Thailand seeks to stay on holiday agenda
By Jiao Xiaoyang (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-01-06 22:47

A top official from the Thailand Embassy to China has pleaded with Chinese tourists to keep his devastated country on their list of holiday destinations.

Embassy Minister to China Sakarn Suthipradit said his country's tourism industry would only rally with continuing support.

Thailand's Ambassador to China Jullapong Nonsrichai then told State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan that his country is thankful to the Chinese for their donations.

Tang visited the Thai Embassy yesterday to offer his condolences to Thai victims. He thanked the Thai Government for helping Chinese tourists affected by the tsunami, and pledged China's continuing support in medical care and epidemic control.

More than 5,200 people were killed in Thailand, nearly half of them foreign tourists.

"Not travelling to Thailand will increase our suffering," said Sakarn Suthipradit.

More than 2,000 hotel rooms in Thailand were destroyed in the tsunami, running up bills of at least US$507 million for rebuilding. The tourism industry has suffered more than US$2.5 billion in direct losses, according to Suwat Jutakorn, director of the Thai Tourism Authority's Beijing office.

The Thai Government and banks are offering preferential loans, financial subsidies and tax waivers to hotels and resorts.

Public health authorities have confirmed that travelling in Thailand is safe with the threat of disease under full control.

"The incident did not stop Thailand completely. It stopped our six southern provinces but there are other destinations in our country," said Suwat.

He said three Chinese travel agencies had decided to donate 10 per cent of their Phuket group tour sales within the coming few weeks to Phuket, the most popular Thai resort among Chinese and one that was hit especially hard.

Suwat, whose daughter is studying at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said classmates had made donations.

"One of the Thai students at the university is from Phuket. She was able to call her family immediately after she heard about the incident," said Suwat. "But her family were lucky."

Sakarn said the embassy has been receiving daily donations and messages of condolence from the Chinese people.

"There was one woman who came to the embassy last week and donated almost everything in her pocket," recalled the minister.

With international aid coming, more experts are needed for the tough relief jobs in Thailand, Sakarn said, with forensic experts particularly needed.

There is also a high demand for power generators, water purifiers, sanitary napkins and refrigerators.

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