ID :
61719
Thu, 05/21/2009 - 20:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/61719
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Foreign tourist arrivals forecast to drop 10-15% after H1N1 outbreak
BANGKOK, May 21 (TNA) – The Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) has forecast Thailand’s tourist arrivals would drop a further 10-15 per cent as a result of the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak even though latest lab tests confirmed no new cases found in the kingdom.
TTAA president Charoen Wongananont revealed on Thursday that 95 per cent of Chinese and Japanese tourists have cancelled their planned trips to Thailand since the outbreak of the new A (H1N1) virus strain, while half the scheduled travellers from Hong Kong have cancelled or postponed their visits to the kingdom.
Mr. Charoen said that the number of visitors from Scandinavian countries has dropped 30 per cent, while the number of Thais travelling abroad has also dropped.
The TTAA president cited the H1N1 outbreak as the cause of the decreasing tourist arrivals. The number was likely to drop a further 10 to 15 per cent, as the public fears contracting the new virus strain during air travel.
The TTAA president however said that the impact of a large-scale spread of A (H1N1) will not be as severe as that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and bird flu outbreaks, and the situation will ease in a couple of months.
Mr. Charoen suggested that domestic travel should be promoted among Thais in order to boost the country’s tourism industry.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Department of Employment on Thursday announced the permission of Thai labour export to H1N1 flu-risk countries, after delaying labour exports earlier in the outbreak.
Director-General Pichai Ekpithakdamrong of the Department of Employment, however, said that authorised employment agencies must attach certification guaranteeing that exported workers have passed the briefing on influenza Type A, its symptoms and self-preventive measures.
The agencies must also provide hygienic masks and antiseptic hand gel to the workers, Mr. Pichai said, adding that the companies must also be responsible for all extra costs related to the H1N1 prevention programme and must immediately evacuate Thai workers from pandemic areas if such an outbreak takes place. (TNA)
TTAA president Charoen Wongananont revealed on Thursday that 95 per cent of Chinese and Japanese tourists have cancelled their planned trips to Thailand since the outbreak of the new A (H1N1) virus strain, while half the scheduled travellers from Hong Kong have cancelled or postponed their visits to the kingdom.
Mr. Charoen said that the number of visitors from Scandinavian countries has dropped 30 per cent, while the number of Thais travelling abroad has also dropped.
The TTAA president cited the H1N1 outbreak as the cause of the decreasing tourist arrivals. The number was likely to drop a further 10 to 15 per cent, as the public fears contracting the new virus strain during air travel.
The TTAA president however said that the impact of a large-scale spread of A (H1N1) will not be as severe as that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and bird flu outbreaks, and the situation will ease in a couple of months.
Mr. Charoen suggested that domestic travel should be promoted among Thais in order to boost the country’s tourism industry.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Department of Employment on Thursday announced the permission of Thai labour export to H1N1 flu-risk countries, after delaying labour exports earlier in the outbreak.
Director-General Pichai Ekpithakdamrong of the Department of Employment, however, said that authorised employment agencies must attach certification guaranteeing that exported workers have passed the briefing on influenza Type A, its symptoms and self-preventive measures.
The agencies must also provide hygienic masks and antiseptic hand gel to the workers, Mr. Pichai said, adding that the companies must also be responsible for all extra costs related to the H1N1 prevention programme and must immediately evacuate Thai workers from pandemic areas if such an outbreak takes place. (TNA)
