Number of tourists drops 10% due to mass rally

BANGKOK, 6 April 2010 (NNT) – The ongoing mass rally has caused the number of tourists to drop by 10%, according to Minister of Tourism and Sports Chumpol Silapa-archa.

Mr Chumpol said the number of visitors, especially those who planned their trips in advance, had already declined by 10% due to the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) demonstration being staged in the capital city of Bangkok.

The minister pointed out that domestic spending had also been greatly impacted by the occupation of the anti-government protestors at Ratchaprasong Junction, the city’s major business venue. He reasoned that the incident had forced most of the offices and shopping complexes in the area to be closed temporarily.

Mr Chumpol added that the tourist off-season might be another factor contributing to the decrease in the number of tourists. Therefore, the ministry is trying to support the tourism sector by imposing more campaigns both domestically and internationally.

The UDD supporters have been staging their rallies for 25 days in Bangkok. The red-shirt leaders led a portion of the protestors on a march from the main rally site at Phan Fah Bridge to Ratchaprasong Junction on 3 April 2010. The group has been occupying the junction since and is believed to have cost the country billions of baht.