BANGKOK, 31 October 2011 – Mr Prasit Vichaisuchat, Secretary of the Thai Boat Association and Managing Director Assistant of the River Side Bangkok Hotel said that the occupying rate of the total 250 rooms in the riverside Bangkok hotels has dropped from the average rate of 70-75% to 0% due to booking cancellations by all Thai and foreign guests while International Buffet Dinner Cruise is also shut down.
The hotel industry is estimated to lose about 50 million THB of its income.
Moreover, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has cancelled the Color of the River, Loy Krathong Festival 2011 in Bangkok and all festivities along the Chao Phraya River, resulting in the loss of more than 56 million THB of income which is supposed to be earned by the business of 30 dinner cruises on the Loy Krathong night alone.
Consequently, the Thai Boat Association will propose a plan to Mr Chumpol Silpa-archa, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Sports, to set up a post-flood integrated tourism rehabilitation strategy in response to the government’s objective to welcome 30 million foreign tourists and gain 2 trillion THB in 2015.
The proposal suggests three key elements including the improvement and development of tourist attractions, the development of human resources and low-interest loans for tourism entrepreneurs. As for the short term, the tourism business will negotiate with the government in order to receive the share in the low-interest credits which are issued to assist flood-affected businesses.
