PATA Pledges to Help with Thailand Tourism Recovery Plan

PATA will help shape a recovery plan for tourism in Thailand once the situation in Bangkok has stabilized. A PATA delegation led by new Chairman Hiran Cooray met on May 18 with Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Suraphon Svetasreni. PATA headquarters and the PATA Chapter in Thailand will “assist the TAT in the recovery phase,” according to a statement. Also present at the meeting, held in Bangkok, was immediate-past PATA Chairman Phornsiri Manoharn. Manoharn is also a former governor of the TAT.

The headquarters of the Pacific Asia Travel Association in Bangkok is located inside the “danger zone” and remained closed on May 19 on the advice of the security forces and the building’s management team.

Although PATA has been forced to cease operations at its Bangkok headquarters, the association’s head office staff continue to work from home and may be contacted via their PATA email addresses. This is despite the fact that the Royal Thai Government has declared May 19, 20 and 21 as additional public holidays in Bangkok.

PATA staged a one-day staff training program at a major city center hotel well away from the area occupied by the protesters. A number of PATA staff that live inside the “danger zone” have been relocated on a temporary basis to safer accommodation. Several foreign embassies have closed and are now operating from temporary locations.

The city’s subway and skytrain systems continue to be affected and hotels located within the protest zone have closed. Some PATA member offices have also been forced to shut down.