Minister to visit China, Japan

Written by changthai11 on Saturday, September 27th, 2008

TOURISM

CHATRUDEE THEPARAT

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kohsurat is to fly to China and Japan over the next two weeks to try to persuade the countries’ governments and tour operators to encourage more tourism in Thailand.

The China trip is planned for Oct 12 and will be followed by a visit to Japan, said Mr Weerasak, who hopes that providing clear and accurate information about conditions in Thailand will convince the two countries to withdraw their travel warnings.

Currently, 23 countries are maintaining travel advisory warnings but seven countries _ Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, France and Ireland _ have lessened the extent of their warnings after the lifting of the state of emergency, while urging their visitors to stay away from the protest area.

Mr Weerasak said his visit to China and Japan was especially urgent because their visitors were most sensitive to political conflicts.

”The Chinese term for the declaration of the state of emergency has a very close meaning to the state of martial law _ which is taken seriously by the Chinese _ and it therefore frightens tour operators, which are mostly owned by state agencies, and all of their 60,000 clients who planned to travel to Thailand on China’s National Day holiday from Oct 1-10,” he said.

Mr Weerasak said he planned to meet the Chinese tourism minister to explain the real political situation and convince Beijing to revoke its advisory.

The minister also plans on Oct 3 to meet a 100-car caravan tour travelling from Kunming in China through Chiang Rai, Ayutthaya and Bangkok.

According to Mr Weerasak, the ministry would ask the travellers to help spread a positive message about Thailand and the limited impact of ongoing anti-government protests.

In Japan, the minister intends to meet major tour operators and insurance firms.

Japanese firms generally deny insurance protection to policyholders who travel in countries for which its government has issued travel warnings.