"Tourism prospects remain fragile
Published: 8 Mar 2014 at 16.30Online news: Local News
BERLIN - UK visitor numbers to Thailand rose at the start of the year despite plunging numbers from some other markets in the face of anti-government protests in Bangkok.
However, "at some point there will be a cost" if protests continue, according to Martin Craigs, chief executive of the Bangkok-based Pacific-Asia Travel Association (Pata).
The "Teflon Thailand" image the country has earned for its "amazing" ability to bounce back from crises can't last forever, he added.
"Of course, traffic [to Thailand] has dropped off," he told the UK-based Travel Weekly in an interview at ITB Berlin, the world's biggest travel trade fair.
"What is instructive is how huge the drop is according to [government] travel advisories.
Visitors walk past a cardboard cutout featuring a traditional Thai dancer at the Thailand stand of the ITB International Travel Trade Fair in Berlin. (AFP Photo)
"Hong Kong dropped 60% from January 2013 to January 2014. But traffic from the UK was almost 10% up [in the same period]."
Mr Craigs said the reason was simple: "Hong Kong's travel advisory put Bangkok in the same category as Syria."
The UK Foreign Office has not advised against travel to Thailand, acknowledging the fact that the protests have been confined to limited areas of Bangkok.
However, Mr Craigs reported hotel occupancy in downtown Bangkok at just 20-30%.
He told Travel Weekly: "Of course, people book further in advance from Britain. The UK market is used to a little turmoil and the majority are not coming to spend two weeks in Bangkok.
"The UK and Hong Kong are the most extreme examples of what has happened."
Pata estimates total visitor numbers to Thailand were down 16% year-on-year in January.
"It's not a Ukrainian-style situation [in Bangkok]," said Mr Craigs. "Twenty-two people have been killed in three months in sporadic attacks by extremists.
"Nothing has been closed: 98% of Bang
Iceland 'best country for gender equality'
Iceland's government is led by a female prime minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir
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Iceland remains the country that has the greatest equality between men and women, according to an annual report by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
It is the second year in succession that Iceland has topped the foundation's Global Gender Gap Report.
Nordic nations dominate the top of the list of 134 countries, with Norway in second place and Finland third.
The report measures equity in the areas of politics, education, employment and health.
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Lowest gender gaps in 2010
1 Iceland - no change from 2009
2 Norway - Up from 3rd
3 Finland - Down from 2nd
4 Sweden - No change
5 New Zealand - No change
6 Republic of Ireland - Up from 8th
7 Denmark - No change
8 Lesotho - Up from 10th
9 Philippines - No change
10 Switzerland - Up from 13th
11 Spain - Up from 17th
12 South Africa - Down from 6th
13 Germany - Down from 12th
14 Belgium - Up from 33rd
15 UK - No change
Source: World Economic Forum
Sweden is in fourth place, with New Zealand fifth.
"Nordic countries continue to lead the way in eliminating gender inequality," said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum.
"Low gender gaps are directly correlated with high economic competitiveness. Women and girls must be treated equally if a country is to grow and prosper."
The UK came 15th in the latest rankings - no change from 2009.
France was one of the biggest fallers, down to 46th place from 18th in 2009. WEF that said was a result of a decline in the number of women holding ministerial positions in the French government.
Meanwhile the US has risen to 19th place from 31st in 2009, because of a higher number of women in President Obama'
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