Impact of red-shirt protests on hotels in downtown Bangkok
By Jon Fernquest
As
red-shirt protests intensify in Bangkok, foreign tourists
have chosen to travel elsewhere. Each day images of violent protests in Bangkok are broadcast around the world.
Whether it is true or not, there is a growing impression internationally that Bangkok is a dangerous place to be. As a result, tourist numbers have fallen.
Today's article looks at the economic impact of the red-shirt protests on hotels in downtown Bangkok.
(Photo on right shows a soi off the popular backpacker destination Khao San Road is quiet as tourist numbers have dwindled as a result of the red-shirt protests, photo by ALISA SUWANRUMPHA)
protests
- meetings, sometimes forceful or violent, or public statements by
people who strongly disagree with something ชุมนุมประท้วง
intense (adjective) - done with great strength, effort, energy, attention, etc. เข้มข้น
intensify (verb) - to get stronger เข้มข้นขึ้น
protests intensify - more energy and effort put into protests, protests get stronger
broadcast - send TV or radio programs over the airwaves so that people can see them on TV or listen to them on radio
violent - involving the use of physical force, with the intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people รุนแรง
impression - an opinion or feeling that you have about someone or something ความรู้สึก,ความประทับใจ
international - between countries ระหว่างประเทศ
growing impression internationally - the opinion of more and more people around the world
impact - the effect of an event or situation, the good or bad things that an event does ผลกระทบ
economic impact - the effect of an event or situation on business and the economy
backpacker - a budget tourist, usually young, who travels to many countries around the world, carrying all their cloths and belongings in a big backpack (See Wikipedia)
destination - a place where people go จุดหมายปลายทาง (example: tourist destination)
dwindled - decreased
intense (adjective) - done with great strength, effort, energy, attention, etc. เข้มข้น
intensify (verb) - to get stronger เข้มข้นขึ้น
protests intensify - more energy and effort put into protests, protests get stronger
broadcast - send TV or radio programs over the airwaves so that people can see them on TV or listen to them on radio
violent - involving the use of physical force, with the intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people รุนแรง
impression - an opinion or feeling that you have about someone or something ความรู้สึก,ความประทับใจ
international - between countries ระหว่างประเทศ
growing impression internationally - the opinion of more and more people around the world
impact - the effect of an event or situation, the good or bad things that an event does ผลกระทบ
economic impact - the effect of an event or situation on business and the economy
backpacker - a budget tourist, usually young, who travels to many countries around the world, carrying all their cloths and belongings in a big backpack (See Wikipedia)
destination - a place where people go จุดหมายปลายทาง (example: tourist destination)
dwindled - decreased
Economics
PROTEST IMPACT
B5bn pledged to help tourism
Affected hotels starting to close21/04/2010
Chatrudee Theparat and Chadamas Chinmaneevong
...The meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (Mice) industry has already suffered lost revenue of one billion baht from the current anti-government rallies, with 10,000 Mice visitors having called off their trips to Thailand.
Since the red-shirt protesters occupied the Ratchaprasong intersection on April 3, leading hotels near the area have suffered a huge impact. Two of them, the InterContinental Bangkok and Holiday Inn Bangkok, have decided to close completely for a while.
(Mice) industry - the
tourism industry of organising large events, MICE = Meetings + Incentives + Conventions + Exhibitions (See Wikipedia)
meeting - when a group of people come together to discuss issues and make decisions การประชุม
incentive - a reward to encourage people to act in certain ways สิ่งกระตุ้น
convention - a large formal meeting of people who do a particular job or have a similar interest, or a large meeting for a political party การประชุม
exhibition - a public show where art or other interesting things are put so that people can go and look at them นิทรรศการ, งานแสดง
revenue - income from taxes or business activities รายได้
current - of the present time ปัจจุบัน
occupy - being in a place, filling up and using the place อาศัยอยู่ใน
intersection - a place where roads, lines, etc., join or cross each other สี่แยก
meeting - when a group of people come together to discuss issues and make decisions การประชุม
incentive - a reward to encourage people to act in certain ways สิ่งกระตุ้น
convention - a large formal meeting of people who do a particular job or have a similar interest, or a large meeting for a political party การประชุม
exhibition - a public show where art or other interesting things are put so that people can go and look at them นิทรรศการ, งานแสดง
revenue - income from taxes or business activities รายได้
current - of the present time ปัจจุบัน
occupy - being in a place, filling up and using the place อาศัยอยู่ใน
intersection - a place where roads, lines, etc., join or cross each other สี่แยก
The Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok and the Four Seasons Hotel will not accept new guests and their restaurants have been already closed. Only the lobby lounge at the Hyatt Erawan is still open to serve existing guests. However, the Centara Grand at CentralWorld said the luxury hotel was still open and accepting guests as usual.
An employee at the Four Seasons said the hotel might accept new reservations in the next three days. However, management could change its mind if the situation is not safe for the guests.
luxury
- the best and most expensive of something ที่หรูหรา
employee - someone who is paid regularly to work for a person or an organisation ลูกจ้าง
reservations - feeling of doubt about whether something is good or right ข้อจำกัด
employee - someone who is paid regularly to work for a person or an organisation ลูกจ้าง
reservations - feeling of doubt about whether something is good or right ข้อจำกัด
Minor International Plc (MINT), the owner of the Four Seasons Bangkok, said in its statement that the demonstrations had caused it to lose 2.9 million baht per day from business around the Ratchaprasong intersection. Of the daily loss, 1.5 million came from the hotel and spa business, 800,000 baht from fast-food restaurants and 600,000 baht from retail trading and contract manufacturing.
Since mid-March, MINT's hotels have experienced total cancellations of approximately 5,000 room nights or 40 million baht worth of revenue. The Four Seasons Bangkok has been most affected by the cancellations, it said.
retail
- use shops and stores to sell small quantities of goods directly to
shoppers (consumers) ขายปลีก (opposite meaning: wholesale, selling
large quantities to stores which will then sell small amounts to
consumers)
trading - the buying and selling of goods
contract - a written (or oral) agreement that is legally binding สัญญา
cancellations - tourists changing their plans and telling the tour company or hotel they will not come, not travel to the country การยกเลิก
trading - the buying and selling of goods
contract - a written (or oral) agreement that is legally binding สัญญา
cancellations - tourists changing their plans and telling the tour company or hotel they will not come, not travel to the country การยกเลิก
(Source: PROTEST IMPACT, B5bn pledged to help tourism, Affected hotels starting to close, 21/04/2010, Chatrudee Theparat and Chadamas Chinmaneevong, link)
