One hundred thousand tourists stranded in Thailand

The holidays for tens of thousands of foreign tourists have come to an end, but they still can’t leave for home.

Travel Insurance News - 01/12/2008

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A dramatic situation began to unfold last Tuesday when anti-government protesters took over Bangkok’s main international airport, shutting down all flights. On the following day, they also occupied and shut down the Thai capital’s main domestic airport, and effectively cut Bangkok off from all commercial air traffic.

More than 100,000 travellers are stranded in Thailand and the country’s reputation as a reliable and safe travel destination is in ruin. Officials are projecting that between now and the end of this year, the revenue loss to the country will top $4.2 billion, which is roughly equivalent to 1.5 percent of Thailand’s GDP.

Hundreds of hopeful passengers gathered at the cramped ticket office of Thai Airways in Bangkok on Saturday, desperate for a flight out.

Travellers spoke of being unable to leave the airport terminal for 23 hours and being sent to cockroach-infested hotels afterward. Most were frustrated at the uncertainty surrounding the situation and the conflicting information they were receiving.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and Thai police both reinforced their positions at Suvarnabhumi airport over the weekend, with no word on the resumption of flights. The airport authority indicated that Bangkok’s international airport would be closed at least through Monday.

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