PHUKET, Thailand (7 Apr 2005) -- Hard-sell advertisements for Phuket which lack assurances about visitor safety will not convince Japanese tourists to return, Japanese experts said yesterday. Advertising campaigns which pitch the message, ''Don't worry. Everything is all right in Phuket,'' and ''Welcome to Phuket: 80% of hotels are renovated'' are currently running in Japan. They are accompanied by pictures of serene beaches. ''Certainly, there are some people who will come [to Phuket] since the price of air tickets has fallen. But many more people are looking for safety guarantees,'' said Masayuki Watanabe, president of the Institute for International Development Disaster Prevention and Peace Incorporated. Trust and confidence were the key to reviving the tourism industry in the southern provinces, Mr Watanabe said. ''Only assurances of a safe and comfortable stay can bring about a sustainable and fast recovery,'' the civil engineer said. He was in Thailand with a group of experts sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to inspect reconstruction and rehabilitation plans and offer advice based on Japan's experience of earthquakes. Thailand needs a holistic and long-term physical and economic recovery plan, said Haruo Hayashi, director of Kyoto University's Research Centre for Disaster Reduction Systems. A comprehensive scheme was needed which involved the community, provincial and central governments. | | Phuket's upbeat ad slogans are falling on deaf ears in the aftermath of the tsunami. ''People have to realise that this was not necessarily a once-in-a-lifetime incident but can occur again. Investment in town planning is needed, along with multi-lingual signs setting out emergency procedures,'' said Mr Hayashi. Sociology professor Shigeo Tatsuki from Doshisha University said Japanese tourists would feel guilty about having fun here while local people were still looking for jobs or living in temporary shelters. ''They could relate to something such as a memorial event. Then they would be happy to come,'' Mr Tatsuki said. Mikiharu Sato, JICA resident representative, said Bangkok seemed reluctant to request help from other countries, even though Japan was happy to offer advice based on its experience of earthquakes. SOURCE - Bangkok Post |
