Thai tourism threatened by coup; effect on Cambodia uncertain
Thailand’s Tourism Ministry has been biting its nails since the country’s military declared a coup on Thursday and imposed a nighttime curfew, but a Cambodian official said Sunday that it is too soon to say whether the lock-down will have a knock-on effect on tourism across the border. Pornthip Hirunkate, the vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, told Thailand’s The Nation newspaper on Saturday that warnings against travel issued by foreign embassies would serve as a grave threat to the country’s tourism industry. ... In Cambodia, however, Tith Chantha, a director-general in the Ministry of Tourism, said the only group of tourists whose numbers have dropped in the wake of last week’s coup was Thai nationals. “Thai tourists have definitely declined, but there has been no decline in other guests entering the country,” Mr. Chantha said. ... Ang Kim Eang, president of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, said that the situation in Thailand and the perception it creates internationally could ultimately lead to an increase in tourists coming to Cambodia. ... In Kampot province, near to the Vietnamese border, some guests at Ollie’s Place said they had changed their plans to move on to Thailand. “I’ve decided to extend my stay in Cambodia because I’m uncertain about what will happen next in Thailand,” said Anna Sturt, 27. ...
Simon Henderson and Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/thai-tourism-threatened-by-coup-effect-on-cambodia-uncertain-59558/
