Bangkok riots broke out hit tourism in Thailand
Still remember the last Bangkok riots broke out in 2010? It was how the Thailand government was overthrown and Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra was elected as the new Thailand Prime Minister. After 3 years, the same is happening in Bangkok again! This time the anti-government demonstration in the capital is aimed to overthrow the same lady who was elected by them 2 years ago, Ms. Yingluck!
After eight days of peaceful protests, the situation has finally turned violent last night as 3 people were killed and a further 103 injured, when protesters clashed with police and rocks, bottles and petrol bombs were thrown at riot officers but fought back by rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons from the police today as they attempted to storm government buildings in Bangkok. Read more on Daily Mail Online UK.
I’m not a politician nor an economist, I’m just a traveler who loves to explore the world. Any political or cultural insecurity in a country will definitely put me off right away.
Many organizations in Bangkok are not operating due to the demonstration and some large shopping malls have also been closed. Bangkok Post reported yesterday also that protest has damaged tourism industry in Thailand especially its capital. Hotel bookings are slowing down in Bangkok due to the violence and tension in between anti-government protesters and riot police.
31 countries including Japan, China, India, Britain and the US have issued travel advisories for their citizens to avoid visiting areas near Bangkok. Asian tourists, particularly incentive travel groups, have changed their destinations to other regional countries, with 30% changing their destinations to Thailand’s other provinces.
It would be a shame to Thailand if this Bangkok riots has eventually deteriorated the tourism industry which contributes Trillions Bahts of revenue to Thailand each year. I personally love to travel Thailand and would not love to see this happens.
Having said that, not whole of Thailand is in chaos. I was in Northern cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and there seem to be a complete different world! No one is worrying about the incidence down South and people are working, eating, laughing as normal as before. I did not even know the protest broke out on the same day as we touched down the Chiang Mai airport, until we saw the news on TV a few days later!
Above them all, security in Bangkok is of utmost important for tourism. I’ve booked a flight to Bangkok a couple of months later and I would surelynot want to see Bangkok riots to continue over a prolonged period. Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban and Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, would you 2 sit down and talk it over? – Travel Feeder
About The Author
Cecil Lee
The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.
