Despite the significant earthquake that struck Southeast Asia last week, Thailand, which has the region’s second-largest economy, continues to expect 38 million foreign tourists this year.
Minister of Tourism and Sports Sorawong Thienthong informed journalists on Monday that the earthquake’s effects will be confined and brief. He also mentioned that over 1,000 hotel reservations have been cancelled following the tremor that struck Bangkok after originating in Myanmar last Friday.
The ministry intends to update its approach for the latter part of this year in order to tackle the slow-moving Chinese market and the diminished confidence subsequent to the earthquake.
Thienthong mentioned that a group for managing risks and crises in tourism will be set up to assist the sector. This team will include members from various bodies within the tourism supply chain, like the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Roads Authority.
Based on early responses from the private sector, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports intends to work alongside the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to provide certification for hotels that successfully pass a security inspection post-earthquake.
He pointed out that the ministry will concentrate on conveying one key message: Thailand remains a secure destination for travelers.
Sorawong also mentioned that the Chinese market is particularly reactive to information about the earthquake, and the ministry intends to talk with the Chinese ambassador to try and rebuild trust.
With the approaching Songkran festivities, all events are anticipated to proceed as scheduled. The ministry has requested that the Tourist Police collaborate with provincial law enforcement agencies to guarantee tourist safety in key locations.
Sorawong expressed confidence that the slow booking phase wouldn’t persist because officials have been diligently addressing the problem.
He projected that the typical hotel occupancy rate for April and the Songkran holiday season would stay at approximately 60%, which is below the previous year’s figure of 65%.
In the meantime, a spokesperson for the Thai Airlines Association mentioned that flight reservations experienced a decline of 40-60% over the two days following the earthquake. Notably, cancellations originating from China were even more pronounced, dropping by around 60%.
As of Wednesday, the 7.7 magnitude earthquake was the most powerful to strike Myanmar in a hundred years, resulting in a reported death toll of 2,719 people.
On Tuesday, the death toll from the earthquake in Thailand increased to 21, alongside numerous structures sustaining damage.
From January through mid-March, Thailand saw an influx of 8.3 million international travelers, marking a 3.9% rise compared to the same period last year.
