Tourists do not seem concerned about Bangkok protests

Thailands political problems and travel warnings issued by many western countries do not seem to be affecting tourism.

It is the end of 2013 and it has been a couple of years since Thailand's last last political dispute which means the country has been overdue for this.

 

Protesters on both sides took time out yesterday to honor the kings 86th birthday showing in spite of political strife, Thai culture and a strong common bond does still remain. Perhaps that common bond, ie: a Monarch, is the only real way forward for the Thai people. However with Thailand's peak tourism season upon us it seems that tourists are not concerned about red shirts, yellow shirts, or any other color, they just want their holiday. 

Here is an article from  the Wall Street Journal:

 

As Thailand Fears a Drop in Tourism, Visitors Say No Worries

By Nopparat Chaichalearmmongkol

BANGKOK—Political protests in Thailand have calmed slightly following an uneasy truce between demonstrators and the government on Tuesday. But fears remain that the ongoing political turmoil could reverberate throughout the economy.

Thailand’s tourism industry, a major contributor to the country’s gross domestic product, could be an obvious casualty, with news and scenes of continued street protests and the storming of government offices in Bangkok scarring away foreign travelers just when Thailand is entering peak tourism season.

As of Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry reported that 37 countries have issued travel advisories for Thailand – mostly at level 2 – “Exercise Caution.”

 

Still, several tourists interviewed by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday said they found Bangkok to be safe, even when coming across demonstrations.

The British government “issued advice, saying we should avoid protest sites, which apparently we have not managed to,” said 30-year-old British national Mark Abbott, who was walking down Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the main anti-government rally site in Bangkok.

The avenue sits adjacent to the city’s famous backpacker hub, Khao San Road, which makes avoiding the rally sites somewhat difficult.

But since Mr. Abbott and his companion Kadi McLeod arrived in the Thai capital just days ago they say they’ve not found anything to worry about.

“This looks very organized and everyone seems to know where to go and what to do,” said Ms. McLeod.

Even though the protests have eased, however, airlines and travel operators say their main concern is that tourists who have not yet arrived will re-think their visits, particularly if the protests resume next week after the country has celebrated the birthday of highly-revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Dec. 5.

The latest data from flag-carrier Thai Airways International and leading budget carrier Thai AirAsia showed a slight a drop in passenger numbers for the month of November, when protests first started heating up.

“While we are not seeing mass cancellations, a prolonged situation may lead short-haul travelers to change their holiday destination to somewhere else,” said Chokchai Panyayong, senior vice president of Thai Airways International PCL.