The two street demonstrations held here yesterday forced tour agencies to cancel or shelve city programmes for visiting foreign tourists for fear of their safety.
Sri Sutra Travel Sdn Bhd said it took precautionary measures to avert any inconvenience for tourists under its charge.
Managing director Datuk Syed Mohd Razif Al-Yahya Syed Yassin said the tourists were confined to activities in the vicinity of their hotels yesterday.
He said the street demonstrations would have given the tourists a bad impression of Malaysia and it would take some time for them to pick Malaysia as their travel destination again.
He also said that wide coverage of the street demonstrations by the international media was also bad publicity for the country.
The Association of Bumiputera Travel and Tour Agents (Bumitra), which has more than 300 members, said the closure of several major roads in the city to thwart the demonstrators had jeopardised several tour activities and affected the income of agents.
Its president, Mohd Ayub Hassan, said the association, in keeping with a directive from the Tourism Ministry, had given preference to the safety of tourists and kept them away from the "sensitive" spots during the demonstration.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen had said a week ago that it would take the ministry six months to restore confidence in foreign tourists regarding their safety when in Malaysia.
She had also said that the uncertainty caused by the bad publicity on the street demonstration would slash tourist arrivals and cost national revenue by as much as RM1 billion.
Source :Bernama
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Showing posts with label Terror. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Terror. Show all posts
Monday, July 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
US raises security alert for Americans
Citing the “uncertainty and volatility of the current situation” following the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, the US Department of State has issued a global alert warning American citizens against a possible outbreak of anti-US violence worldwide.
“The US Department of State alerts US citizens traveling and residing abroad to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counterterrorism activity in Pakistan,” the agency’s Bureau of Consular Affairs (BCA) said in a May 1 advisory.
Australia issued a similar warning. In countries with significant Muslim populations, international schools, embassies and other potential targets were putting extra security measures in place in case of reprisals.
Britain confirmed it was taking extra precautions at its embassies around the world and its military bases were on heightened alert.
The global police agency Interpol also called for increased security measures, warning that the death of Bin Laden could provoke reprisal attacks around the world.
Supporters of Bin Laden’s violent campaign took to militant Internet sites to vow revenge.
“The lions will remain lions and will continue moving in the footsteps of Osama. O Allah, America will not enjoy safety and security until we live it in Palestine,” one user wrote on the Shumukh al-Islam forum.
“The celebrations are amusing. Cheer all you want infidel, you only have a limited amount of time in this life in which to do it,” another wrote.
While some experts said that Bin Laden’s death would damage al-Qaida’s brand image, and perhaps lead the organization to fracture still further along geographical lines, most predicted attacks would continue.
“The United States will unfortunately suffer, because jihadists have a tendency to avenge their slain chiefs,” warned Matthieu Guidere, a French academic who specializes in the Arab world.
After the death of the leader of al-Qaida’s group in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarkawi, in April 2006, his successor launched a wave of suicide attacks against US and Iraqi targets, Guidere noted.
And although the figurehead of the operation has died in a plush Pakistani mountain resort and garrison town north of Islamabad, al-Qaida militants in the field have long been acting independently.
“On a tactical level, the death of Bin Laden is not a decisive victory, as for many years he has not been an operational leader and the power has been in the hands of local commanders,” Guidere said.
Lost brand label
Jean-Pierre Filiu, a professor at the Sciences-Po school in Paris and author of a book on al-Qaida, said Bin Laden’s death would accelerate the group’s existing division into separate fighting entities.
“Osama bin Laden’s leadership was in truth ideological. He was the only one able to unite all the disparate groups around the world,” said antiterrorist judge Marc Trevidic, saying al-Qaida had lost a brand label.
Nevertheless, Frank Faulkner, a senior lecturer in sociology and terrorism studies at the University of Derby in Britain, said that revenge attacks were inevitable.
“It’s just a case of when and where,” he said.
Extra vigilance
Interpol secretary general Ronald Noble urged “extra vigilance” from “law enforcement authorities to a heightened terror risk from al-Qaida affiliated or al-Qaida inspired terrorists as a result of Bin Laden’s death.”
“The world’s most wanted international terrorist is no more,” Noble said in a statement issued by his office.
“But the death of Bin Laden does not represent the demise of al-Qaida affiliates and those inspired by al-Qaida, who have and will continue to engage in terrorist attacks around the world,” he said.
“We therefore need to remain united and focused in our ongoing cooperation and fight, not only against this global threat but also against terrorism by any group anywhere,” he added.
Noble said Interpol, a global coordinating body based in France that works with national police forces in 188 member states, was “on full alert for acts of retaliation should al-Qaida try to prove they still exist.”
Limit travel, avoid rallies
The BCA strongly urged Americans “in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations.”
US citizens should also “stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings … US citizens abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest US embassy or consulate,” said the travel alert, which expires on Aug. 1.
It noted that “media coverage of local events may cause family and friends to become concerned for their loved ones traveling and residing abroad.”
“We urge US citizens to keep in regular contact with family and friends,” said the BCA.
The state department said US embassy operations in affected areas would continue to the extent possible under the constraints of any evolving security situation.
“US government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, US embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to US citizens,” it said.
On Monday, Rebecca B. Thompson, spokesperson of the US embassy in Manila, did not comment on the travel alert.
Instead, Thompson referred the Philippine Daily Inquirer to the BCA website —www.travel.state.gov— which she said “has the most up-to-date information.”
NAIA alert
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has placed four terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) under “heightened alert” status following Bin Laden’s death.
In a May 2 memorandum, Vicente Guerzon Jr., MIAA assistant general manager, said the move was necessary “as a precautionary measure to ensure the security and safety of airport users, as well as protect airport infrastructure.”
Guerzon said the following security measures shall be immediately implemented at NAIA Terminals 1 to 4:
• Strict access control procedures for both personnel and vehicles.
• Rigid inspection of airline passengers and cargo at security checkpoints.
• Intensified police visibility as well as K-9 paneling at the terminals.
• Maximized deployment of patrol vehicles at aircraft movement areas and airport perimeter.
• Intensified intelligence and monitoring operations as well as networking with other security units.
Guerzon said “matters that may affect smooth airport operations must be brought to the immediate attention of MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado.”
Source : Inquirer
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
“The US Department of State alerts US citizens traveling and residing abroad to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counterterrorism activity in Pakistan,” the agency’s Bureau of Consular Affairs (BCA) said in a May 1 advisory.
Australia issued a similar warning. In countries with significant Muslim populations, international schools, embassies and other potential targets were putting extra security measures in place in case of reprisals.
Britain confirmed it was taking extra precautions at its embassies around the world and its military bases were on heightened alert.
The global police agency Interpol also called for increased security measures, warning that the death of Bin Laden could provoke reprisal attacks around the world.
Supporters of Bin Laden’s violent campaign took to militant Internet sites to vow revenge.
“The lions will remain lions and will continue moving in the footsteps of Osama. O Allah, America will not enjoy safety and security until we live it in Palestine,” one user wrote on the Shumukh al-Islam forum.
“The celebrations are amusing. Cheer all you want infidel, you only have a limited amount of time in this life in which to do it,” another wrote.
While some experts said that Bin Laden’s death would damage al-Qaida’s brand image, and perhaps lead the organization to fracture still further along geographical lines, most predicted attacks would continue.
“The United States will unfortunately suffer, because jihadists have a tendency to avenge their slain chiefs,” warned Matthieu Guidere, a French academic who specializes in the Arab world.
After the death of the leader of al-Qaida’s group in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarkawi, in April 2006, his successor launched a wave of suicide attacks against US and Iraqi targets, Guidere noted.
And although the figurehead of the operation has died in a plush Pakistani mountain resort and garrison town north of Islamabad, al-Qaida militants in the field have long been acting independently.
“On a tactical level, the death of Bin Laden is not a decisive victory, as for many years he has not been an operational leader and the power has been in the hands of local commanders,” Guidere said.
Lost brand label
Jean-Pierre Filiu, a professor at the Sciences-Po school in Paris and author of a book on al-Qaida, said Bin Laden’s death would accelerate the group’s existing division into separate fighting entities.
“Osama bin Laden’s leadership was in truth ideological. He was the only one able to unite all the disparate groups around the world,” said antiterrorist judge Marc Trevidic, saying al-Qaida had lost a brand label.
Nevertheless, Frank Faulkner, a senior lecturer in sociology and terrorism studies at the University of Derby in Britain, said that revenge attacks were inevitable.
“It’s just a case of when and where,” he said.
Extra vigilance
Interpol secretary general Ronald Noble urged “extra vigilance” from “law enforcement authorities to a heightened terror risk from al-Qaida affiliated or al-Qaida inspired terrorists as a result of Bin Laden’s death.”
“The world’s most wanted international terrorist is no more,” Noble said in a statement issued by his office.
“But the death of Bin Laden does not represent the demise of al-Qaida affiliates and those inspired by al-Qaida, who have and will continue to engage in terrorist attacks around the world,” he said.
“We therefore need to remain united and focused in our ongoing cooperation and fight, not only against this global threat but also against terrorism by any group anywhere,” he added.
Noble said Interpol, a global coordinating body based in France that works with national police forces in 188 member states, was “on full alert for acts of retaliation should al-Qaida try to prove they still exist.”
Limit travel, avoid rallies
The BCA strongly urged Americans “in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations.”
US citizens should also “stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings … US citizens abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest US embassy or consulate,” said the travel alert, which expires on Aug. 1.
It noted that “media coverage of local events may cause family and friends to become concerned for their loved ones traveling and residing abroad.”
“We urge US citizens to keep in regular contact with family and friends,” said the BCA.
The state department said US embassy operations in affected areas would continue to the extent possible under the constraints of any evolving security situation.
“US government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, US embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to US citizens,” it said.
On Monday, Rebecca B. Thompson, spokesperson of the US embassy in Manila, did not comment on the travel alert.
Instead, Thompson referred the Philippine Daily Inquirer to the BCA website —www.travel.state.gov— which she said “has the most up-to-date information.”
NAIA alert
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has placed four terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) under “heightened alert” status following Bin Laden’s death.
In a May 2 memorandum, Vicente Guerzon Jr., MIAA assistant general manager, said the move was necessary “as a precautionary measure to ensure the security and safety of airport users, as well as protect airport infrastructure.”
Guerzon said the following security measures shall be immediately implemented at NAIA Terminals 1 to 4:
• Strict access control procedures for both personnel and vehicles.
• Rigid inspection of airline passengers and cargo at security checkpoints.
• Intensified police visibility as well as K-9 paneling at the terminals.
• Maximized deployment of patrol vehicles at aircraft movement areas and airport perimeter.
• Intensified intelligence and monitoring operations as well as networking with other security units.
Guerzon said “matters that may affect smooth airport operations must be brought to the immediate attention of MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado.”
Source : Inquirer
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Osama revenge fears put world on high alert
Governments and airlines around the world are bracing for a backlash following the killing in Pakistan of Osama bin Laden by US Special Forces.
Interpol has called for increased security measures by national police forces and several countries have responded with extra security measures spanning airports and other public transport systems.
Japan said its military bases are on full alert in case of revenge attacks by bin Laden’s al-Qaida supporters.
A Qantas spokesman said the airline was “closely monitoring the situation and if the security situation changes then we will take appropriate steps”.
While the county celebrated bin Laden’s death, the U.S. Department of State issued warnings for Americans abroad and is asking travellers to be vigilant. Britain and Australia have issued similar warnings.
“The terrorists almost certainly will attempt to avenge him (bin Laden), and we must – and will – remain vigilant and resolute,” said CIA director Leon Panetta.
Authorities in Indonesia are especially wary of reprisals.
Just weeks before Bin Laden’s death, authorities in Pakistan arrested Umar Patek, an Al Qaeda-linked Indonesian militant who for 10 years had been on the run for allegedly helping to build the explosive devices used in the 2002 bombings of nightclubs in Bali that killed 202 people.
Source : TravelMole
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Interpol has called for increased security measures by national police forces and several countries have responded with extra security measures spanning airports and other public transport systems.
Japan said its military bases are on full alert in case of revenge attacks by bin Laden’s al-Qaida supporters.
A Qantas spokesman said the airline was “closely monitoring the situation and if the security situation changes then we will take appropriate steps”.
While the county celebrated bin Laden’s death, the U.S. Department of State issued warnings for Americans abroad and is asking travellers to be vigilant. Britain and Australia have issued similar warnings.
“The terrorists almost certainly will attempt to avenge him (bin Laden), and we must – and will – remain vigilant and resolute,” said CIA director Leon Panetta.
Authorities in Indonesia are especially wary of reprisals.
Just weeks before Bin Laden’s death, authorities in Pakistan arrested Umar Patek, an Al Qaeda-linked Indonesian militant who for 10 years had been on the run for allegedly helping to build the explosive devices used in the 2002 bombings of nightclubs in Bali that killed 202 people.
Source : TravelMole
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Shangri-La in Tokyo Closes Temporarily until END April 2011
The aftermath of the earthquake has claimed its first luxury hotel casualty in Tokyo: The Shangri-La Hotel, which only opened its doors in Tokyo in March 2010, has said that it is closed until the end of April, at the earliest, as it continues to assess the situation.
Its general manager, Wolfgang Krueger, and about 11 other people from the hotel are now working out of Fukuoka, in southern Japan, according to Maria Kuhn, its spokeswoman in Hong Kong. The Shangri-La Tokyo as 300 full time staff who are currently on paid leave.
“This is not a decision we have made lightly,” Ms. Kuhn said. She added it was too early to assess what sort of financial impact the closure would have on the company’s overall financial performance. “As soon as we feel it is safe and we can run the hotel at our normal standards, we will open again,” she said.
An average room at the Shangri-La costs around 70,000 yen a night ($863.26), and the majority of its visitors are foreigners, primarily from Asia. The hotel is a stone’s throw from Tokyo Station, the main gateway of the capital. With 200 rooms, the hotel takes up the top 11 floors of Marunouchi Trust Tower Main and “provides a luxurious and spacious retreat at the end of a busy day”, according to its website.
Other luxury hotels have also shut down some of their operations. The Mandarin Oriental, long a favorite among foreign tourists, has virtually shut down all of its dining facilities. On its website, it says, “In keeping with the government’s directive to conserve energy, the following restaurants and bars will be closed until further notice: Signature, Sense, Tapas Molecular Bar, Ventaglio, Mandarin Bar and the Gourmet Shop. K’shiki, The Oriental Lounge and the hotel’s in-room dining facilities all remain open and available for guests.”
One thing is clear: potential visitors to Japan are already cancelling visits scheduled for April – the peak of the country’s renowned cherry blossom season – and the tourism industry will take months, if not years, to recover from this catastrophe. This is only the beginning of what’s going to be the biggest challenge ever faced by Japan’s tourism industry.
Source : WSJ
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Its general manager, Wolfgang Krueger, and about 11 other people from the hotel are now working out of Fukuoka, in southern Japan, according to Maria Kuhn, its spokeswoman in Hong Kong. The Shangri-La Tokyo as 300 full time staff who are currently on paid leave.
“This is not a decision we have made lightly,” Ms. Kuhn said. She added it was too early to assess what sort of financial impact the closure would have on the company’s overall financial performance. “As soon as we feel it is safe and we can run the hotel at our normal standards, we will open again,” she said.
An average room at the Shangri-La costs around 70,000 yen a night ($863.26), and the majority of its visitors are foreigners, primarily from Asia. The hotel is a stone’s throw from Tokyo Station, the main gateway of the capital. With 200 rooms, the hotel takes up the top 11 floors of Marunouchi Trust Tower Main and “provides a luxurious and spacious retreat at the end of a busy day”, according to its website.
Other luxury hotels have also shut down some of their operations. The Mandarin Oriental, long a favorite among foreign tourists, has virtually shut down all of its dining facilities. On its website, it says, “In keeping with the government’s directive to conserve energy, the following restaurants and bars will be closed until further notice: Signature, Sense, Tapas Molecular Bar, Ventaglio, Mandarin Bar and the Gourmet Shop. K’shiki, The Oriental Lounge and the hotel’s in-room dining facilities all remain open and available for guests.”
One thing is clear: potential visitors to Japan are already cancelling visits scheduled for April – the peak of the country’s renowned cherry blossom season – and the tourism industry will take months, if not years, to recover from this catastrophe. This is only the beginning of what’s going to be the biggest challenge ever faced by Japan’s tourism industry.
Source : WSJ
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Refunds for missed flights to Japan
Airline companies have agreed to refund passengers for the flights to Japan that they had missed following the strong earthquake and tsunami there last week, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.
Tour package operators have decided to charge an administrative fee of a maximum RM200 per passenger and return the balance, she added.
Both the airlines and travel operators, she said, arrived at the decision during a meeting with the ministry three days after the disaster struck Japan.
Among those who attended the meeting were representatives from AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines and Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).
“Airline companies have agreed to give a full refund without any penalty or customers may convert the charges into credit for their next flight,” she told reporters after attending the FIA Conference Week 2011 at Mandarin Oriental on Monday.
Dr Ng added that the refund was applicable for flights from March 11, the day the massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, until next month but the time period varied according to different airline companies.
On March 16, The Star reported that the ministry would meet the respective operators after receiving several complaints from the public about losing their deposits after purchasing tour packages to Japan.
“We will meet again early next month to discuss the situation in Japan and see if there is a need to extend the time period,” she added.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Tour package operators have decided to charge an administrative fee of a maximum RM200 per passenger and return the balance, she added.
Both the airlines and travel operators, she said, arrived at the decision during a meeting with the ministry three days after the disaster struck Japan.
Among those who attended the meeting were representatives from AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines and Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).
“Airline companies have agreed to give a full refund without any penalty or customers may convert the charges into credit for their next flight,” she told reporters after attending the FIA Conference Week 2011 at Mandarin Oriental on Monday.
Dr Ng added that the refund was applicable for flights from March 11, the day the massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, until next month but the time period varied according to different airline companies.
On March 16, The Star reported that the ministry would meet the respective operators after receiving several complaints from the public about losing their deposits after purchasing tour packages to Japan.
“We will meet again early next month to discuss the situation in Japan and see if there is a need to extend the time period,” she added.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
All Aircraft Passengers From Japan Screened For Radiation Level At KLIA
All aircraft passengers coming directly from Japan will have to undergo checks to determine radioactive levels at the main entry points in the country, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri.
He said the inspection on passengers travelling on MAS, AirAsia and Japan Airlines had started since March 16 at the KL International Airport and March 18 at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) which involved the low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT).
"Those found to have been exposed to radioactive elements would undergo a decontamination process by an accredited agency, that is the nuclear and atomic power licensing agency, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment with assistance from the security division of Malaysia Airports Berhad," he said after launching the Caring Society Programme (Mayang) at the Community Hall in Pintas, near here today.
Source : Bernama
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
He said the inspection on passengers travelling on MAS, AirAsia and Japan Airlines had started since March 16 at the KL International Airport and March 18 at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) which involved the low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT).
"Those found to have been exposed to radioactive elements would undergo a decontamination process by an accredited agency, that is the nuclear and atomic power licensing agency, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment with assistance from the security division of Malaysia Airports Berhad," he said after launching the Caring Society Programme (Mayang) at the Community Hall in Pintas, near here today.
Source : Bernama
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Friday, May 21, 2010
Vacationers dump Bangkok, fly to Singapore & Malaysia
The summer season for places like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong has never been so busy. Due to political unrest in Bangkok and volcanic ash eruptions in Europe, a lot of tourist traffic is diverting to these places, thereby, generating an extra 25-30 per cent bookings for them.
Travellers who had booked their holiday packages for Thailand and European destinations are left with a few options -- either to cancel their bookings or postpone their trips. However, some of them, who want to spend their summer vacation abroad, have just transferred their booking to other nations. This has resulted in big business for destinations like Kuala Lumpur and Macao.
“June is going to be fully booked for Singapore, Malaysia. They are going to get over 25 per cent extra traffic this season,” Kapil Goswamy, managing director of New Delhi-based Trans World Travels, said.
While the Bangkok bookings are being diverted to Asian regions, European cancellations are diverted mainly to the US. “It is mainly people who have combined packages of Bangkok-Phuket, who are cancelling their travel plans. Similarly, people who had plans for Europe are choosing to go to the US now,” Richa Goyal Sikri, director, group business development, STIC Travel, said.
Singapore and Bangkok are established tourism markets in India. They account for over 50 per cent of the total international bookings of many travel companies. But this time, the share of Bangkok would get transferred to other markets.
The additional traffic, however, does not mean extra money. There has been no impact on pricing as of now with the sudden growth in demand. According to travel firms, the reason why it has not affected demand is that there was already an inventory with hoteliers and airlines.
Source : MyDigitalFC.com
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Travellers who had booked their holiday packages for Thailand and European destinations are left with a few options -- either to cancel their bookings or postpone their trips. However, some of them, who want to spend their summer vacation abroad, have just transferred their booking to other nations. This has resulted in big business for destinations like Kuala Lumpur and Macao.
“June is going to be fully booked for Singapore, Malaysia. They are going to get over 25 per cent extra traffic this season,” Kapil Goswamy, managing director of New Delhi-based Trans World Travels, said.
While the Bangkok bookings are being diverted to Asian regions, European cancellations are diverted mainly to the US. “It is mainly people who have combined packages of Bangkok-Phuket, who are cancelling their travel plans. Similarly, people who had plans for Europe are choosing to go to the US now,” Richa Goyal Sikri, director, group business development, STIC Travel, said.
Singapore and Bangkok are established tourism markets in India. They account for over 50 per cent of the total international bookings of many travel companies. But this time, the share of Bangkok would get transferred to other markets.
The additional traffic, however, does not mean extra money. There has been no impact on pricing as of now with the sudden growth in demand. According to travel firms, the reason why it has not affected demand is that there was already an inventory with hoteliers and airlines.
Source : MyDigitalFC.com
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Bangkok Hotel Occupancy ‘Very Bad’ as Fatal Riots Deter Tourism
Bangkok hotels are less than 30 percent full, about half the usual rate for this time of year, as deadly protests deter tourists from visiting the city, according to the Thai Hotels Association.
Source : BusinessWeek
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
“When they hear about burning tires, bombs and shootings, they decide not to come,” Prakit Shinamornpong, the group’s president, said yesterday by phone. “It’s very bad.”
Occupancy in hotels on the Sathorn Road, near some of the worst violence, has dropped to as low as 10 percent, Prakit said, while the 517-room Dusit Thani Hotel in central Bangkok closed yesterday on security concerns. Tourists are avoiding the capital after at least 36 people were killed in clashes between troops and anti-government protesters over the past four days.
“I won’t go into the city now,” said Lisa Ischane, an event coordinator, as she queued in Hong Kong for a flight to Bangkok. “I was planning to spend a few days there just to relax.”
Ischane will instead connect onto a flight to Koh Phangan, a resort destination in southern Thailand, rather than visiting shops and restaurants in Bangkok. “The airport should be fine,” she said.
Thailand’s deadliest political clashes in two decades threaten to undermine tourism, which accounts for about 7 percent of the economy, according to Credit Suisse Group AG. The number of foreign tourists may drop to as few as 12.7 million from 14.1 million last year, costing the country as much as 100 billion baht ($3.1 billion) in tourism revenue, the Tourism Council of Thailand said last month.
Travel Advisories
At least 43 countries have issued advisories against travel to at least parts of Thailand, according to Credit Suisse, including Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. JTB Corp., Japan’s largest travel agency, canceled tours to Bangkok until May 31, extending a block that began on April 24.
“The tourism industry just stops amid a situation like this,” Charoen Wangananont, president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, said by phone yesterday. “There have been no new bookings for about two or three weeks already.”
Hong Kong travel agents have lost more than HK$30 million ($3.8 million) in sales since late March because of disruptions in Thailand, said Michael Wu, chairman of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, which represents about 1,500 travel agents. The group will likely announce that it is canceling all trips to the Thai capital until May 31, he said.
‘We are Suffering’
“We are suffering as Bangkok is a popular travel destination among Hong Kong people,” he said. “We hope things will be settled by mid-June and the protests won’t affect our summer peak-season bookings or we will see a greater loss.”
Hotels in Kao Lak, a resort in Phang Nga province, are less than 6 percent full, Prakit said. On the island of Phuket, occupancy is below 40 percent, compared with a usual level of about 60 percent, he said.
Thai tourism-related shares have tumbled since the protests intensified on April 10. Thai Airways International Pcl, the nation’s biggest airline, has fallen 11 percent to 25 baht. Hotel operator Minor International Pcl has lost 7 percent to 9.65 baht, while Dusit has lost 1 percent. The benchmark SET Index has fallen 4.6 percent.
The baht yesterday weakened to the lowest level in seven weeks, dropping to 32.50 to the dollar. Foreign funds sold more Thai shares last week than at any time since November 2007.
ANA, JAL
All Nippon Airways Co. and Japan Airlines Corp. have both closed downtown ticket offices in Bangkok because of the protests. They haven’t canceled any flights so far. Singapore Airlines Ltd. is offering full refunds for bookings on Bangkok flights before May 31.
Qantas Airways Ltd., Australia’s largest carrier, said services to and from the Thai capital are operating as normal and that passengers can change their tickets. Few customers have changed travel plans so far and the airline hasn’t removed any staff from Thailand, Olivia Wirth, a spokeswoman for the Sydney- based carrier, said by phone.
Thai protesters in 2008 occupied the nation’s main international airport for eight days, helping topple Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. The protests, which also included an occupation of Bangkok’s second airport, stranded as many as 400,000 travelers.
The latest demonstrations began two weeks after a court seized 46.4 billion baht from the family of ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in coup in 2006. Officials banned financial transactions of 106 companies and individuals linked to Thaksin on May 16 in a bid to cut off funds for the demonstration.
“The hotel operators don’t know what to do because this is a political issue,” Prakit said. “We just hope it will end soon.”
Source : BusinessWeek
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Monday, May 17, 2010
Malaysia to lure Bangkok-bound tourists
The Tourism Ministry is working closely with local and foreign tour operators to lure Malaysian and foreign tourists looking to cancel their trips to conflict-torn Bangkok.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen said the military lockdown in the heart of Bangkok that has sparked fierce clashes with Red Shirt protestors has alarmed Bangkok-bound tourists.
She said the ministry had learnt that some foreign tourists currently in other parts of Thailand like Phuket or Southern Thailand also planned to cancel their scheduled trips to Bangkok as a result of the current situation.
Given its proximity to Thailand, she said, Malaysia could offer a good alternative to such tourists that would allow them to continue their holidays instead cutting them short.
“We will be launching the Colours of Malaysia 2010 event at Dataran Merdeka on May 22 and this will be another good attraction that we can offer such tourists,” she told reporters Sunday after closing the Mass Sports Clusters and Active Sports being held here as part of the National Youth Day Celebration 2010.
On Malaysians currently in Thailand or planning to go there, Ng said the ministry's advise was that they avoid going near the protest area.
“We have not issued any travel advisory against Malaysians visiting Thailand because the protests are not being held in the whole country, they do not even involve the whole of Bangkok. The current situation is not something that occurred suddenly but has been brewing for several weeks, so we believe Malaysians are already aware of the situation and will be wise enough to avoid troubled areas,” she said.
She said the ministry was working closely with the Foreign Ministry and had been told that there had not been any cases yet of Malaysians coming under any danger while visiting Bangkok.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Monday, January 11, 2010
Church attacks may hurt tourism: Yen Yen
The Tourism Ministry fears that attempts of arson on several churches in the country may threaten the tourism industry's growth.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the religious tension could cause fear among foreign tourists of visiting Malaysia, hence affecting its economy.
"This is the communication era, so information travels fast...tourists will choose not to visit a country faced with conflicts, especially religious conflicts," she told reporters after officiating at a Christmas and New Year celebration attended by about 150 Christians, here, Sunday.
Dr Ng said the church attacks were sending the wrong message to foreign tourists when Malaysia was always touted as a harmonious country despite its multiracial and multireligious society.
However, she said, the ministry had not received information on the effects of the incidents on tourist arrivals in Malaysia.
"We are monitoring the developments through our offices overseas."
Dr Ng who condemned the church attacks said the people should not be influenced by the actions of a few who were out to create chaos in the country.
She said the Barisan Nasional government, which at all times wanted to safeguard peace and religious freedom in this country, would ensure the individuals involved would face appropriate action.
So far, seven churches with the latest in Miri, Sarawak as well as the church and guard post at Sekolah Menengah Convent in Taiping, Perak have been targeted.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the religious tension could cause fear among foreign tourists of visiting Malaysia, hence affecting its economy.
"This is the communication era, so information travels fast...tourists will choose not to visit a country faced with conflicts, especially religious conflicts," she told reporters after officiating at a Christmas and New Year celebration attended by about 150 Christians, here, Sunday.
Dr Ng said the church attacks were sending the wrong message to foreign tourists when Malaysia was always touted as a harmonious country despite its multiracial and multireligious society.
However, she said, the ministry had not received information on the effects of the incidents on tourist arrivals in Malaysia.
"We are monitoring the developments through our offices overseas."
Dr Ng who condemned the church attacks said the people should not be influenced by the actions of a few who were out to create chaos in the country.
She said the Barisan Nasional government, which at all times wanted to safeguard peace and religious freedom in this country, would ensure the individuals involved would face appropriate action.
So far, seven churches with the latest in Miri, Sarawak as well as the church and guard post at Sekolah Menengah Convent in Taiping, Perak have been targeted.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Friday, October 02, 2009
Earthquake tosses Naked businessman into pool; he survives, Hotel destroyed
The powerful earthquake that struck this West Sumatra city two days ago tossed a Malaysian businessman into the hotel’s swimming pool and then destroyed the hotel.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
He emerged naked but alive.
A still visibly exhausted Wong Lee Kwong, 52, said he had registered at the Ambacang Hotel 30 minutes before the quake struck.
"I was preparing to take a bath and had just a towel on when suddenly the hotel building shook, tilted and collapsed," said Wong who was on the fourth floor.
"The floor fell to the left and I was thrown into the swimming pool," he said when met at the Minangkabau International Airport near here.
Wong, who had scratches on his back due to falling concrete, came out of the pool naked.
Amid the screams, confusion and mayhem, a hotel employee gave him clothing and helped him to safety in an open area.
"I was indeed lucky that people helped me. Otherwise, I do not know what would have happened to me," said Wong, who was grateful to be allowed to take a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) flight to Malaysia this morning.
A family that was holidaying in the area also related their ordeal when the 7.6magnitude earthquake struck.
Badrulamin Mohd Sharif, 30, from Kuala Lumpur said he, his wife, two daughters, mother-in-law, and two sisters-in-law had been in the area holidaying since Thursday last week.
"While we were shopping at the Bukit Tinggi market complex, the building suddenly shook and people ran out shouting 'earthquake'," he said. Alarmed, he quickly led his family to an open space about 100m away.
"Thank God, we were safe and not injured. After getting information from Malaysian embassy staff here we were allowed to go home with Malaysian students," he said.
Badrulamin and family got on a RMAF aircraft at about 6am Friday.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Hotels More Likely To Become Terrorism Targets
Hotels are more likely to become targets of terror attacks, China's Xinhua news agency quoted a new report as saying.
STRATFOR, a U.S. intelligence firm said in an analysis released Tuesday said that terror attacks against hotels have doubled in the eight years since 9/11 terror attacks, while injuries and deaths caused by those attacks have increased by six-folds since then.
The reason that hotels become more attractive to terrorists, it said, is because now military and governmental targets get harder to hit.
From the terrorists' viewpoint, the report said, hotels are the ideal targets with fixed locations, lots of human traffic and shallow security perimeters.
Moreover, upscale hotels usually attract a lot of Westerners.
Meanwhile, hotels around the globe generally do not have enough security measures in place to prevent terror attacks, the report said.
Source : Bernama
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
STRATFOR, a U.S. intelligence firm said in an analysis released Tuesday said that terror attacks against hotels have doubled in the eight years since 9/11 terror attacks, while injuries and deaths caused by those attacks have increased by six-folds since then.
The reason that hotels become more attractive to terrorists, it said, is because now military and governmental targets get harder to hit.
From the terrorists' viewpoint, the report said, hotels are the ideal targets with fixed locations, lots of human traffic and shallow security perimeters.
Moreover, upscale hotels usually attract a lot of Westerners.
Meanwhile, hotels around the globe generally do not have enough security measures in place to prevent terror attacks, the report said.
Source : Bernama
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Friday, July 17, 2009
Q&A - What will be the impact of Indonesia's hotel bomb attacks
Bomb blasts ripped through the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta's business district on Friday, killing nine people and wounding dozens in attacks that could dent investor confidence in Indonesia.
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Police stand guard in front of the damaged Ritz-Carlton hotel after an explosion in Jakarta July 17, 2009. (REUTERS/Dadang Tri) |
A car bomb also blew up along a toll road in North Jakarta, police said without giving further details. Indonesia's Metro TV said two people had been killed. An unexploded bomb was also later found at the Marriott, police said.
The apparently coordinated bombings are the first in several years and follow a period in which the government had made progress in tackling security threats from militant Islamic groups, bringing a sense of political stability to Southeast Asia's biggest economy.
Some analysts have already cast suspicion on remnants of the Jemaah Islamiah group, blamed for previous attacks including a car bombing outside the Marriott in 2003 as well as bombings on the resort island of Bali the previous year that killed 202 people.
Here are some questions and answers on security in Indonesia:
IS THIS UNEXPECTED?
Yes. Indonesia had made enormous progress in containing the threat from militant group JI which security officials and analysts said was behind several fatal bomb attacks on Western targets including hotels and bars in Jakarta and the resort island of Bali.
The Indonesian authorities, with help and training from their Australian and U.S. counterparts, have increased security and surveillance in recent years.
Indonesia's security forces have detained hundreds of militants and killed several during shoot-outs, carrying out numerous sweeps, even in recent weeks.
HOW COULD THESE NEW ATTACKS HAPPEN, HAS SECURITY BEEN RELAXED?
There are no outward signs security measures have been relaxed in Jakarta. The security presence was stepped up around the time of the presidential elections on July 8, which passed peacefully.
All the major hotels in Jakarta have security checks outside to reduce the risk of car bombs, although checks in many are not particularly thorough, with a security guard just poking his head in the window to look at who is inside the car.
Although the Marriott and Ritz were known for exceptionally tight security barriers and checks, including for those entering the hotel on foot, from the damage at the scene of the blasts it appears the bombs exploded inside the hotels, and were either brought in by suicide bombers or planted inside and set off by timers.
IS JEMAAH ISLAMIAH BEHIND THIS?
Several analysts are already saying these attacks have some of the hallmarks of JI, which in the past has chosen high-profile targets such as Western hotels and bars frequented by foreigners.
JI has used car bombs in the past, but barricades and layout changes as well as other measures at the best-protected luxury and Western hotels in Jakarta and Bali have made it harder for that kind of attack.
DOES THIS MEAN JI HAS RECOVERED AND IS A THREAT AGAIN?
If it is indeed JI, this suggests they still have bomb-making capability and operatives, despite having lost many of their trained and skilled members.
IF IT ISN'T JI, WHO ELSE COULD IT BE?
In 1998, when former autocratic President Suharto was desperately trying to retain power, some elements within the military were accused of stirring up social unrest and riots in an attempt to cause widespread panic and destabilise Indonesia.
There have been other instances in Indonesia's history when military elements were suspected of being behind unrest in order to have an excuse to clamp down on civilians.
The country has also sporadically seen violence including bombings attributed to various separatist groups, political organisations, and criminal gangs.
WHAT LONG-TERM IMPACT COULD THIS HAVE ON INDONESIA?
It's certainly a blow for Indonesia's security forces and the country's risk profile, particularly coming so close on the heels of peaceful elections in the world's third-largest democracy.
Indonesia had begun to stand out among its Southeast Asian peers as a stable democracy that was making real progress in tackling corruption in order to attract foreign investment.
These attacks could make some investors think twice before committing to any new, long-term, strategic investments in areas such as natural resources or infrastructure.
That said, however, the market reaction has been relatively muted.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
PHOTOS of Bombs explode at Jakarta Ritz Carlton & Marriott hotels
Smoke billows out of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel following
a blast in central Jakarta, July 17, 2009.
People run following a blast at the Marriot Hotel in central Jakarta
Police stand guard in front of the damaged Ritz-Carlton hotel after an explosion
olice stand guard in front of the damaged exterior of the Ritz-Carlton hotel after an explosion
Windows at the Ritz-Carlton are blown out after Friday's blast.
Damage to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel can be seen following the blast.
Indonesian police stand guard in front of the Ritz Carlton Hotel after an explosion in Jakarta on Friday.(Dadang Tri/Reuters)
At least six people, including several foreigners, have been killed and 10 injured when explosions ripped through two luxury hotels in downtown Jakarta on Friday, police say.
South Jakarta police Colonel Firman Bundi said some of the bodies had been taken to a hospital.
The facade of the Ritz-Carlton was blown off in one blast and another explosion hit the Marriott, police said. The explosions rocked the area about 8am local time (11am AEST).
The head of the Health Ministry crisis centre, Rustam Pakaya, said at least two people were seriously injured, including one New Zealander.
One hospital emergency room said it was already treating 15 people.
Debris and shattered glass littered the street outside the neighbouring hotels, which are in an upscale Jakarta neighbourhood, and ambulances raced to the scene
Herald on the scene
The Sydney Morning Herald's Indonesia correspondent Tom Allard said one bomb was reportedly detonated inside the Ritz-Carlton.
"I'm looking at it now, you can see all the windows punched out on one side,'' Allard told 2UE radio from outside the back of the hotel.
"[I've been told] the bomb actually went off inside the restaurant at the time people were actually sitting there to have their breakfasts.
He said he could see what appeared to be dead bodies being pulled out of the building and badly injured people being helped out as well.
An Australian man called Jim told 2UE his son was injured in the explosion at the Marriott.
The man said his son phoned him from Jakarta, where he was working, and told him he was on his way to hospital.
His left leg was bleeding and he'd lost hearing in one ear but he told his father he was OK, the man said.
Witness reports
A man jogging by the hotels said he first heard a loud explosion at the Marriott. Five minutes later, a bomb followed at the Ritz.
Alex Asmasubrata said he saw four bodies inside the Marriott. An Associated Press reporter saw three injured people taken away from the Ritz.
Security guard Eko Susanto told AFP: "I heard two sounds like 'boom, boom' coming from the Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton. Then I saw people running out."
Witness Intan told TV One one of the explosions wrecked the lobby of the Plaza Mutiara building.
"I was having breakfast on level 16, I heard an explosion and went down to the first floor and it was a mess. I saw foreigners all bloody, about three to five of them, badly wounded," she said
A witness, who gave her name as Mery, told ElShinta: "I saw some people being carried into a Mercedes. There was a lot of them in there, they were having trouble closing the doors."
Dow Jones Newswires reported witnesses who heard three explosions in the Mega Kuningan business precinct.
"I heard at least three explosions and now white smoke is billowing," a fund manager at a foreign securities company told Dow Jones Newswires on the phone.
JI warning
The bombings come a day after an analyst warned that Indonesian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, dormant following an effective police crackdown resulting in the arrest and execution of some members, was on the rise again and set to strike.
The Marriott hotel was attacked in 2003, when 12 died. Jemaah Islamiah was blamed for that blast.
The Department of Foreign Affairs was aware of reports of an explosion and was in contact with the Australian embassy in Jakarta to investigate what happened, a spokeswoman said
Embassy staff were urgenty seeking to identify whether any Australians were injured, the spokeswoman said
Anyone who has concerns for the welfare of family and friends overseas should try to contact them directly first. DFAT's 24-hour consular emergency centre is also available on 02 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135.
It is five years since the Australian embassy in Jakarta was bombed, killing 10 people and wounding 161 in September 2004.
Source : SMH CNN Reuters
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Bomb Blasts in Ritz Carlton & Marriot Hotels Jakarta
Bombs have exploded at the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, killing four people and ripping the facade off the Ritz, say reports.
Source : Stuff
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Leading Indonesian news channel, Metro TV, has reported four people have died in two separate explosions in central Jakarta on Friday.
"There were explosions heard from two separate places, one the JW Marriott, the other in the Ritz Carlton. We are still trying to check because right now we are still helping the victims," said South Jakarta Police Chief Firman Santyabudi.
Witnesses at the scene told Metro TV that the injured, including Indonesians and foreigners, were seen being taken away in ambulances.
"Some windows of the Ritz-Carlton building have been shattered, mostly on the lower section. I'm looking at it from my office," said Myra Junor, who works at a nearby building.
A man jogging by the hotels said he first heard a loud explosion at the Marriott. Five minutes later, a bomb followed at the Ritz.
Alex Asmasubrata said he saw four bodies inside the Marriott. An Associated Press reporter saw three injured taken away from the Ritz.
Police, however, would only confirm four people were injured.
Jakarta's five-star JW Marriott hotel has been bombed before, with 12 people killed in a 2003 car-bomb attack.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has a history of bloody terrorist attacks, including the Bali bombings of 2002 which claimed 202 lives including three New Zealanders and 88 Australians.
Eleven people were killed, including a suicide bomber, in a car bomb attack on Australia’s embassy in Jakarta in 2004.
Source : Stuff
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
At least five dead in hotel bomb blast in Pakistan
At least five people were killed and 25 injured today when a huge bomb exploded at a luxury hotel in the Pakistani city of Peshawar.
Gunmen stormed into the Pearl Continental Hotel in the north-western city just before "a big bomb went off", a police spokesman said.
The blast is the latest in a string of attacks in Pakistani cities in recent weeks that officials say are revenge for a military offensive against Taliban militants in the Swat Valley.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Local television showed a scene of pandemonium outside the hotel, with armed police rushing around and Pakistani men standing by looking stunned. One man held a bloodied rag to his head.
Several foreigners were seen walking out of the hotel with injuries.
A police official said it was a suicide attack.
The Pearl Continental, affectionately called the "PC" by Pakistanis, is relatively well-guarded and set far back from the main road, overlooking a golf course and a historic fort.
It is just over a mile from the city's airport.
Parking in front of the structure is heavily restricted, and to get to the front doors of the building, a car has to undergo security checks and travel around concrete and metal barriers.
The hotel is a favourite place for foreigners and elite Pakistanis to stay and socialise, making it a high-profile target for militants.
Last year, a massive bombing at Islamabad's Marriott Hotel killed more than 50 people and wounded dozens, rattling the nation.
Source : HotelsMag
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]
Sunday, February 22, 2009
CCTV Fire: Funny Photoshops By Chinese Netizens
"I'm not scared, the fire has not spread to the Big Underpants yet!"
Although last night’s fire at the CCTV building in Beijing destroyed the new Mandarin Oriental hotel, it also inspired many Chinese netizens to create a lot of funny Photoshops. Here are some of the more popular Photoshops from Mop and KDS that can also be seen on many other Chinese BBS discussion forums.
Related News
Source : China Smack
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]
Pictures of the FIRE at CCTV Building
beijing-cctv-building-fire-firefighters
Around 9:00pm on February 9th, the CCTV building in Beijing caught on fire. Chinese netizens quickly reported the news on the internet, with many pictures and videos. Soon, netizens began wondering why there were no television news reports about the fire, and then many websites like Sina and NetEase began removing pictures or locking disussion topics about the CCTV fire.
Related News
Source : Freedom Crowsnest
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
240,000 tourists stranded in Thailand
Thailand's Tourism Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said on Monday that the number of stranded foreign tourists in Thailand have risen to 240,000.
Weerasak is due to hold a foreign press conference at BITEC exhibition hall in Bangkok, which opened on Monday as the international flight check-in for the U-Ta Pao airport although the later is some 200 kilometers from Bangkok.
Weerasak said he would do everything to send news to the world that Thailand is doing its best to send stranded travelers home.
The minister added that he would ask for the special financial package worth 10 billion baht (about 290 million U.S. dollars) to help small and medium-sized operators in the tourism and related industries which have been hard hit by the shutdown of Bangkok airports.
Since the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) seized Bangkok's two airports last week, all the domestic and international flights fly-out or land-in Bangkok were forced to stop service.
Last Thursday, Thailand airport authority opened the U-Ta Pao airport, a military air base, as the temporary airport of Bangkok. Since the airport which locates in Chon Buri Province has some three hours driving distance from Bangkok, all the passengers were advised to check-in seven hours before the bounding time.
Source : Hotels
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]
Monday, December 01, 2008
Restarting operations at Thailand's Airport will take a week
Restarting operations at Thailand's main airport will take at least a week once a sit-in by anti-government protesters ends, officials said on Monday, as attention shifted to a court verdict that could end the crisis.
Source : Reuters
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]
The general manager of Suvarnabhumi airport said it could take a week to resume operations because security and computer systems had been compromised during the blockade by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters.
"Normally, checking the IT systems takes one week," Serirat Prasutanond told Reuters, adding the delay would be even longer if any of the airport's systems needed repair.
"We have to check, recheck, check, recheck," he said.
Thousands of yellow-clad PAD protested defied police and occupied Suvarnabhumi for a seventh day on Monday in a campaign to topple Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, whom they accuse of being a pawn for his brother-in-law, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a 2006 coup and exiled since.
As a result, tens of thousands of foreigners have been stranded in Thailand or are unable to even begin their holidays during what should be the peak tourist season.
The main domestic hub, Don Muang, has also been occupied, and the air cargo industry has ground to a halt.
Forecasts for an economy already suffering from the global financial crisis are grim.
Finance Minister Suchart Thada-Thamrongvech told Reuters on Monday the economy might be flat next year, or grow by just 1 to 2 percent, after earlier forecasts of between 4-5 percent.
Thailand's Board of Trade director said the cost of the airport closure was "incalculable," but a senior board member offered a figure, telling the Nation newspaper lost export earnings ran at around 3 billion baht ($85 million) a day.
Somchai has been in the north of the country since returning from an overseas trip last week but is supposed to attend a ceremony to mark the king's birthday in Bangkok on Tuesday.
COURT RULING
Also on Tuesday comes the end of a vote fraud case that could deliver a crippling blow to the six-party coalition government.
The Constitutional Court has moved with uncharacteristic speed to wrap up the case and is widely expected to order the disbanding of Somchai's People Power Party (PPP) and two other coalition partners.
If it does, Somchai and other leaders would be barred from politics and many cabinet ministers would have to step down. The PPP's dissolution, however, will not necessarily mean a snap election as many MPs will simply switch to a new "shell" party.
The stakes have risen with thousands of government supporters now also rallying in the capital, the first show of strength by the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) in a week.
DAAD leader Veera Musikapong has denounced the court case as a "concealed coup" and government supporters have threatened to take to the streets if the ruling goes against Somchai.
There was some cheer on Monday for the tens of thousands of tourists affected by the airport closures, when PAD officials said they would allow 88 aircraft stuck at Suvarnabhumi to leave.
Operators said they intended to bring them quickly into service to pick up passengers from U-Tapao and other airports outside the capital, the Bangkok Post said.
The government is providing free hotel rooms and meals for those stranded, but dealing with the estimated 100,000 people affected is proving a logistical nightmare and many are falling through the net.
"We are so tired. When can we go?" 25-year-old Iranian Ali Golbabaei said at Suvarnabhumi airport on Monday, recounting his real-life version of Hollywood movie "The Terminal."
Golbabaei said he and two friends were told accommodation vouchers had run out, and they had no money left after holidaying in the beach resort town of Pattaya.
"Nobody is helping us. We are the last tourists in this airport."
In an ironic twist, "The Terminal" -- in which Tom Hanks plays a traveler stuck in New York's JFK airport after his passport is revoked -- was inspired by the true story of an Iranian man who lived in Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport for 18 years.
The chaos has worried Thailand's neighbors, due to meet in two weeks for a regional summit. Surin Pitsuwan, head of Southeast Asia's 10-nation grouping, ASEAN, said a postponement might be wise.
Source : Reuters
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]
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