Bookings to BKK close to zero

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Travel bookings to Bangkok fall to almost zero in last fortnight
By Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid/Ting Kheng Siong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 December 2008 2133 hrs



A Bangkok street scene (file picture)



SINGAPORE: It's the holiday season, but travel bookings to Bangkok have plummeted close to zero in the last two weeks, according to travel agents in Singapore.

This wariness is also spilling over to other usually popular Thai destinations such as Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Bangkok's Suvarnabumi International Airport may have reopened since Friday but Singapore travellers are staying away, at least for now.

Two local tour agencies that Channel NewsAsia's news team spoke to said more than half of their Thailand-bound customers have changed their travel plans.

The agencies interviewed said they are willing to give a full refund or offer travel vouchers to customers on a case-by-case basis. On their part, the agencies are also cutting back on promotional advertisements for Thai getaways.

While they're expecting the low demand to continue till the Lunar New Year, the agencies are optimistic that Thailand will remain a top destination in the long term.

Peggie M Y Chung, deputy general manager, Outbound Tour Department, Hong Thai Travel Services, said: "Even though some groups are departing in mid-December or after mid-December, there are still a lot of passengers asking to change their destinations or postpone their tour. They don't even mind paying the surcharge."

Rosa M.E Ho, general manager, Chan Brothers Travel Pte Ltd (Asia), said: “Bangkok is a hot favourite destination for Singaporeans, so they will still choose to go to Bangkok after a few months, depending on the political sentiments in Thailand.”

The agencies added that tours to India have also seen a drop following the Mumbai attacks, but they are not expecting demand to drop as much as for Thailand. - CNA/vm

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Dec 10, 2008
Many still avoiding Bangkok
By Tessa Wong

NEARLY a week after protestors left Suvarnabhumi Airport, Singaporean travellers remain wary of Bangkok as a holiday destination.

A check with major tour agencies and airlines found that many are still cancelling their trips and heading elsewhere to Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Other places within Thailand like Phuket are also popular as alternatives.

Some are switching even though it may cost them more money. For example, a three day package for Vietnam or Cambodia can cost up to $200 more than a similar one to Bangkok because they are less popular, according to ASA Holidays spokesman Ms Louisa Chin.

Her company has seen up to 40 cancellations for Bangkok trips since the crisis started, 'with more still flowing in', she added. CTC Holidays, meanwhile, has seen the Dec take-up rate for their Bangkok packages plummet by 50 per cent compared to last Dec (07).

Many travellers are waiting to see how the political situation in Bangkok plays out.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.

[pompui]

Probably how many other countries within the south east area will view Thailand,use Phuket as a stepping stone and avoid Bangkok altogether.
Shame they stopped the international direct routes to Phuket,before Australia direct I remember.Why not Uk direct to Phuket? or direct to Chiang Mai?

[woody]

you wouldn't believe it if you checked for flights from oz

cheapest 1 way $850!!!!!!
i've paid that for a return

a ripoff nothing less