Prolonged occupation by anti-Thai government protesters of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport has been prompting local authorities to go the extra mile in terms of hospitality.
Working in tandem, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and Thai Hotels Association (THA) have been offering scores of foreign visitors with no way out temporary relief in the form of hotel accommodation.
Beneficiaries of the unexpected surge in clientele include Ibis Hotel, Eastin Hotel, Twin Tower Hotel, Regent Hotel (Suvarnabhumi), Prince Palace Hotel and Siam City Hotel.
Karnpong, front office manager of Prince Palace Hotel, told Business Traveller yesterday: “We have had 672 guests occupying 361 rooms since November 27. Today, December 1, 20 rooms have been vacated because the passengers managed to get flights.”
TAT announced on its website that for tourists and travellers ”who cannot travel to their destination as of November 25, 2008, till the airport reopens, TAT and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports have provided accommodation and meals…”
Victims of the Kingdom’s latest political upheaval will not have to pay charges for their stay, provided their costs do not exceed 2,000 baht (US$56) per day and they can only change hotel, as long as it was arranged by the hotel and travel agents’ associations.
For more information on the hotels, please call: ATTA at 66 2 237 6046-8, 66 2 632 7400-2, THA at 66 2 281 9496 and TCT at 66 2 250 5500 ext. 1646. Or visit, www.tatnews.org.
Peter Rajendran
