Thailand’s anti-government protests have, as feared, started affecting the country’s tourist industry. The country’s national carrier, Thai Airways, announced yesterday that passengers, particularly from other Asian countries, were cancelling flights because of the unrest.
“Passengers have cancelled their flights. Our flight bookings have fallen by more than 10% in the past one or two days,” THAI President Apinan Sumanaseni told Reuters.
Several countries, including Japan, South Korea, Singapore and China, have warned against all but essential travel to Thailand while the troubles continue.
Meanwhile the country’s hoteliers are also feeling the backlash. Andrew Wood, General Manager of Bangkok’s Chao Phya Park Hotel, said yesterday that three groups have already cancelled, including a corporate FIT booking from Japan. Wood reports that occupancy is down to 55%, and could drop as low as 40% if trends continue. In September Bangkok hotels would usually expect around 75% occupancy.
The MICe market could be seriously affected by the government imposing ’emergency rule’ in the country, which bans gathering of 5 or more persons, leaving meetings and conference bookers unclear as to their legality.
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