Bangkok's International Airport Officially Reopens | Voice of America - English
Thailand's main international and domestic airports in Bangkok have officially reopened - the first step in the recovery of the country's tourism industry. Political protests had closed the runways for eight days, stranding hundreds of thousands of people.
Thai dancers, puppet theaterand traditional music greeted passengers Friday as Bangkok'sinternational airport formally reopened. The ceremonies marked afirst step toward recovery for the tourism industry after eight days ofprotests by the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy closedBangkok's airports. The siege ended Wednesday after a courtbanned Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his party from politicsbecause of election law violations. The protests stranded more than 300,000 travelers. Tourismaccounts for about six percent of the country's economy, and in 2007 14million people visited. Officials warn that could be cut by half nextyear, in part because of the protests. SantichaiEuachongprasit, a marketing executive for the Tourism Authority ofThailand, says a new advertising campaign will start soon. "Apublic relations [campaign], a strong message that we can take to theworld that our situation is coming back to real normal and this isgoing to make the public have confidence in coming back to Thailand,"said Santichai. Somsong Sachaphimukh, is the general manager ofthe travel agent, S.S. Group. She is confident that European travelerswill be among the first to return to Thailand. "I can say that80 percent will come back to Thailand because of the hospitality theyhave received from the Thai [people]. Thai Airways and the TAT theyjoined hands to really help the tourists," she said. Althoughairport officials say the facilities are ready to go, not all airlineshave rescheduled flights. On Friday, the international facility handledabout two-thirds its normal daily load of 700 flights. Australian traveler Gary Radcliff was ready for his flight. "I'mvery pleased about it. I'll be glad to get home. I was going outThursday a week ago. Under the current circumstances I've got nocomplaints," he said. But, he adds, he will wait until Thailand's political situation calms down before returning. Thailandis politically deeply split. Coalition parties tied to former PrimeMinister Thaksin Shinawatra are strongly backed by rural and workingclass voters. But the PAD and other groups, made up largely ofthe educated middle class, accuse Mr. Thaksin of being corrupt andauthoritarian. The PAD vows to resume its protests if the next primeminister is too closely linked to Mr. Thaksin.