PHUKET, Thailand (10 May 2005) -- A Thai tourism leader says that lingering fears over December's killer tsunami would make it difficult to reach government targets for Thailand's ailing tourism industry. Mr. Anek Srichiwachat, head of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) warned that despite government efforts to boost tourism, many people throughout the world still do not want to visit Thailand due to tsunami fears. "It's a question of feelings," Srichiwachat told reporters. "People aren't yet ready to come back." Before the tsunami, the Thai government announced plans to double annual foreign tourist arrivals to 20 million by 2008. Despite the tsunami, the government has set a target of 13.38 million foreign tourists in 2005. Srichiwachat said that the Europe and American tourism markets have probably bottomed out. But important markets in Asia - Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea - have not rebounded. | | The rush to grow Thailand's tourism industry produced eco-unfriendly and unsustainable tourism development, much of which was washed onto reefs by December's tsunami. Srichiwachat noted that it will be especially difficult to revive the Japanese market where earthquakes and tsunami waves have caused severe damage and loss of life. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
