Bangkok Post, Thailand - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News April 30, 2004
Tourists Warned by Muslim Separatist Group to Avoid Southern Thailand
A Muslim separatist group has issued a warning for tourists to avoid travel to southern Thailand, including the popular beach resorts of Krabi, Phuket and Phangnga.
The warning was posted on the web site of the Patani United Liberation Organisation, and attributed to Bersatu, otherwise known as the United Front for the Independence of Pattani.
"Persons who plan to visit Thailand now are warned not to travel to Patani Raya Region (Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun, Songkhla) and the neighbour provinces (Phuket, Phangnga, Krabi and Phatthalung)," said the statement, addressed to "Dear People of the World".
"Patani people are not responsible for anything happens to you after this warning. (sic)"
According to Globalsecurity.org, Bersatu was formed to unify splinter terrorist groups fighting for the independence of the southern provinces, where Muslims make up the majority of the population.
On Wednesday, 113 people were killed in clashes between security forces and separatists, the bloodiest day of fighting in months of violence in the South.
More than 70 people, mostly civil servants, police and military personnel, have been killed since the beginning of this year by unknown groups, mostly in the three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala.
But yesterday's direct threat and the scale of Wednesday's attacks have left business leaders and tourism officials bracing themselves for the worst.
Malaysian tourist numbers are down 40 percent, according to a report from the Malaysian Association of Travel Agents.
Prakit Chinamornpong, secretary of the Thai Hotels Association, said the violence had had a significant impact on short-haul tourists, particularly from the Malaysian market which accounted for about 10 percent of the 9.7 million international tourist arrivals last year.
He said hotels in Hat Yai in Songkhla would normally be fully occupied for the Labour Day weekend, but reservations for the province's 10,000 available rooms were currently low.
Suthep Suebsantiwong, an executive vice-president of Thai Airways International, said the Bersatu warning would surely affect travel in the region.
But he said that so far, no unusual cancellations or bookings for services to southern destinations had been seen.
Somchart Chinatanpulporn, president of the Hat Yai Hotel Association, said the impact of Wednesday's clashes could push tourist arrivals down by another 20 percent, with the Malaysian and Singaporean markets most affected.
While Hat Yai has been severely affected by the violence, major tourist areas such as Phuket and Koh Samui had yet to be affected.
Roland Schetter, chief executive of the online hotel reservation provider Sawasdee.com said no unusual cancellations had been seen from the European and US markets for hotels in Phuket and Ko Samui.
"But the impact [of the violence] is difficult to assess right now, as we are entering the low season," he said.
Gerard Kramer, the Dutch ambassador to Thailand, said several European embassies in Bangkok, including the Netherlands, have been posting advisories warning against unnecessary travel to the deep South for several months.
"That is just advice. It is up to travellers," Mr Kramer said. "And we are not warning our people against travel to the rest of Thailand."
Mr Kramer noted, however, that the scale of the violence had been broadcast worldwide and could raise fears about travel to the country altogether.
But he said that the conflict would likely have a limited impact on business sentiment and investment ties.
Terence Cuddyre, president of the American Chamber of Commerce, agreed. "Transport and logistics systems are operating as normal. Thailand still remains an attractive place to invest and do business," he said.
Tourism is one of the largest sectors of the economy, contributing 6 percent of gross domestic product each year. While government economists say the violence has yet to affect growth trends, investment confidence would likely be hit if the situation continued.
Business leaders in the southern provinces say the conflict would only worsen economic conditions in the region.
Banya Ongsakul, president of the Narathiwat Chamber of Commerce, said investment activity in the three worst-hit provinces had all but vanished.
"No new investment has been made in the provinces since the beginning of this year with projects shifting to Songkhla and Surat Thani," Mr Banya said.
"And it's not only [Narathiwat] that has been affected. Other provinces, especially Songkhla, have been hurt also."
Mr Banya said the government should offer support for new business projects and infrastructure development to help restore investor confidence and boost local employment.
Somphong Wanapha, the secretary-general of the Board of Investment, said government agencies were working on new privileges to help draw new investment to the region, including tax waivers.
While approved by the cabinet last month as part of a broader package to help boost the southern economy, their implementation is still pending.
© Copyright 2004, Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
© Copyright 2004, Bangkok Post, Thailand
