Khao san revellers unfazed by blasts

Despite the recent bombings in Hat Yai and Yala in the South, most international tourists around Khao San Road in Bangkok remain |confident about their safety and plan to spend more during this year’s Songkran festival, according to a survey by the Dhurakij Pundit University Research Centre.

DPURC director Kiatanantha Lounkaew yesterday said average daily spending by foreign visitors celebrating Songkran on Khao San Road would be Bt3,522, up from Bt2,700 during the festival last year.

During the three-day splash fest, a |typical international tourist could therefore spend more than Bt10,550, he said, adding that most of those planning to |take part are repeat visitors to Thailand.

"Most of the money will be spent |on food, clothing and accessories, as |well as on Songkran activities," said Kiatanantha.

The DPURC conducted a survey of 154 tourists from 14 countries staying in the Khao San Road area on their intentions to participate in the Songkran festival, and their confidence in regard to safety and security.

The survey was carried out from Saturday to Tuesday, with about 70 per cent of the respondents aged below 36.

The survey found that about 80 per cent of foreign visitors in Khao San still had confidence over safety and security during their visit to Thailand.

It also found that 80.5 per cent planned to take part in the festival at Khao San Road, while 15 per cent planned to do so elsewhere and 4.5 per cent did not plan to take part at all.

One interesting observation from the survey is that only 35 per cent reported that this was their first visit to Thailand. On average, they planned to stay in Thailand for 21 days, with eight days spent specifically around Khao San Road.

When asked whether they were aware of the recent bombing at Hat Yai’s Lee Garden Hotel in Songkhla province, 86.4 per cent said they were. Among those aware of the incident, 80.2 per cent reported it had not affected their confidence over safety and security in Thailand; 5.2 per cent said their confidence had been reduced; and 1 per cent remained undecided.

About 90 per cent of the respondents indicated they would still recommend |to their friends and families that they |visit Thailand, while 8.6 per cent would |not do so and 1.3 per cent remained undecided.

"Based on the survey, we found a significant number of repeat visitors, which reflects the fact that Thailand remains attractive in the eyes of foreigners," Kiatanantha said.

He said that in regard to the bomb-|ings in Hat Yai and Yala, the foreigners surveyed remained confident about their visits to Bangkok as they felt the incidents were far removed from their own locations.

"The government, however, needs to increase its capabilities in enhancing news intelligence and raise the level of security, particularly at major tourist destinations in Bangkok," he said.

He added that local tourism authorities should create different marketing and communication campaigns to attract different groups of foreign travellers, whether first-time or repeat visitors.