“Thais who have booked a place here to attend a meeting have cancelled their trips.
Airports in Thailand are not closing yet. We can’t predict whether more tourists are cancelling their trips or not,” said Hla Aye, Managing Director of Shan Yoma travel agency.
“Some who have already made bookings have to go because they have paid their money in advance. They need to be careful, although there is no need to worry. Tourists from Myanmar are going to Thailand for medical check-ups only at this time, so we can’t predict anything.”
International media have reported that transportation in Bangkok has ground to a halt because protesters have launched what they are calling a “shutdown” of Bangkok. Earlier, the Myanmar embassy in Thailand issued a warning to its citizens not to get involved in the protests on January 6.
Although the protesters are blocking roads, it is difficult to predict whether Thai tourist arrivals in Myanmar will slump or not. If Thailand shuts down its airports, tourists can still enter Myanmar from the border, tourism industry sources say.
Thousands of tourists enter the country daily through Techilek, Htikhi, Myawady and Kawthoung from the Myanmar-Thailand border.
“We have a group of 20 Thais arriving tomorrow on a Bangkok Airways flight. Thais come here with Bangkok Airways or Air Asia, which is a low-cost airline,” said Sai Saing Show, a Thai tourist guide.
At present, Myanmar citizens are advised to travel to Bangkok only for medical check-ups. The current rate of Myanmar tourist arrivals in Thailand is lower than for the periods surrounding Songkran [water festival] holidays, New Year’s Eve and Christmas Day.
source: Eleven Myanmar
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