May 23, 201016 yr Tarnished? Not really. It's proven once again that Thailand is a beautiful country to spend short or long time. Thailand is desperately trying to become a Western-like democracy and that asks a lot from the people here. Over the last 30 years there were several 'turmoils' with a lot of casualties. The "Red actions" of the last months, were purely based on frustration and greed and if the current government manages to take away the frustration a lot will be solved. It's not easy and it will take some time, but that's all part of becoming a democracy.
May 23, 201016 yr Tarnished? Yes. For ever? Definitely 'No'. The early 1990s killings in Bangkok proved only a slight blip. Plus you only need to look at other countries which have suffered violent upheavals for one reason or another and how those memories faded. I believe that Sri Lankan tourism is slowly emerging from the effects of the decades-long civil war. Cambodia is now a must-see destination despite the horror of the Killing Fields and the Khymer Rouge. And China tourism recovered from the appalling Tiananmen Square incident relatively quickly. I was very surprised just last night to see on Hong Kong television a commercial for tourism in Phuket!
May 23, 201016 yr Fountainhall is completely correct on this matter. If high profile trouble tarnishes a destination forever, people would not visit Germany, Japan, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, France, the UK & the vast majority of other countries on the planet. Hitler's invasion of Poland or the French riots of 1968 do not stop people visiting those countries. We do get one or two bigoted nutters who oppose all cultural exchanges with Japan, because of "what they did to granddad during the war". As if the youngsters of today should be accountable for what their nation did 65 years ago (whilst forgetting the skeletons in our own cupboards). More relevant to the 2010 tourist -what's the probability of Thai elections and trouble during the peak tourist season in December?
May 23, 201016 yr Tarnished? Yes. For ever? Definitely 'No'. I agree. I think most people would. It will likely have a severe effect for the time being, but if no further problems occur and if things settle down and stay that way, and if along with it the exchange rates improve for foreigners, then this too shall pass.
May 24, 201016 yr Tarnished? Yes. For ever? Definitely 'No'. I totally agree with this. People forget quickly. In the short term, the world is not happy. But, most of them don't know what went on here as there was other news to cover. It will be forgotten shortly and business will return to normal IF there are no more incidences.
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