Yesterday I wrote about the absurdity of forcing a political agenda by closing off the Bangkok International Airport as a form of public demonstration (view article).  I predicted a terrible backlash will affect Thailand tourism in the short-term (beginning with International Travel Safety Advisories) and harm Thailand’s reputation in the longer-term.  While writing the article I was simultaneously receiving emails asking the same general question… Is it safe to travel to Thailand?

Three days ago I would have stood on a soapbox and let anyone listening know what a safe place Thailand is for visitors.  I have traveled the world and there are few, if any, places where I have felt more safe from any act of violence.  I feel safer in downtown Bangkok than I do in some areas of my hometown in Canada.  Now I watch the news and I wonder… Is it safe to travel to Thailand?

The answer is… probably… if you avoid the mobs… but why take the risk, especially while the media is showering us with images of out-of-control Thai people?  It is a sad sad day when I am of a mindset to dispense this kind of advice.

In the past 24 hours, we in the tourism industry are very quickly and unmercifully feeling the after effects of PAD’s actions that forced closure of Bangkok International Airport. My Chiang Mai-based travel company is reeling as we are now dealing with one cancellation after the other.  In the past 24 hours we have had 60% of our December group tours cancel.  People are worried about their safety and until the public ranting subsides and the dust settles I think decisions to avoid Thailand are justifiable.

It is not only foreigners who I am hearing from.  For 2 days now it is impossible to hold a discussion where the topic of PAD’s (People’s Alliance for Democracy) actions is not mentioned.  I have not yet encountered a single Thai person who will say they support the PAD demonstration.  Many, many Thais are saying, “I used to support PAD but not anymore”.  I am even hearing stories about people going home to change out of yellow shirts as a display of distaste for PAD (yellow is the color of PAD support) or simply out of fear that their respect for the King will be taken as support for PAD (yellow is also the King’s color and yellow shirts are often worn out of respect, especially on Mondays).

This is the reaction of the average Thai, people are overwhelmingly against the actions of PAD and I predict that the result will be political suicide.  The blunder of this group of people in mobbing the Bangkok International Airport could not have been better orchestrated if the ruling People’s Power Party had written the script.

In the global arena it is obvious by the widespread International reports and travel advisories that there is consensus – the actions are deplorable.  Even Thailand’s SE Asian neighbors are accusing Thailand of demonstrating a complete lack of political maturity.  The media is picking up the most embarrassing moments that I have witnessed in my 5 years living in this country… and this has included a quiet military coupe, a tsunami, and a troubled southern Thailand.  Governments are warning their citizens to avoid travel to Thailand and… well this whole thing is a complete dog’s breakfast.

Yet, I remain confident that the violence will cease and the event will blow over; I need to hope that the level of embarrassment and the political repercussion will prevent this from occurring again; and I am most confident that Thailand will very soon be again considered a safe place to travel and will regain its place as a favored travel destination.

I will close this article with a dose of reality… this is a quote excerpted from an email I received today from a Singapore client that was looking forward to a December dream vacation for her family.  This is only a representation of many thousands more… It is a very sad time indeed …

“… the sad news is we will postpone our trip to Chiangmai this season due to the closure of Bangkok airport.

As we will be traveling to Chiangmai via Bangkok transit, the current situation appeared rather unfavorable to travel.

Airport in Bangkok is closed and protestors are everywhere.

It is really worrying to know that the protestor had taken control of Bangkok control tower.

The lastest news we heard from “Channel News Asia” was that a protestor in Chiang Mai was gunshot.

It really sounded rather unsafe to travel to Thailand during this period.

Singapore authorities discourage Singaporean to travel to Bangkok, and all Singapore flights to Bangkok have been cancelled. Similarly, I will proceed to cancel our flights to Bangkok and Chiangmai and re-plan another destination for our family for this December Holiday.”