Thai Tourism chiefs say country is safe to visit

Thai tourism officials told reporters at the Arabian Travel Market yesterday that it was safe to travel to Thailand despite ongoing violent political protests in the capital of Bangkok.

Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Suraphon Svetasreni said: “The politicial situation is affecting a few limited areas of Bangkok. The main tourist attractions and shopping complexes are still operating normally.

"Riverside hotels are running their businesses as normal, and major hospitals are operating as normal. Popular tourists destinations outside of Bangkok have not been affected at all. Life in almost all of Bangkok continues as normal.”

However, Thai Minister for Tourism and Sports Chumpol Silapa-arche admitted that the tourism industry had been badly damaged due to the “psychological” impact of the portrayal of current events in Thailand.

“With CNN and the BBC reporting on this situation around the world you have a feeling the whole country of Thailand is not safe to go. The psychological effect of this is something we cannot erase.“

The government has introduced a number of initiatives in an attempt to try to repair the damage done - including a free travel insurance scheme to the value of US$30,000 for every visitor to Thailand, a waiver of tourist visa fees until March 2011 and reduced aircraft landing and parking fees at the airports.