THAILAND - The TUNA 2010 conference and exhibition has become another casualty of the ongoing political unrest in the Thai capital, Bangkok.
Its co-organisers, Infofish and Baird Events, have announced that their biennial event, which was expected to attract over 700 global tuna industry representatives, has had to be postponed “due to the political turmoil in Thailand”.
Baird Events’ Kishore Navani said they are constantly monitoring the Thai situation and that “all confirmed and intending exhibitors and delegates will be directly advised immediately when a decision has been made on the new dates for TUNA 2010, probably October 2010”.
The three-day exhibition, which co-locates with the 11th edition of the Infofish World Tuna Trade Conference, was due to be held at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre from 20 to 22 May.
The latest bout of violent clashes in the Thai capital between anti-government protesters and security forces has increased the reported death tally to around 24 with 75 injured and one death after last night’s (22 April) series of grenade blasts.
A statement from the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations said the government was expecting an 80-90 per cent room occupancy rate in Bangkok, but does not think it will make it to 30 per cent if the unrest continues.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has warned against travelling to Thailand unless it is for essential travel. "We advise against all but essential travel to Bangkok in light of ongoing political demonstrations and outbreaks of violence within the city," says the FCO. "This advice does not apply to passengers transiting Bangkok airport on their way to other destinations in Thailand or internationally."
Picture: TheGiantVermin
