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Bangkok hotels suffering
cancellations, postponements
Since the Thai government
declared a state of emergency in Bangkok (Sept 2), Thailand's
tourism operators have been flooded with queries, cancellations and
postponements as the country is again facing political deadlock, reports
the Travel Trade Gazette.
Bangkok
hotels had already reported cancellations and postponements a day prior
to the government’s state of emergency announcement, which came after
this morning’s clashes between anti- and pro-government groups that left
one person killed and about 40 injured.
The report continues that Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok said that its rooms
and food and beverage business for this month had dropped by eight per
cent. Bangkok Marriot Resorts and Spas reported up to seven per cent
drop due to the postponement of three corporate meetings from Singapore
and Hong Kong to November.
Another international hotel on Bangkok’s riverside has reported up to 40
per cent cancellations on this month’s bookings, including two incentive
groups totalling more than 2,000 room nights. The hotel’s source said
another two incentive groups from Japan totalling almost 1,500 room
nights were most likely to be cancelled too.
Chaophya Park Hotel general manager, Mr Andrew Wood, said his hotel
received cancellations from three government meeting groups and Japanese
corporate travellers.
In response to the government's declaration of the state of emergency,
tourism operators said it was still too early to gauge the responses
from overseas partners as of this morning, considering the different
time zones in some parts of the world. They said the picture would
become clearer later in the afternoon or tomorrow.
Meanwhile, a number of tourism operators have issued a series of
statements and updates.
Centara Hotels and Resorts’ statement said: “Thailand is a democratic
country and the recent demonstrations have been held in accordance with
the spirit of the normal democratic process. We would like to reassure
you that within Bangkok all demonstrations have been limited to and
contained within defined areas (in the immediate areas of the Government
House) which are well away from the city centre and tourism areas.”
Mr Wood added: “As I was driving to work this morning, the traffic was
normal and people appeared to just be getting on with things as usual.
There were no signs of any military group and the police were directing
traffic as usual.”
Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thailand Convention
and Exhibition Bureau are separately preparing statements.
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Photo AP |
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