Floods cancel, shift home tour packages

“One of the most popular local packages, the Nine Temples Tour, which comprises famous temples in the Central region including Ayutthaya, has been withdrawn,” Sakarin Chorsawai, director of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said yesterday.
Tour operators have also pulled similar trips planned to Sukhothai, Lop Buri and Chiang Mai because of flooding.
“Many hotels in heavily flooded areas, particularly Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Lop Buri and Chiang Mai, are receiving very few customers. Nobody is visiting these provinces as usual even though it’s the semester break,” Sakarin said. The association is collecting information on the impact and damages for domestic tourism and should release the results on October 31.
Some operators have offered alternative destinations to upcoming groups, such as Eastern cities including Pattaya and Rayong, instead of flooded areas.
Some companies have postponed trips until the inundation subsides.
Some THA members said flooding would dampen domestic tourism this month and maybe into November and December. However, they are keeping all their workers.
“There’s no report of any hotel shutdown or unpaid staff,” Sakarin said.