out of ordinary had just occurred. TIT

From The Thaiger

Thai tourism unaffected by political unrest unless airports shut

In times of political upheaval, Thailand’s foreign tourists would not be significantly impacted, unless there was an incident akin to 2008’s airport disruption, according to former tourism and sports minister, Weerasak Kowsurat. Back in 2008, protesters had shut down Bangkok’s airports leading to a drop in tourist visits, impacting Thai tourism.

Weerasak, now serving as a senator, insists that tourists are diligent in keeping up with their travel commitments, provided that the political demonstrations do not intervene with their plans. The democratic process, and any ensuing peaceful protests that come with it, are, by and large, viewed as domestic issues by tourists that can impact Thai tourism.

During his time as tourism minister, Weerasak witnessed tourists unperturbed by nearby street protests while still on their holidays in Ratchadamnoen Avenue, where the ministry’s headquarters is located. Nonetheless, he stressed that an extensive disruption such as an airport seizure could lead to a drastic downturn in the inflow of tourists, just as it had in 2008.
 

 

He pointed out the hefty setbacks to the country’s economy and Thai tourism sector caused by the 10-day closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in 2008. The financial damage was estimated to be 200 billion baht. Three years later, a group of protesters were ordered by the Civil Court to pay 522 million baht as compensation for the losses incurred during this period, reported Bangkok Post.

Weerasak urged the incoming tourism minister to have an open mind, listen to varying viewpoints, and establish a strong rapport with big corporations, local communities, and SMEs alike. He emphasised that the Thai tourism industry must equally address all these sectors.