CHIANG RAI, 7 May 2014 – A provincial office of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) in Chiang Rai revealed numerous businesses in the province have been severely affected by the 6.3 magnitude quake on Monday. The office and several entrepreneurs have urged the government to find concrete measures to cushion impacts from such natural disasters.
The provincial FTI office stated the quake has shaken tourists’ confidence in tourist sites in the region, as doubts loom over the nation’s efficiency in disaster prevention and mitigation. Operators of hotels and businesses in tourist attractions have recently met to assess the damages. The meeting was informed that there were no room cancellations at the moment.
However, Chiang Rung Hotel’s operator said the hotel has to close temporarily following the tremor and several aftershocks, causing it to lose an estimated income of 20,000 baht a day.
Similarly, several vendors including major supermarket chain Tesco Lotus in Phan District have closed after the quake damaged their buildings, and disrupted goods supplies.
Meanwhile, Chiang Rai Sin Thani Company Limited, one of Chiang Rai’s major dealers of electronics appliances and motorcycles, yesterday closed the company for a clean-up operation as the tremor shook the ceiling of the company’s showroom causing some parts to fall on its merchandise. The operator estimated the damage value at no less than 100,000-200,000 baht.
The Central Pattana Public Company Limited also revealed that initial inspections of the four Central malls in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Lampang showed all the electrical, sanitary, and fire distinguishing systems in the mall were still working normally. The company said it would conduct a thorough inspection of the sites later on. Central Plaza in Chiang Rai yesterday closed as more than 100 aftershocks continued to linger in the area.
