ONE of Phuket's and Thailand's most influential hospitality industry chiefs is calling on the ambassadors of all nations to lift travel warnings and alerts for Thailand.
''One of the most pressing concerns is to clarify that Thailand is now a safe country to visit,'' writes William E. Heinecke, head of the Minor Group, which owns the Anantara Phuket Resort, among other properties on Phuket. Minor employs 25,000 people throughout the country.
''Foreign visitors in every part of Thailand experienced no malevolence, ill treatment or any cause for concern from the Thai people, and instead continued to receive the warm welcome that Thailand is so famous for.
''We strongly believe that the time has come for international embassies to lift the travel warnings and restrictions that are in place for Bangkok and all of Thailand.''
The difficulty is that each nation has its own independent alerts, making for a system where some nations adjust their alerts quickly while others leave alerts in place for long periods.
About 45 countries have each issued alerts for Thailand at different times and to different levels over the past few months, scaring tourists unnecessarily.
Phuketwan wishes Mr Heinecke the best of luck. A co-ordinated response from the Bangkok diplomatic community is as likely to be achieved as a coordinated global system to replace the chaotic nation-by-nation alerts that caused most of the unnecessary pain and suffering in the first place.
Here is the full text of Mr Heinecke's email:
An Open Letter: To the Ambassadors of all Nations Represented in Thailand
cc: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Minister of Finance, Khun Korn Chatikavanij, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Khun Chumphol Silpa-archa, TAT Governor, Khun Suraphon Svetasreni
Your Excellency,
As one of the largest companies in Thailand, employing more than 25,000 people through its many brands, Minor Group, has a duty to think of the wellbeing of its staff, and indeed the wellbeing of millions who are employed directly and indirectly from the Thai tourism industry and beyond. The tourism industry is a vital driver of the Thai economy, and hence it is the role of Minor, and all businesses, to join together and unite all efforts in order to accomplish what is necessary for the economy's rapid return to good health.
One of the most pressing concerns is to clarify that Thailand is now a safe country to visit. The curfew has been lifted and all hotels and tourist attractions are welcoming guests as usual. Indeed while certain areas of Bangkok suffered from the demonstrations, visitors to the Kingdom continued to enjoy their holidays in the capital and throughout Thailand which remained open for travel during the uncharacteristic events of May. Now, with daily life having returned to complete normality nationwide and the Thai people reacting quickly to ensure that visitors can fully enjoy the wonders of one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, it is crucial to publicise that Thailand is peaceful.
It is also imperative to assert that tourists were never a target during the protests. Foreign visitors in every part of Thailand experienced no malevolence, ill treatment or any cause for concern from the Thai people, and instead continued to receive the warm welcome that Thailand is so famous for.
We strongly believe that the time has come for international embassies to lift the travel warnings and restrictions that are in place for Bangkok and all of Thailand. The Kingdom's image has been tarnished by recent critical, and at times unfair, media coverage, and this impression needs to be addressed. We must understand that in international terms, a demonstration in Paris or Athens would not shut down the Cote d'Azur or Corfu!
As a citizen of Thailand and a member of the business community, I feel that it is my duty to reach out to you and seek your assistance at this point in time. I also feel that it is my role to showcase to the world through all available channels that the nation as a whole is peaceful, tranquil and safe. We are confident that people still wish to travel to Thailand, but remain hesitant due to obstacles such as the inability to obtain travel insurance and feel safe in making travel plans due to the travel warnings and restrictions issued from their home country.
The time has come to rebuild international visitors' confidence, and barriers to travel to Thailand now need to be lifted. Such efforts will serve as a vital first step in support of the Kingdom and the people of Thailand, and the sooner that this objective is achieved, the sooner that the tourism industry and Thailand can begin its journey to a full recovery. Some nations have already taken the necessary steps and we thank them for their leadership and collaboration.
I ask the Diplomatic community to support the people of Thailand, the economy, and take the necessary measures that will allow the nation to prosper once again.
Yours sincerely, William E. Heinecke
Phuketwan called several embassies today to ask whether Mr Heinecke's letter has been received and whether the ambassadors plan responses. Messages were left at the Australian, German and British Embassies. A spokesman at the US Embassy said that the US travel alert for Thailand had been lifted on June 3.
A spokesperson for the British embassy called back to note their warnings, revised on June 3, described the situation in Thailand as ''generally calm following recent political and civil unrest. There have been no serious incidents of violence since 21 May.''
A spokesman called back on behalf of the German embassy and was keen to make the point that Germany lifted its warning for Bangkok and the north-east on May 29. He also noted that Germany had never had a warning in place for Phuket and the region around it.
Phuket Still Hurt by Aussie 'Threat of Attack'''One of the most pressing concerns is to clarify that Thailand is now a safe country to visit,'' writes William E. Heinecke, head of the Minor Group, which owns the Anantara Phuket Resort, among other properties on Phuket. Minor employs 25,000 people throughout the country.
''Foreign visitors in every part of Thailand experienced no malevolence, ill treatment or any cause for concern from the Thai people, and instead continued to receive the warm welcome that Thailand is so famous for.
''We strongly believe that the time has come for international embassies to lift the travel warnings and restrictions that are in place for Bangkok and all of Thailand.''
The difficulty is that each nation has its own independent alerts, making for a system where some nations adjust their alerts quickly while others leave alerts in place for long periods.
About 45 countries have each issued alerts for Thailand at different times and to different levels over the past few months, scaring tourists unnecessarily.
Phuketwan wishes Mr Heinecke the best of luck. A co-ordinated response from the Bangkok diplomatic community is as likely to be achieved as a coordinated global system to replace the chaotic nation-by-nation alerts that caused most of the unnecessary pain and suffering in the first place.
Here is the full text of Mr Heinecke's email:
An Open Letter: To the Ambassadors of all Nations Represented in Thailand
cc: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Minister of Finance, Khun Korn Chatikavanij, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Khun Chumphol Silpa-archa, TAT Governor, Khun Suraphon Svetasreni
Your Excellency,
As one of the largest companies in Thailand, employing more than 25,000 people through its many brands, Minor Group, has a duty to think of the wellbeing of its staff, and indeed the wellbeing of millions who are employed directly and indirectly from the Thai tourism industry and beyond. The tourism industry is a vital driver of the Thai economy, and hence it is the role of Minor, and all businesses, to join together and unite all efforts in order to accomplish what is necessary for the economy's rapid return to good health.
One of the most pressing concerns is to clarify that Thailand is now a safe country to visit. The curfew has been lifted and all hotels and tourist attractions are welcoming guests as usual. Indeed while certain areas of Bangkok suffered from the demonstrations, visitors to the Kingdom continued to enjoy their holidays in the capital and throughout Thailand which remained open for travel during the uncharacteristic events of May. Now, with daily life having returned to complete normality nationwide and the Thai people reacting quickly to ensure that visitors can fully enjoy the wonders of one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, it is crucial to publicise that Thailand is peaceful.
It is also imperative to assert that tourists were never a target during the protests. Foreign visitors in every part of Thailand experienced no malevolence, ill treatment or any cause for concern from the Thai people, and instead continued to receive the warm welcome that Thailand is so famous for.
We strongly believe that the time has come for international embassies to lift the travel warnings and restrictions that are in place for Bangkok and all of Thailand. The Kingdom's image has been tarnished by recent critical, and at times unfair, media coverage, and this impression needs to be addressed. We must understand that in international terms, a demonstration in Paris or Athens would not shut down the Cote d'Azur or Corfu!
As a citizen of Thailand and a member of the business community, I feel that it is my duty to reach out to you and seek your assistance at this point in time. I also feel that it is my role to showcase to the world through all available channels that the nation as a whole is peaceful, tranquil and safe. We are confident that people still wish to travel to Thailand, but remain hesitant due to obstacles such as the inability to obtain travel insurance and feel safe in making travel plans due to the travel warnings and restrictions issued from their home country.
The time has come to rebuild international visitors' confidence, and barriers to travel to Thailand now need to be lifted. Such efforts will serve as a vital first step in support of the Kingdom and the people of Thailand, and the sooner that this objective is achieved, the sooner that the tourism industry and Thailand can begin its journey to a full recovery. Some nations have already taken the necessary steps and we thank them for their leadership and collaboration.
I ask the Diplomatic community to support the people of Thailand, the economy, and take the necessary measures that will allow the nation to prosper once again.
Yours sincerely, William E. Heinecke
Phuketwan called several embassies today to ask whether Mr Heinecke's letter has been received and whether the ambassadors plan responses. Messages were left at the Australian, German and British Embassies. A spokesman at the US Embassy said that the US travel alert for Thailand had been lifted on June 3.
A spokesperson for the British embassy called back to note their warnings, revised on June 3, described the situation in Thailand as ''generally calm following recent political and civil unrest. There have been no serious incidents of violence since 21 May.''
A spokesman called back on behalf of the German embassy and was keen to make the point that Germany lifted its warning for Bangkok and the north-east on May 29. He also noted that Germany had never had a warning in place for Phuket and the region around it.
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Heinecke has his work cut out. Undoubtedly Thailand is a safe place by world standards, unless people behave idiotically, however the world's public servants are more in the business of damage prevention, ie preventing damage to their careers. This is why they won't lift the warnings.
Posted by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 14:11