The Board of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) will meet Monday morning at a Bangkok hotel to propose its discussion result to a special governmental special committee responsible for rehabilitating and restoring Thailand’s image in regard to tourism.

The March to May political unrest caused more serious damage to Thailand’s economy and reputation than Yellow Shirt actions in 2008, when the PAD shut down two Bangkok airports.

ATTA president Surapol Sritrakul said meeting is being held due to lowered tourist arrivals which have fallen 20-30 per cent.

The March to May political unrest caused more serious damage to Thailand’s economy and reputation than Yellow Shirt actions in 2008, when the PAD shut down two Bangkok airports.

Mr Surapol said the ATTA had already asked the government for an initial aid package of Bt5 billion, including loans and income tax cuts.

Additionally, ATTA adviser Apichart Sankary said that tourist figures in Thailand had sharply dropped, and that the government needed to rehabilitate the country and better the mental health of residents.

He hoped that Thailand would continue promoting its tourism sector among Thais, and that road shows abroad should focus on existing markets such as China, as he said penetrating a new market under present circumstances of the country would be difficult.

Fine Arts Department director-general Kriengkrai Sampatchalit said a sharp drop in tourist arrivals was also seen at one of the most important tourist attractions in Bangkok, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. He said if tourist numbers do not significantly rebound in the next few months, the department must propose promoting the country’s other UNESCO World Heritage Sites as a selling point to restore Thailand’s image, while cooperating with the Tourism and Sports Ministry to conduct related public relations campaigns.

Somsuda Leeyavanich, deputy permanent secretary for the Ministry of Culture, said a drop in tourist arrivals was also being felt in the historic towns of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya.

News item courtesy of www.mcot.net/EnglishNews