The Erawan shrine bombing in Bangkok cost 64.30 billion baht in lost tourism revenue from 1.33 million visitors and the industry should recover in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Tourism and Sports Ministry told the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
In response to the bombing that killed 20 people and injured 130 others on Aug 17, the ministry informed cabinet ministers that 35 countries warned their people about trips to Thailand, according to a government source.
Most of them issued travel alerts of levels 1-3 to encourage their citizens to take precautions during their visits to Thailand. Hong Kong, Taiwan and Slovakia gave level-4 travel advisories, telling their people not to visit Thailand unless necessary.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reported that people from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Vietnam cancelled their tour packages and flights to Thailand in August and September.
About half the reservations of air tickets for planned trips to Thailand from Aug 18 to Nov 30 were called off.
The TAT considered as medium-level impacts the lost tourism revenue of 64.30 billion baht and the absence of 1.33 million visitors to the country. It explained that the situation was under control and there would be no repeat of the bombing.
It expected severe impacts in August and September and hoped tourism would improve in the last quarter of 2015.
The TAT also reported that Thai tourists were travelling as usual except to destinations in Bangkok, especially the vicinity of the bombing scene at the Ratchaprasong intersection.
It pointed out that tourism income from local tourists would not reach its target of 800 billion baht this year because of economic problems, not the bombing.
To stimulate the industry, the TAT would inform foreign tourists of facts relating to the bombing and positive information about Thai people and Thailand via local and global media.
Besides, it would launch new tourism advertisements, online campaigns and festivals to attract visitors in the remaining months of 2015.
