Thailand’s tourism industry losses reach US$150 million

BANGKOK, April 30 (TNA) – Due to the protracted protests of the anti-government Red Shirts, Thailand in April has already lost over 100,000 tourist visitors and around more than Bt5 billion (US$156 million) in revenues, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) estimates.

According to TAT Governor Surapol Sawetseranee, if the demonstrations continue, even peacefully but with political impact, Thailand’s tourist income in the third quarter will entirely vanish and the country will have to hope for a recovery in the final quarter, which is normally the country’s high season for tourism.

Mr Surapol said the current Red Shirt protests of over 50 days in the capital has seriously damaged country’s tourism industry, particularly in April.

He cited TAT statistics from a survey on tourist arrivals at Suvarnabhumi international airport, noting that around 680,000 tourists entered the country in April, causing the “Land of Smiles” to lose the opportunity to generate revenues of more than Bt5 billion (US$156 million), a 21 per cent drop from the 860,000 travellers coming to Thailand in the same period of 2008.

In March and April, Mr Surapol said there were about 1.3 million visitors entering Thailand. However, if compared to 2008, the tourist figure dropped around 4.6 per cent, counting as lost revenue of around Bt2.5 billion ($78 million). He added the reason why tourists still chose Thailand as their destination in March was because the political situation then was not as serious as it has become in April.

The TAT governor said as the demonstrations continue, the Tourism Authority can neither map out a strategic plan to deal with effects from the ongoing protests nor estimate the amount of financial losses. (TNA)