The tourism industry quickly welcomed the decision by the caretaker government on Tuesday to lift the emergency decree, and expressed hope travel advisories issued by foreign countries also will soon end.
Tourists enjoy a boat ride among pink lotuses at Nong Han lake in Udon Thani earlier this month. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)
Susdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) said “It is certainly good for the tourism business. We can say that Thailand, especially Bangkok, now is back to normal”.
Tourism operators expect that overseas travel advisories will gradually be amended to confirm the end of the state of emergency. Officials expect to move shortly to launch promotional campaigns overseas to try to recover Thailand’s tourism image.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) immediately announced plans to spend 200 million baht to revive the tourism industry following the announced that the emergency decree will be revoked, effective Wednesday. Thawatchai Arunyik, the TAT governor, instructed directors of TAT offices abroad, and especially in Asia, to take steps to boost confidence among prospective tourists.
The main campaign will use the theme “Thailand: Best Friend Forever (BFF)”. It will be introduced by June, aiming to restore tourism during Bangkok's rainy season. Key activities of the campaign are BFF mega familiarisation trips, along with cooperation with the private sectors to offer special tour packages.
“We strongly believe Thailand is still a preferred destination," said Mr Thawatchai. "Demand still remains.”
Caretaker Minister of Tourism and Sports Somsak Phurisisak said the TAT would promote the Songkran water festival to be held beginning on the Thai New Year, April 13. He intends to explain to foreign tourists that tradition would be upheld in all areas of Bangkok - although there have been growing complaints for many years that Songkran celebrations have abandoned virtually all cultural tradition.
Mr Somsak said he believes tourist arrivals during Songkran might decline by more than 10% compared with last year, but he said the situation will improve gradually now that the emergency decree has ended.