Tourist arrivals at Bangkok International Airport for the
first week of April showed a 93 percent increase over the same period last
year and, more significantly, a 9.2 percent increase over the first seven
days of the same month in 2002.
Public sector leaders are taking the figures as an
indicator that their target of 12 million visitors this year can be
achieved, but private sector operators are worried that adverse travel
advisories could seriously damage the country’s prospects.
Thailand’s minister of Tourism, Sonthaya Khunpluem,
freely acknowledges that comparisons with 2003 are irrelevant because SARS
had set in by April, but he said the comparison between April 2004 and April
2002 was significant.
“The latest figures indicate that despite earlier
fears, demand for Thailand is holding up well,” he told TTG Asia, adding
that the new figures had boosted his optimism that Thailand would reach its
target of 12 million overseas arrivals by the end of this year.
“This month the TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) is
putting on road shows in Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, UAE (United Arab
Emirates), Bahrain and Kuwait. New initiatives in Japan, Korea and the UK
will also help to boost demand,” the minister added.
Spokesmen for leading inbound operators from Japan,
Germany and UK were upbeat but their optimism was tempered by fears that
travel advisories posted on government websites worldwide could damage
bookings.
The governments of Germany, UK, Australia, USA, Japan and
some Scandinavian countries posted adverse warnings last week following the
theft of a large quantity of explosives in southern Thailand which the Thai
authorities feared might be used against tourist targets.
The warnings generally advised tourists from travelling
to southern Thailand, including Phuket, but also warned of danger in Bangkok
and Pattaya. Warnings on the German government’s website were particularly
strong and mentioned not only the southern provinces of Yala, Patthani,
Narithawat and Phuket, but also Pattaya.
Asian Trails’ managing director, Luzi Matzig, reacted
angrily saying it was unfair for European governments to highlight dangers
in Thailand unless they also highlighted dangers in countries such as Spain.
“Foreign governments must not over-react. Their warnings are totally out
of proportion. They must be fair or they lose their credibility,” he said.
(TTG Asia)