Tourism industry seeks tough measures to protect reputation after boat tragedy
THAI TOURISM authorities are worried
following the massive cancellations of hotel room bookings by Chinese
tourists in the southern island resort of Phuket following the tragic
July 5 boat accident.
So far, 7,300 Phuket hotel room bookings for July and August have been
cancelled by Chinese tourists. Industry insiders say the numbers are
likely to increase as more hotels report their booking status. Chinese
account for as many as 3 million tourists in Phuket per year, while on
average some 10 million Chinese tourists visit Thailand every year.
Kongsak Kupongsakorn, president of the Southern Hoteliers’ Association,
said 19 member hotels had already reported their cancellations while
another 160 hotels have yet to file their reports. The negative impacts
of the July 5 accident in which nearly 50 were killed are widespread and
more serious than previously thought, he said.
Chatchai Tipsunavee, permanent secretary at the Tourism and Sports
Ministry, said a massive number of hotel booking cancellations had been
reported despite remedial measures taken by the Thai government
following the boat accident.
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At this stage, hotel room cancellations are estimated to account for
10-15 per cent of the total business in the world-renowned resort
province.
Chiaya Rapuepol, president of the Andaman Sea tourism business
association, said the boat accident could cost as much as Bt42 billion
in lost tourism and related revenues over the next two months. He called
for the government to restore confidence in tourist safety as soon as
possible to avoid even greater damage being caused to Phuket’s
Bt350-billion-a-year tourism industry. News reports of the two boats
capsizing received worldwide media coverage.
Phuket Governor Napat Prodthong wants the government to set up a command
centre to regulate all Andaman Sea tourist activities in the nearby
Phang Nga province.
He suggested inspection points for all incoming and outgoing vessels so
that authorities could more effectively enforce safety and |related laws
on vessel operators, captains, passengers and crew.
The Phang Nga command centre could take responsibility for Phuket,
Krabi, Trang and Phang Nga provinces, he said, adding that Phuket itself
will have its own vessel command units at Ao Por, Ratchata Harbour and
Ao Chalong Harbour, with closed-circuit and surveillance TV systems
installed to record all incoming and outgoing tourists.
Overall, the Phang Nga command centre and other facilities would cost
Bt500 million to Bt600 million to boost tourist safety in the Andaman
Sea, he said.
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Meanwhile, the Phuket governor and other provincial authorities have
joined with Vice Admiral Somneuk Prempramoj, commander of the
Third-Region Navy responsible for Phuket and other Andaman Sea
provinces, to work with harbour operators and other businesses to ensure
tourist safety in the wake of the disaster. The government has
announced a revamping of safety rules and regulations to prevent future
accidents. The large number of vessels, boat services and even harbours
in Phuket alone present a challenge for properly regulating the
industry.
The Navy has sent its personnel to help provincial authorities restore
confidence and to help upgrade the safety system by issuing early
warnings on bad weather. Tourism authorities and others must step up
preventive safety measures, such as ensuring passengers are taught how
to use safety vests.
Somnuek said the Navy would propose that the central government use
Article 44 of the charter to empower Phuket authorities to fast-track
enforcement of rules and regulations to boost safety.
Meanwhile, Woraluk Reukch-aikan, managing director of TC Blue Dream Co,
owner of the ill-fated Pheonix tourist boat, surrendered on Saturday and
will appear in court today to seek release on bail.
Relatives of the 29 victims killed in the accident have been paid more
than Bt60 million in combined compensation. Altogether, 46 bodies have
been recovered from the sea, while authorities are still attempting to
recover another body struck in the boat’s wreckage and another passenger
is still missing.
Source - TheNation
