September 16, 2008
Bangkok - Up to 70% of domestic travel were expected during the end of this year after the caretaker government lifted the emergency decree on Sunday.
Former prime minister Samak Sundaravej declared the state of emergency on September 2 after members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) clashed with each other.
Apichart Sangkha-aree, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), said the decree lifting had a psychological impact on tourists, especially foreign tourists.
Lifting the emergency decree helped bring back tourists’ confidence at a certain level.
Tourists still waited to see how the political situation was going to end and who the new prime minister would be.
Foreign governments previously warned their people not to visit Thailand.
Foreign tourists in several countries cancelled their travels to Thailand during the enforcement of the emergency decree.
The government held a meeting with the private sector and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to seek measures to boost tourism.
