NO WAY OUT!

[Admin]

No way out.

By Chatrudee Theparat and Chadamas Chinmaneevong

Almost 100,000 foreign tourists are still unable to return home, but the number of passengers stranded by the closure of Suvarnabhumi airport may double or triple if the situation is prolonged.

U-tapao airport has been used as a gateway for sending foreign visitors home. As of yesterday afternoon, six flights had taken off. The flights will increase to 15 today and 48 tomorrow. Aircraft capacity is about 300 passengers per flight.



Asia Hotel, JW Marriott, Maenam Hotel and Centara Grand would serve as check-in venues. Airlines will announce hotels for their check-ins today. Imperial Queen's Park and Holiday Inn are on stand-by to accept passengers checking in for flights. Passengers would then be taken by bus to U-tapao.



The Tourism and Sport Ministry would need at least 200 million baht a day, based on 2,000 baht per head for accommodation and meals, as expenses for stranded tourists, according to Minister Weerasak Kohsurat.

He said previous figures showed that about 30,000 foreign visitors fly into Thailand via Suvarnabhumi airport each day.

"Once the People's Alliance for Democracy protesters leave the airport, authorities will need time to restart operations. If the protest is prolonged, stranded foreign visitors may reach 200,000-300,000," Mr Weerasak said.

The ministry will ask cabinet to get money from the Budget Bureau. Currently, it has only 10 million baht in initial funds. Yesterday, it called a meeting of 14 airlines, state agencies and the private sector to discuss measures to help foreign visitors get home.

Airlines showing readiness to use U-tapao include Lufthansa, EVA Air, Scandinavian, and Canadian airlines.

About 2,000 buses would take passengers to U-tapao, a trip of about three hours. U-tapao will also be for incoming flights from abroad. Stranded Thai travellers should contact their local Thai embassy or Thai Airways agent.

They can also fly to Hong Kong, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, and from there to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi.

Thai Travel Agents Association president Charoen Wangananont said the association is checking how many Thai travellers are stranded overseas. The Foreign Affairs, and Tourism and Sport ministries will help Thais stranded overseas by offering accommodation and meals until the airports reopen.

Wirote Sitaprasertnand, president of the Professional Tourists Guide Association, said some Thai travellers left in neighbouring countries such as Vietnam, China, and Laos are arriving by land.

Some Thai travellers on long-haul routes have taken flights to neighbouring countries and then caught flights to Chiang Mai or Phuket.

He said tour agents are facing problems as airlines from China refuse to give refunds. "They say it's not their mistake, but Thailand's problem. Now operators are negotiating to postpone flights instead of cancelling," he said.