THAILAND - Thai Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said tourism may be “decimated” as a result of the recent wave of clashes between the government and anti-government protestors that have so far claimed 23 lives and injured over 800.
Despite the minister’s statements, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has said there have been no further incidents since Saturday’s widely-covered protests, describing the current situation as “peaceful”.
The TCEB hopes to ease the concerns of event organisers and delegates travelling to Thailand or thinking of running an event in the Thai capital.
“Following the clashes at two locations in Bangkok on Saturday, there have been no further incidents and the situation today is peaceful as Thailand prepares to begin its Songkran New Year festival,” says the bureau.
“While the situation in Bangkok remains uncertain as the protesters have not withdrawn their calls for dissolution of Parliament, it is important to note that the protests are confined to two main sites at Pan Fah Bridge/Rachadamnoen Avenue and Rachaprasong intersections, and are not affecting other parts of the city or the rest of Thailand,” it adds.
Businesses, restaurants and entertainment venues throughout the city are open as usual, according to the bureau, and Suvarnabhumi International Airport and all domestic airports are also operating normally.
However, the Thai government has confirmed the army is prepared to use live rounds against ‘red-shirt’ protestors, and hotels located around the Ratchaprasong intersection are reported to have closed their doors until the threat of violence subsides.
“All are in bad shape as there are no tourists coming to the country,” says president of the Thai Hotels Association Prakit Chinamourphong.
Hotels which have apparently closed include the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Holiday Inn and Centara Grand, while there are reports that occupancy in the Holiday Inn Bangkok has been as low as two per cent.
Acting government spokesman, Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn, says there is no travel ban inside the country and has apologised to foreign visitors for any inconvenience caused.
“While delegates should of course be vigilant and exercise common sense in avoiding the two protest locations, TCEB would like to reassure all MICE delegates that we will do all we can to minimise any inconvenience caused,” says the bureau.
The TCEB announced the latest bout of anti-government rallies in the Thai capital will cost Thailand’s meetings industry close to 800m baht (US$21m).
