Thursday violent outburst by protestors in Bangkok has alienated the Singaporean travel market, said leisure agents. AD Travel's bookings for the whole of Thailand have fallen 70 per cent since the rallies started in late-March. Director and general manager Joe Lim said: "Even Phuket is no longer attractive for families. Krabi is the only Thai destination to see some movement, but even that is small."
CTC Holidays senior vice president (marketing & PR) Alicia Seah said Phuket and Chiang Mai were starting to see "very few bookings". Some school groups due to visit Chiang Mai have diverted their travel to Cambodia. Leisure travellers have also switched to Hong Kong, Bali, Vietnam and Malaysia. Seah described the present situation in Bangkok as "very disruptive and destructive" compared to previous protests, but was confident interest would return once the problems were over and promotions were introduced.
As interest and security in Thailand wanes, travel agencies have ceased promotions for the destination. Lim said: "Hotel promotions are useless in such situations because traveller confidence is missing. We'll probably see a stronger wave of hotel promotions once the protests die down and during the quieter months of August and September."
- TTG Asia
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