Closing Suvanabhumi Airport b/c of PAD

[LakeGeneve]

BOT is estimating the airport closures may result in 290 billion baht in direct and indirect losses for the economy.

BoT: Airport closures cost B290 billion Bangkok Post 8/01/2009

The closure of Bangkok's two airports by anti-government protesters could cost the economy up to 290 billion baht in lost income, according to a new study by the Bank of Thailand. The People's Alliance for Democracy blockaded Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports from Nov 25 to Dec 2, causing massive disruption to the country's tourism and trade sectors.

The central bank report was based on a 10-day period from Nov 25 to Dec 4, as full air services did not resume officially until Dec 5. It said that tourism arrivals could drop by 3.4 million from late 2008 through the end of the year. Direct income losses for the hotel sector were estimated at 140 billion baht, based on 2007 data that tourists typically stay nine days and spend 4,100 baht per day, central bank economist Kasarin Tansuwannrat said in the report.

If direct and indirect effects are combined, total losses from the airport closures could reach 290 billion baht. Of the amount, 120 billion baht in losses are projected for service industries, 90 billion for the transport sector and 60 billion for industrial and other sectors.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/9326/bot-airport-closures-cost-b290-billion

[LakeGeneve]

To all the pessimistics who were just one month ago over reacting with dire warnings and unfounded predictions of the "death" of tourism in the country;

But as has happened many times in recent years when tourism suffered from disasters natural and human-made - the tsunami of 2004 and military coup of 2006 among them - the foreigners have returned to Thailand.

"It's started to bounce back," said Pornthip Hiranyakij, secretary general of the Tourism Council of Thailand, a travel industry association. She estimates that beach resorts in southern Thailand were about 80 to 85 percent full during the holiday season compared with about 90 percent last year.

A staff member at the high-end Four Seasons hotel in the northern city of Chiang Mai said the hotel would be "crowded" for the rest of January; on the resort islands of Samui and Phuket the beach chairs filled up for the holidays.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/09/asia/thai.php

[Dave40]

To all the pessimistics who were just one month ago over reacting with dire warnings and unfounded predictions of the "death" of tourism in the country;

But as has happened many times in recent years when tourism suffered from disasters natural and human-made - the tsunami of 2004 and military coup of 2006 among them - the foreigners have returned to Thailand.

"It's started to bounce back," said Pornthip Hiranyakij, secretary general of the Tourism Council of Thailand, a travel industry association. She estimates that beach resorts in southern Thailand were about 80 to 85 percent full during the holiday season compared with about 90 percent last year.

A staff member at the high-end Four Seasons hotel in the northern city of Chiang Mai said the hotel would be "crowded" for the rest of January; on the resort islands of Samui and Phuket the beach chairs filled up for the holidays.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/09/asia/thai.php

I spoke to a travel agent here (flight centre) recently and he said Thailand is still popular after all the troubles!!! People are still hesitant to go to Bali ( but they do go) Just hope the A$ climbs up again!!!

[Guest PMike]

To all the pessimistics who were just one month ago over reacting with dire warnings and unfounded predictions of the "death" of tourism in the country;

But as has happened many times in recent years when tourism suffered from disasters natural and human-made - the tsunami of 2004 and military coup of 2006 among them - the foreigners have returned to Thailand.

"It's started to bounce back," said Pornthip Hiranyakij, secretary general of the Tourism Council of Thailand, a travel industry association. She estimates that beach resorts in southern Thailand were about 80 to 85 percent full during the holiday season compared with about 90 percent last year.

A staff member at the high-end Four Seasons hotel in the northern city of Chiang Mai said the hotel would be "crowded" for the rest of January; on the resort islands of Samui and Phuket the beach chairs filled up for the holidays.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/09/asia/thai.php

I spoke to a travel agent here (flight centre) recently and he said Thailand is still popular after all the troubles!!! People are still hesitant to go to Bali ( but they do go) Just hope the A$ climbs up again!!!

i have several frineds in the travel business and they have had a lot of cancelations based on the incident from the feedback given for canceling

[Stramash]

To all the pessimistics who were just one month ago over reacting with dire warnings and unfounded predictions of the "death" of tourism in the country;

But as has happened many times in recent years when tourism suffered from disasters natural and human-made - the tsunami of 2004 and military coup of 2006 among them - the foreigners have returned to Thailand.

"It's started to bounce back," said Pornthip Hiranyakij, secretary general of the Tourism Council of Thailand, a travel industry association. She estimates that beach resorts in southern Thailand were about 80 to 85 percent full during the holiday season compared with about 90 percent last year.

A staff member at the high-end Four Seasons hotel in the northern city of Chiang Mai said the hotel would be "crowded" for the rest of January; on the resort islands of Samui and Phuket the beach chairs filled up for the holidays.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/09/asia/thai.php

I spoke to a travel agent here (flight centre) recently and he said Thailand is still popular after all the troubles!!! People are still hesitant to go to Bali ( but they do go) Just hope the A$ climbs up again!!!

i have several frineds in the travel business and they have had a lot of cancelations based on the incident from the feedback given for canceling

This is very true here in UK too as I said at time of protests.

However...the cancellations (certainly here) were all around that time, and now, with many companies offering good deals on accommodation etc (5 days free for 5 booked etc) the bookings have picked up to normal levels for January (which is peak month in UK travel business). There will still be some effects due to the December cancellations, but nowhere near the bleak picture being painted at the start of December.

[Dave40]

To all the pessimistics who were just one month ago over reacting with dire warnings and unfounded predictions of the "death" of tourism in the country;

But as has happened many times in recent years when tourism suffered from disasters natural and human-made - the tsunami of 2004 and military coup of 2006 among them - the foreigners have returned to Thailand.

"It's started to bounce back," said Pornthip Hiranyakij, secretary general of the Tourism Council of Thailand, a travel industry association. She estimates that beach resorts in southern Thailand were about 80 to 85 percent full during the holiday season compared with about 90 percent last year.

A staff member at the high-end Four Seasons hotel in the northern city of Chiang Mai said the hotel would be "crowded" for the rest of January; on the resort islands of Samui and Phuket the beach chairs filled up for the holidays.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/09/asia/thai.php

I spoke to a travel agent here (flight centre) recently and he said Thailand is still popular after all the troubles!!! People are still hesitant to go to Bali ( but they do go) Just hope the A$ climbs up again!!!

i have several frineds in the travel business and they have had a lot of cancelations based on the incident from the feedback given for canceling

This is very true here in UK too as I said at time of protests.

However...the cancellations (certainly here) were all around that time, and now, with many companies offering good deals on accommodation etc (5 days free for 5 booked etc) the bookings have picked up to normal levels for January (which is peak month in UK travel business). There will still be some effects due to the December cancellations, but nowhere near the bleak picture being painted at the start of December.

That's what I was trying to say where there is cheap beer (and cold) we will travel!! (sad isn't)

[LakeGeneve]

In the space of 3 weeks the BoT has reduced the economic impact of the airport closure by 80 billion baht (see article on 8 Jan on previous page) with a slight decrease in arrivals;

PAD airportsiege cost put at B210bn Bkk Post 26/01/2009 at 12:00 AM

The move by the protesters against the former Somchai Wongsawat government to seize Suvarnabhumi International Airport caused the airport to close between Nov 25 and Dec 4. The protesters also closed Don Mueang airport, which serves domestic flights.

The damage included 100 billion baht in direct losses of tourism income and the remainder from tourism-related businesses, the central bank said in its January Inflation Report. Tourist arrivals fell by 38.5% compared with 60% year-on-year in the original forecast. The easing political conflicts and airlines' launches of new direct flights and chartered flights helped increase arrivals in the southern region. "Therefore we expect that tourism in 2009 and 2010 should be better than earlier expected. We expect tourist arrivals to total 14.3 million and 13.5 million in 2009 and 2010, a 0.8% and 5.6% year-on-year decrease," the report said.

The estimated losses of 210 billion baht would be 2% of the gross domestic product based on 2009 prices. Of the total damage, 910 million will occur in the service sector, 680 million in transport, 420 million in the industrial sector and 100 million in other tourism sectors.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/10447/pad-airportsiege-cost-put-at-b210bn

[LakeGeneve]

After all the cries of injustice and suggested protection of PAD leaders by many members on the forum last year no one seems to have commented during the last few weeks on reports of impending charges being laid against the PAD members.

This afternoon it was police announced that 21 PAD will be formally charged next week;

Police on Friday summoned 21 leaders and top activists of Thailand's People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to formally hear charges to be levelled against them next week at Bangkok's Metropolitan Police headquarters.

Deputy Bangkok Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Amnuay Nimmano said all 21 PAD activists will have to report between March 2-5 to hear the police charges laid against them.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/02/27/politics/politics_30096810.php

Senior police and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban met earlier yesterday to discuss political rallies. According to Mr Suthep, as of Feb 10, police had received 145 complaints related to political rallies. Police have finished investigating 46 cases.

Of the 145 complaints, 43 had been filed by the PAD and 102 complaints against it. Police have finished investigating 15 of the 43 complaints filed by the PAD, and 31 of the 102 complaints filed against the PAD, said Mr Suthep.

Pol Maj-Gen Ekkarat said police had also taken legal action against the PAD's arch-rival, the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), on five complaints which were also related to the UDD's staging of political rallies. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/12036/arrest-warrants-for-21-pad-leaders-expected

Whatever cases arise out of this process will take many, many years to conclude.

[zeusbheld]

good news about prosecuting the PAD leaders.

fwiw i never said they had *protection* just tacit, silent endorsement of some segment of the military and police. i don't think they could have taken the airport otherwise.

[LakeGeneve]

Whoever said that Administration of Justice in Thailand is painfully slow?

Court throws out anti-PAD cases By: POST REPORTERS 20/05/2009

The Civil Court has thrown out a case brought against the six core leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy over the yellow shirts' storming and seizure of Government House last year.

Loyluen Bunnag, deputy secretary-general at the Prime Minister's Office, on Aug 27 last year asked the court to order the PAD demonstrators to leave Government House, remove their stage, and to clear Phitsanulok Road and Ratchadamnoen Avenue for traffic.The court dismissed the case yesterday saying it was obvious the PAD leaders and demonstrators had now vacated the compound and reopened the roads.

The six yellow shirt leaders were Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Somsak Kosaisuk, Sondhi Limthongkul, Pibhop Dhongchai, Somkiat Pongpaiboon and Suriyasai Katasila. PAD supporters occupied the Government House compound from Aug 26 to Dec 2 last year demanding that Thaksin Shinawatra's allies resign from government. They called off their protest after the Constitution Court broke up the three coalition parties for electoral fraud, which brought down the Somchai Wongsawat government.

Suwat Apaipak, the PAD lawyer, said that two other cases brought against the PAD leaders by the Airports of Thailand were still pending in the Civil Court. AoT is suing the alliance for damages related to the seizure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports by PAD supporters late last year. The first hearing of the cases has been scheduled for Aug 28.

[Guest FLGlenn]

Thailand has lost its charm. Time to go to Bali!