Flooding: The Impact on Thailand and Its Tourism

As the flood crisis that had inundated over 60 of Thailand’s 74 provinces gradually gives way to drier weather, the damage to historical sites and Thailand’s tourism industry continues to concern the Thai economy despite the fact that the conditions tourists will face are not nearly as bad as those suffered by Thai citizens in flooded districts.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports that 97% of the kingdom’s tourist attractions and destinations are not affected by the flood.”

The international media portray a different version of Thailand, but it is unlikely that tourists would encounter the harsh conditions often reported.  Instead, some Thai citizens continue to endure flood related hardships while TAT scrambles to convince tourists to travel to the many unaffected tourist locales throughout the country.

But there has also been significant damage to many important sites.  According to the Bangkok Post, Thailand’s Culture Ministry’s Department of Fine Arts says that 313 historical sites were damaged by floodwaters while reparations will take two years and likely cost 1.5 billion baht, or nearly 60 million US dollars.

The Post reports that 130 of these sites are found in the ancient city of Ayutthaya, the former capital of Siam, which holds many temples, ruins, and monuments. It will cost 600 million baht, nearly half of their repair budget, to restore ancient sites.

A news release from TAT reveals that clean-up operations are already taking place in various districts in Bangkok and Thon Buri.  According to TAT, “On Saturday, 19 November, the city governor [M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra] led workers from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and volunteers from all walks of life to clean up the Lad Prao 5-way intersection [one of the biggest roadways in Bangkok] and nearby areas.” The clean-up activities continued throughout the weekend as the Bangkok governor and others worked to rehabilitate sites in the Bangkok Noi area on Sunday, November 20.  The next day, the province of Ayutthaya organized a “Big Cleaning Day” to aid the Pa-In Industrial Estate that had been forced to halt business due to floodwaters.

TAT hopes to draw tourists to the northern city of Chiang Mai, which they claim is entirely unaffected by the flood.  The Post reports that TAT, “will opt to promote cross-regional tourism . . . tourist sites in flooded provinces will be promoted to tourists in non-flooded provinces.”

TAT’s rigorous tourism campaigns intend to counter the downturn in tourist business that Thailand has suffered as a result of the flood; not only have floodwaters made some sites impossible to visit, but the perception that all of Thailand is suffering from flooding has deterred potential tourists in recent weeks.  The Post reports that air traffic at Bangkok’s main airport, Suvarnabhumi, “slumped by 20% in recent weeks.”

The decrease in travel is due, in part, to the release of photos of planes standing in water on the tarmac at Bangkok’s other airport, Don Mueang, located northwest of Bangkok.  “We ought to see the traffic bouncing back shortly.  Passenger sentiment is improving as Thailand dries out and concerns about Suvarnabhumi’s possible flooding are gradually allayed,” said Airline Operators Committee (AOC) chairwoman Marisa Pongpattanapun in an article by the Post.  The article also noted that Suvarnabhumi, “is protected by a 3.5-meter-high dyke,” and therefore not likely to suffer flooding.

Although small businesses are feeling the drop in tourism, TAT governor Suraphon Svetasreni, “estimates the flood crisis will cost the country 300,000 tourists, or a mere 1.58% of the 19 million arrivals,” that TAT expected to see in 2011, according to the Post. In an effort to draw in enough tourists to meet 2012 goals, which the Post reports requires a 9% rise in arrivals, TAT is planning a multi-part campaign that will show tourists that not all of Thailand has been affected by flooding.  They will also offer package deals to tourists, especially to tourists from China and Hong Kong, according to the Post.

Bangkok resident George Thurston corroborates the Post’s picture of the effects of the flood.  “There’s a lot of Thailand that isn’t flooded,” he continued.  “One of the international airports isn’t flooded at all.”  Conditions in parts Bangkok have also recently improved.  “There was a time when there were certain roads you couldn’t go through, but I’m kind of in an area where it’s higher up.”

His report differs from some international reporting that has failed to mention that Bangkok has two airports, leaving potential tourists misinformed.  As slowed air-traffic has shown, negative portrayals of the situation can have a negative effect on tourism – which can also hurt small businesses.

The face of safety provided to tourists – who might change their plans because of fears of flooding – remain the circumstances of actual Thai citizens who have no choice but to await government assistance.  Thurston also highlighted the plight Thailand’s citizens will endure.  “A lot of people here live day-to-day,” he said, and therefore will not be able to afford to repair their homes for quite some time.

By Teresa Townsend