Japanese tourists have cancelled plans to visit Thailand after the invocation of emergency decree in Bangkok and surrounding provinces on Wednesday, president of Thai-Japan Tourism Association Anek Sricheewachart said on Saturday.
Anti-government protesters raise their money donations, as they cheer protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban (not in picture), during the rally in Ratchaprasong area on Saturday to defy the state of emergency. Japanese tourists cancelled plans to visit Thailand after the invocation of emergency decree. (EPA photo)
They believed that the emergency law enactment was a sign showing that the Thai government would use force to disperse the anti-government protesters and delayed planned trips to Thailand for safety reason, he said.
Mr Anek said as many as 1.4 million tourists visited Thailand in 2013, spending about 30,000 baht each for a five-day-trip on average.
The cancellation of hotel room reservations and tour packages has affected tourism related businesses, facing a huge amount of lost revenues, he added.