Local travel firms said many guests had called them to get updates onthe situation in Bangkok on August 18 and that some had cancelled theirtours while others stuck to their travel plans.
A number of travel firms reported falls in bookings of Thailand tours on August 18.
“The number of customers buying Thailand tours is down 20-30% againstnormal days,” Vietravel general director Nguyen Quoc Ky told the Dailyon August 18 afternoon.
Ky confirmed his firm’s guests in Bangkok were still safe and no one wanted to terminate their tours earlier than scheduled.
Meanwhile, other tour operators said many of their customers werehesitant to confirm their participation in the already-booked tours toThailand or switch to other countries though tour operators are willingto help customers rebook their tours.
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, marketing manager of Ben Thanh Tourist, told theDaily on August 18 that some customers phoned the company on August 18to ask for information about Thailand and that they remained undecidedover their travel plans.
“We sent one group of tourists to Thailand this morning while touristsof the groups departing tonight and tomorrow have not made up their mindyet,” Mai said.
The same situation happened to other travel firms like Saigontourist Travel Service Company.
Ben Thanh Tourist alone sent 750 tourists to Thailand on August 18.Customers of Saigontourist, Vietravel and Viet Jet Tour in Thailand werealso reported safe.
Many travel firms have changed their itineraries to keep theircustomers away from Bangkok and skip shopping plans at major malls inthe capital.
“With the tourists arriving in Bangkok this morning, we brought themstraight to Pattaya. We are working closely with Thai partners,” saidDoan Thi Thanh Tra, marketing and communications manager ofSaigontourist.
Some Vietnamese currently visiting Thailand on August 18 complained onsocial media about difficulties in buying air tickets to fly back toVietnam.
Ky of Vietravel said free-and-easy travelers might find it hard to buyair tickets but those traveling with tourism firms were not affected astheir tickets had been booked in advance.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said in a statement on August18 that tourism activities in Bangkok were still as usual but Thaipolice advised locals and tourists to exercise caution when out andabout in Bangkok.
TAT said Thai authorities had stepped up security at key locations inBangkok following the Monday bomb blast at a shrine near the city’sRatchaprasong Intersection.
Overall, life in Bangkok is described as normal and tourists are advised to call 1672 for assistance.
“All public services and banks are available to the public. As fortourist businesses, other tourist sites, hotels, restaurants, touroperators, and shopping malls remain open, while transportation links,major roads and airports continue to operate. This includes Bangkok’sBTS Skytrain and MRT services and both Don Muang and SuvarnabhumiInternational Airports receive domestic and international flights,” TATsaid in the statement.
TAT added that it was monitoring the situation and would provide regular updates. The
Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on August 18afternoon wrote to travel firms asking them not to send tourists tohigh-risk and crowded places. Besides, travel firms are advised toclosely coordinate with partners and Vietnam’s diplomaticrepresentatives in Thailand to get updates and take measures to ensuresafety for tourists.
Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh was quoted by theVietnam News Agency as saying on August 18 that Vietnam stronglycondemns the bombing in the Thai capital on Monday.
“Our deep sympathy is with the Thai Government and people and othercountries with citizens killed and wounded in the attack,” thespokesperson said.
Binh confirmed that there was a Vietnamese national injured in theincident, and the Vietnamese embassy in Thailand had visited andprovided assistance for the citizen.
The embassy has recommended that Vietnamese should not come to the siteof the bombing until the situation improves and should follow guidanceof local authorities. It is also closely working with relevant Thaiagencies to gather information and support Vietnamese citizens. Thosewho need assistance can contact +66 89 89 666 53 or +84 981 84 84 84.
Thailand is an attractive destination for Vietnamese tourists despiteunrest in previous years. Many tour operators sent tourists to Thailandthis summer and Vietravel even arranged tours for up to 13,886 touriststo visit the neighboring country last month.
TAT expects to attract 700,000 tourists from Vietnam this year.
Bangkok bomb blast scares Vietnam tourists away
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