Krabi Airport shakes off virus jitters, gives Chinese warm welcome
Officials at Krabi International Airport are cutting through the gloom over the novel coronavirus spreading out from Wuhan, China, to greet Chinese visitors with a big welcome for the beginning of the Lunar New Year.
Tawee Gasisam-ang, director general of the Department of Airports, tasked Krabi Airport director Attaporn Nuang-udom with rolling out the welcome mat for people arriving this weekend.
Attaporn has had the help and support of Tourism Authority of Thailand director Uthit Limsakul, Krabi Tourism Association president Sasithorn Kititharakul and representatives of other state agencies.
Continuing through Monday (January 27), incoming tourists are being treated to performances of
Thai traditional music and receiving free souvenirs and tickets in a lucky draw.
In the four days of the festival, more than 90 flights are scheduled to arrive in Krabi from 17 Chinese cities, including Wuhan.
The others are Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, Hefei, Taiyuan, Shijiazhuang, Shenyang, Lanzhou, Xiamen, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Changchun, Chengdu and Shenzhen.
Tawee said he’d also seen to it that Krabi Airport is collaborating with the International Communicable Disease Control Office and other agencies in readying for possible contact with the potentially deadly coronavirus.
A thermal scanner was recently installed at the airport, able to detect specific ailments, and airport and airline staff have been deemed ready for any medical emergency.