Bangkok activity begins to resume

After Rangsit Plaza’s decision to reopen its Future Park Rangsit shopping mall tomorrow, Central Pattana, the developer of Central Plaza Latphrao, will also reopen the freshly renovated flagship shopping complex on the same day. Until next Thursday, service hours will be shortened by one hour to 10am9pm, but then return to 10am10pm.
Only the Lat Phrao branch and the one in Ram Intra are closed. The company will determine tomorrow when the Ram Intra branch will resume business, according to its statement.
In a filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Thai Cane Paper said that yesterday it moved operations from its plant in Kanchanaburi to the head office on the Thon Buri side of Bangkok.
Thai Airways International, which temporarily moved to Suvarnabhumi Airport on November 6, also fully resumed operations at its head office on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road yesterday. The national carrier reconfirmed that it is still operating as usual at the airport for passenger and cargo business.
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority said the flood-boards and stop logs installed around the entrances of its subway stations were being removed.
“The situation has improved to some extent. The removal (partial and total at some venues) will increase convenience to commuters,” MRTA said in a joint statement with Bangkok Metro, the subway operator.
Dismantling work is now seen at Hua Lamphong, Sam Yan, Si Lom, Lumphini, Khlong Toei and Queen Sirikit stations – the downtown subway stations believed to be safe from flooding.
The flood waters’ advance to Vibhavadi-Rangsit and Ratchadaphisek roads early this month sparked fears that they would continue on to the inner city and cause more severe damage to the economy. The damage is currently estimated at about Bt200 billion, mostly due to the inundation of seven industrial estates.
Concerns are now focused on the government’s protection of the Bangchan and Lat Krabang industrial estates as well as Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Kongkrit Hiranyakit, the Tourism Council of Thailand’s president for policy and planning, said the floods would knock Bt35 billion off of tourism revenue, as tourist arrivals have dropped by 1520 per cent on warnings against travel to Bangkok issued by more than 30 countries.
Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok is the gateway to Thailand for 70 per cent of incoming tourists. The decline in arrivals will result in the loss of Bt25 billion in tourism revenue, he said.
Domestic tourism was also off 30 per cent because of road damage and cancelled events. This will cut tourism revenue by Bt10 billion.
“It’s important that the government assures the world that Suvarnabhumi Airport will be protected against floods, with measures to ensure safe transport from the airport to tourist destinations,” he said.
The government should make direct contact with the countries issuing travel alerts as well as major international travel agents. The industry also needs soft loans for business operators and compensation for affected workers, Kongkrit said.