Closure and service adjustments
Major attractions in Bangkok including the Chatuchak Weekend Market and Chao Phraya River cruises as well as a few hospitals will close or limit services until Monday because of the worsening flood.
About 8,800 shop owners in Chatuchak were told yesterday to close and move out to safe places.
Management decided to shut the market until Monday as water is expected to reach the area today.
Chatuchak is one of the most popular shopping destinations for international visitors as well as locals.
Most Chao Phraya boat operators have halted trips, particularly dinner cruises, because of the high water levels, but a few groups are keeping their dinner bookings.
The Peninsula Bangkok, which is on the riverbank, said the rising water had not hit the hotel. However, it was strategically built on higher ground than many of the nearby buildings precisely to avoid the possibility of flooding.
Like all other hotels, The Peninsula says it takes the safety of its guests, staff and property extremely seriously and believes it to be of paramount importance. Its staff is fully trained and practised in a wide range of safety, security and contingency procedures, including flooding.
In line with the government’s declaration of special holidays in response to the flood threats to Bangkok, Bumrungrad International Hospital has spilled the news that it will suspend all non-urgent and non-emergency outpatient services from today to Monday.
Emergency-room and inpatient facilities will operate normally, and emergency and urgent-care outpatient capabilities will be added. All appointments during the period will be rescheduled to a later date.
Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive officer of Thai AirAsia Co, said 15 per cent of all flight reservations from China had been cancelled because of fear of floods.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand said that in the worst case, domestic tourism this year would drop by 6 per cent from the 104 million trips projected earlier to 98.6 million trips, while the number of foreign travellers would fall from 19.5 million to 19.1 million.
