TODAY Bill Owen will be enjoying the second day of the conference he thought might never happen.
It opened on Monday morning at the Imperial Queens Park Hotel in Bangkok despite the red shirt skirmishes and the attempted assassination of a senior yellow shirt leader.
For Mr Owen, a well-know tourist industry figure on Phuket, the efforts to put out fires and quell nervousness proved worthwhile.
''We are happy to report that the majority of delegates are attending,'' he said.
''Thankfully in this instance, with a lot of hard work, much communication, emails, and correspondence to all delegates, we were fortunate and lucky with timings.''
The Bangkok Post reckons the week of anarchy staged by the red shirts cost the tourist industry sales of 100 billion baht.
''The worldwide recession has put people out of work and placed overseas holidays beyond the reach of many families,'' a newspaper editorial says.
''Those who can afford to travel will be selective and not in a mood to take risks. The tourism industry's biggest headache is uncertainty.''
Mr Owen said the government eventually acted firmly and quickly in ending the demonstrations.
''As it is, these national government travel warnings are the ''killer'' in these situations,'' he said.
''People's insurance becomes null and void if they travel, and many organisations urge clients to follow these to the letter.''
For Mr Owen, who runs Oriental Leisure, it was a narrow escape. But he fears for the future.
''We have already had several postponements or cancellations and as importantly a real slowing down of inquiries for future events,'' he said.
''Corporate convention and conference clients rely on both the stability of a country and its ability to handle such events. Without this initial stability, they are immediately turned off.
''Thailand had for many years a reputation of being one of the most stable and politically safe places to visit in the region and so it was a great place to hold such events.
Sadly after the past six months, this is no longer the case.
''The Government now MUST begin to ensure that this stability returns. The country currently seems to be divided more than any time I can remember.
''And if this reconciliation can't be created, then we as a travel-tourism industry must be VERY honest with our overseas clients and advise them of the exact situation.
''We must also advise them of places such as Phuket, and Chiang Mai, which are certainly safer than Bangkok, where trouble may at times arise.''
The Bangkok Post says the government rescue package ''includes 75 million baht to restore foreign visitor confidence and increase safety measures in tourism spots and 325 million baht to convince foreign visitors to travel to Thailand both for business and leisure.''
Just how much will come Phuket's way has yet to be made clear. Despite the income the island generates, it is chronically starved of funding.
Phuket will fall back again this low season on its most reliable supporters: Australians and New Zealanders.
Since the 2004 tsunami and through every crisis since, it is the trippers on direct flights, lately via Jetstar, who have provided Phuket with its pick-me-up return guests.
While tourists from China, Korea and Japan tend to cancel at the first whistle of a travel alert, the Down Under tourists tend to be resilient and understand the vast difference between Bangkok and Phuket.
But there will be postponements. Independent Brands Australia for example has pushed back its planned conference on Phuket next month to August 17-25.
The conference includes business sessions, sight-seeing and networking opportunities.
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It opened on Monday morning at the Imperial Queens Park Hotel in Bangkok despite the red shirt skirmishes and the attempted assassination of a senior yellow shirt leader.
For Mr Owen, a well-know tourist industry figure on Phuket, the efforts to put out fires and quell nervousness proved worthwhile.
''We are happy to report that the majority of delegates are attending,'' he said.
''Thankfully in this instance, with a lot of hard work, much communication, emails, and correspondence to all delegates, we were fortunate and lucky with timings.''
The Bangkok Post reckons the week of anarchy staged by the red shirts cost the tourist industry sales of 100 billion baht.
''The worldwide recession has put people out of work and placed overseas holidays beyond the reach of many families,'' a newspaper editorial says.
''Those who can afford to travel will be selective and not in a mood to take risks. The tourism industry's biggest headache is uncertainty.''
Mr Owen said the government eventually acted firmly and quickly in ending the demonstrations.
''As it is, these national government travel warnings are the ''killer'' in these situations,'' he said.
''People's insurance becomes null and void if they travel, and many organisations urge clients to follow these to the letter.''
For Mr Owen, who runs Oriental Leisure, it was a narrow escape. But he fears for the future.
''We have already had several postponements or cancellations and as importantly a real slowing down of inquiries for future events,'' he said.
''Corporate convention and conference clients rely on both the stability of a country and its ability to handle such events. Without this initial stability, they are immediately turned off.
''Thailand had for many years a reputation of being one of the most stable and politically safe places to visit in the region and so it was a great place to hold such events.
Sadly after the past six months, this is no longer the case.
''The Government now MUST begin to ensure that this stability returns. The country currently seems to be divided more than any time I can remember.
''And if this reconciliation can't be created, then we as a travel-tourism industry must be VERY honest with our overseas clients and advise them of the exact situation.
''We must also advise them of places such as Phuket, and Chiang Mai, which are certainly safer than Bangkok, where trouble may at times arise.''
The Bangkok Post says the government rescue package ''includes 75 million baht to restore foreign visitor confidence and increase safety measures in tourism spots and 325 million baht to convince foreign visitors to travel to Thailand both for business and leisure.''
Just how much will come Phuket's way has yet to be made clear. Despite the income the island generates, it is chronically starved of funding.
Phuket will fall back again this low season on its most reliable supporters: Australians and New Zealanders.
Since the 2004 tsunami and through every crisis since, it is the trippers on direct flights, lately via Jetstar, who have provided Phuket with its pick-me-up return guests.
While tourists from China, Korea and Japan tend to cancel at the first whistle of a travel alert, the Down Under tourists tend to be resilient and understand the vast difference between Bangkok and Phuket.
But there will be postponements. Independent Brands Australia for example has pushed back its planned conference on Phuket next month to August 17-25.
The conference includes business sessions, sight-seeing and networking opportunities.
Anarchy and Chaos: Thailand's Low Score
Latest A leading expat lawyer has reassured clients that the Songkran road toll is far more destructive than the red shirt rebellion. On Phuket, four holiday deaths were reported.
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Latest Phuketwan recommended Phuket as the best destination for the next Asean summit and today the organisation's secretary general agreed. He wants it on the island, too.
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