Short-term plans to boost tourism

The association plans to promote three regions that are not much affected by the current flooding - the east coast, South and Northeast.

However, the tourism situation in some provinces in the North like Chiang Mai, Nan and Lampang are now back to normal and all attractions are open.

Wirote Sitaprasertnand, president of TTPA, said yesterday that it would urge official bodies, especially the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), to help promote unaffected provinces.

"TTPA wants to boost visitors to provinces that were not hit by flooding. This is an immediate measure that we can do to help domestic tourism. We also want to restore tourism in flooded places afterwards," he said.

The association has also prepared long-term recovery plans for the entire industry by working with the public and private sectors and local organisations to create packages to attract travellers.

"We will focus on weekends and public holidays," he said.

The association will encourage new targeted markets to join the campaign such as retirees and the disabled.

Domestic tourism into next year should remain in growth mode despite the flooding, but this projection relies on government and private sector support through a variety of consistent campaigns, he added.

Thawatchai Arunyik, deputy governor of TAT, said the agency had ordered its offices in all regions to monitor the flood situation and work with national parks to advise tourists to avoid visiting risky areas, including the lower Central region, Uthai Thani, Phichit and Uttaradit.

Somchai Chompunoi, executive director for the Central region at TAT, said visitors to Ayutthaya had dropped by 10 per cent since the river overflowed.

Sombat Karupan, permanent secretary of the Tourism Ministry, said the ministry is monitoring the situation and standing by to assist operators and tourists if needed.