The Hindu Business Line : Thailand beckons tourists once again

THAILAND'S hot spots are back in action. Since the tsunami struck in December, the beaches have been cleaned up, and the resorts are ready to welcome back tourists. New promotional campaigns are also being launched to restore travellers' confidence.

Phuket, one of the major tourist destinations, has set right its tourist infrastructure within weeks of the disaster causing extensive damage along the coastline. The debris has been cleared, damaged shop fronts, hotels and resorts restored and ready to cater to tourists' whims and fancies.

The Government and the private sector are using this opportunity to bring in regulations to improve the country's beaches. Beach areas will be zoned, walkways improved, overhead electrical and communication cables replaced with underground cables and plastic beach chairs will replace the wooden ones that caused many an injury when tourists fleeing the tsunami waters tumbled.

The President of the Phuket Tourist Association, Pattanapong Aikwanichi, told a group of journalists treated to a visit of Phuket's beach resorts by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, that more than 30,000 rooms of the total 35,000 were ready for occupation.

Nightlife at Patong beach, a major resort town in Phuket, is in full swing, even if tourists' presence is just at 30 per cent of full occupancy. This is an encouraging number considering that after the tsunami, occupancy had dropped to less than 10 per cent, he said.

According to Jane Poh, Vice-President (Corporate Communication), Star Cruises, which was one of the trip organisers, one sure way that the international community can help Phuket and the rest of Thailand is by including it in their holiday travel plans. This would restore businesses and the livelihood of the town, whose economy is founded on tourism.

Suwalai Pinpradab, Director of the tourism authority's southern office, said tourist arrivals were on the upswing in February. Occupancy has been up to about 30 per cent from 7-10 per cent immediately after the disaster.

The tourism department has sought budget allocation for launching Andaman Sunshine, a new promotional programme.

Over 10 million tourists visit Thailand every year and at least 30 per cent of them include Phuket on their itinerary. Another million domestic tourists also come to Phuket, she said.

Phuket alone is losing about $3 million (Rs 13 crore) a month due to the drop in tourist arrivals. The tsunami had struck during the peak season, and this year the country hopes to salvage what remains of the season, which usually lasts up to March-April.

Extensive awareness campaigns have been being launched, and journalists and travel writers across the globe are being brought to visit Thailand's coastal holiday destinations.

The campaign is being organised in collaboration with the tourism authority, Star Cruises, which operates in the Asia-Pacific region, and its partner in Thailand, Sea Tours and Travels.

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Thailand beckons tourists once again