Tourism in urgent need of aid

[Mod]

Tourism in urgent need of aid

Suchat Sritama,
Seetalavajit Sabayjai
The Nation


The public and private sectors need urgent government assistance to help rebuild the tourism industry, and Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa is planning to ask the Cabinet to consider waiving visa fees and aircraft parking charges at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Last year's visa-fee waiver - introduced to help tourism operators recoup their losses after the airport closure and political crisis - came to an end this March. A corporate-tax deduction for travel and meetings is also being considered.

The government is also considering other measures to help the sector:

TCEB moves to help MICE

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) plans to meet with operators in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry next week to calculate the damages and losses caused by flooding. The TCEB is likely to seek urgent assistance from the government to restore the confidence of international businesses.

TAT focuses on domestic market

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will next week introduce the first phase of its restoration plan and packages that will focus on the domestic market. The authorities will encourage the public and private sectors to organise rehabilitation trips into provinces that have been hit hard by flooding.

THAI offers special fares

Piyasvati Amranand, president of Thai Airways International, said the airline would offer fares that are 47-58 per cent cheaper under the "Southern Thailand Flood Relief" promotion. The promotion, introduced yesterday, runs until December 10.

THAI will accommodate a total of 5,039 passengers daily on flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Southern provinces, and will add more flights and change aircraft if necessary. Under the promotion, flights from Bangkok to Surat Thani will be reduced from Bt4,290 to Bt1,820; Bangkok-Krabi from Bt4,490 to Bt1,920; Bangkok-Phuket from Bt4,675 to Bt2,015; Bangkok-Hat Yai from Bt5,155 to Bt2,255; and Bangkok-Samui from Bt6,360 to Bt2,930.

THAI has appointed two new board members, according to a regulatory filing yesterday. Voradej Harnprasert has replaced Pravich Rattanapian and Chutinant Bhirom Bhakdi has replaced Varah Sucharitakul.


-- The Nation 2011-11-12

[isanbirder]

News of the floods every day (and foreigners have no idea where the flooding is);  hardly the moment to try to encourage tourists.  I've had several emails from friends in Europe worried about flooding here in Buriram.

[Mod]

this is the nature of news...they only will focus on the problem...good news, no news...
i know it from my own experience. the same in my native country...