Hong Kong tourism changes itineraries
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One of Hong Kong's biggest travel agencies and tour operators have changed tourists' itineraries in response to the political protests spreading across the streets of Bangkok, South China Morning Post reported Sunday.
Wing On Travel informed the Travel Industry Council of its intention to avoid shuttered shopping malls in downtown Bangkok, after thousands of Thai protesters swarmed multiple government buildings in violent clashes on Sunday.
Hong Kong-based newspaper quoted Joseph Tung Yao-chung, the executive director of the Travel Industry Council, as saying, “Wing On have said there has been a change of itinerary because they understand few shopping malls have been closed.”
“The agents decided that since [shopping malls] have been closed, and receiving agents have told Hong Kong they will change their itinerary,” Tung added.
Some tour groups from Hong Kong will now avoid Siam Square, a big shopping and entertainment district, in Bangkok.
“If itineraries include shopping malls in Siam Square, they definitely have to change. There is nothing they can do.”
The anecdotal evidence has fuelled fears that prolonged protests and heightening tensions will have a long-term impact on Thailand's tourism industry, which contributes 7.3 per cent to the country's economy, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Tung stressed tourist safety was the number one priority. “We have already told agents in Hong Kong and the receiving agents in Thailand to make sure the priority is the safety of tourists. Basically, right now, we have not received problems arising from the tour groups.”
More than 1,000 Hongkongers, or 30 to 40 group tours, in Bangkok have been trying to steer clear of protest hotspots. “So far, all of the tour groups are safe,” Tung, said.
“They will never visit the places [currently] affected by demonstrations…there is chaos over there but tour itineraries does not include the directly affected areas.” Last year, Hongkongers made more than 604,000 trips to Thailand.
The Security Bureau has advised caution for travelling to Bangkok and Phuket. "Residents intending to visit the country or who are already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution, attend to personal safety and avoid protests and large gatherings of people," the Security Bureau website recommended.
Last Wednesday, a small travel company specialising in tours to Japan and South Korea became the first operator to cancel trips to Thailand due to ongoing unrest.
Package Tour Hong Kong (PTHKG) suspended all holidays to Thailand until December 20. The cancellations have affected eight future tours, comprising around 160 people.
Hong Kong-based newspaper quoted Joseph Tung Yao-chung, the executive director of the Travel Industry Council, as saying, “Wing On have said there has been a change of itinerary because they understand few shopping malls have been closed.”
“The agents decided that since [shopping malls] have been closed, and receiving agents have told Hong Kong they will change their itinerary,” Tung added.
Some tour groups from Hong Kong will now avoid Siam Square, a big shopping and entertainment district, in Bangkok.
“If itineraries include shopping malls in Siam Square, they definitely have to change. There is nothing they can do.”
The anecdotal evidence has fuelled fears that prolonged protests and heightening tensions will have a long-term impact on Thailand's tourism industry, which contributes 7.3 per cent to the country's economy, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Tung stressed tourist safety was the number one priority. “We have already told agents in Hong Kong and the receiving agents in Thailand to make sure the priority is the safety of tourists. Basically, right now, we have not received problems arising from the tour groups.”
More than 1,000 Hongkongers, or 30 to 40 group tours, in Bangkok have been trying to steer clear of protest hotspots. “So far, all of the tour groups are safe,” Tung, said.
“They will never visit the places [currently] affected by demonstrations…there is chaos over there but tour itineraries does not include the directly affected areas.” Last year, Hongkongers made more than 604,000 trips to Thailand.
The Security Bureau has advised caution for travelling to Bangkok and Phuket. "Residents intending to visit the country or who are already there should monitor the situation, exercise caution, attend to personal safety and avoid protests and large gatherings of people," the Security Bureau website recommended.
Last Wednesday, a small travel company specialising in tours to Japan and South Korea became the first operator to cancel trips to Thailand due to ongoing unrest.
Package Tour Hong Kong (PTHKG) suspended all holidays to Thailand until December 20. The cancellations have affected eight future tours, comprising around 160 people.
Despite it being "safe to travel" to the capital, PTHKG’s Yuen Chun-ning said a handful of concerned customers contacted the firm wanting to cancel their holiday.
The cancellations buck the trend for Hong Kong's wider travel industry, which is operating without any further trouble.
