THAILAND - The president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), Prakit Chinamourphong, has warned government officials that the approval of a three-month extension of the state of emergency will “affect foreign tourists’ confidence in the country”.
Chinamourphong has urged the Thai government to review the decree on a monthly basis. "The government has the power to extend the emergency decree, but I think an extension for three months instead of a month is considered too long and makes people feel that our nation faces serious unrest.”
The president of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Akapol Sorasuchart, stresses that there will be an immense impact on the country’s meetings, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) business. "Visitors have lacked confidence in travelling to Thailand. But I think that as long as the government isn't totally confident that the country is back to normal, it shouldn't rescind the decree.”
The bureau plans to host at least three familiarisation trips starting in September for MICE buyers, international media and travel agents.
