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Traditionally
the period around Christmas and New Year is a time of celebration and
feast, of giving, receiving and of forgiveness, of that much needed
break after a stressful year, a time to catch up with friends and
family, a time to escape to paradise on holiday. Christmas 2004 though,
will be remembered by many around the world not with joy, but with the
horrifying and graphic images from the largest natural human disaster in
the world's history.
As
thousands of people woke up to their daily routine on Boxing Day, 26
December 2004, little did they know of the living nightmare that was
about to take so many lives and affect so many millions of people around
the world.
Many
of the areas worst affected were blessed with such outstanding natural
beauty, they were among some of the most popular tourist destinations in
the world. Destinations that rely on the income generated from tourist
arrivals for their own survival.
This
survival, is today under threat, but not from the tremendous power of
the sea, but by tourists canceling trips or changing their original
destination to an area of the globe which was not even remotely affected
by the Tsunami devastation.
The
travel industry in Asia is not a stranger to problems, it managed to successfully
overcome the challenges faced by terrorist threats, the Iraq war, and
SARS. The aftermath of the Tsunami disaster could potentially be much
worse, and this, perhaps the greatest threat the industry has faced yet,
must be handled swiftly.
The
Christmas period has always been a time for compassion and giving, and
the world community has come together like never before, donating
billions of Dollars to the areas affected to help with relief and
reconstruction.
Governments
around the world though, had another gift to give, one potentially more
devastating than the Tsunami itself - travel advisories. Travel
Advisories which are currently issued by individual governments, rather
than through a UN body such as the World Tourism Organization, often
slam whole areas of a country, regardless of how badly they were
affected.
For
example many countries are now advising against travel to the Western
Coast of Thailand even though many areas are perfectly fine. Patong and
other beaches in Phuket have now been cleaned up and while there are
some bars, restaurants and hotels still closed, many are open and things
are gradually returning to normal. The Gulf of Siam was not at all
affected, so resort destinations such as Pattaya, Hua Hin and Koh Samui
are operating exactly as they did prior to the Tsunamis.
We
have received hundreds of emails from hotels within the worst affected
areas, reporting that their property is safe, unaffected and operating
as normal. As if to ram home the point, many even include pictures of
their guests enjoying the beach, and the hotels facilities.
Regardless
of what the Travel Advisories state, it needs to be remembered such a
disaster has never hit Thailand or even other areas in the Indian Ocean
before, and could potentially happen anywhere in the world, at anytime.
While
all the countries affected do need the relief and donations being
offered, they also greatly need the support that tourists can offer simply
by visiting the country. Thai Airways is about to launch a
special promotion with packages to Phuket at dramatically reduced
prices, hotels should offer guests a money back incentive if their
clients holiday or the hotel does not meet their expectations. TAT
should try and invite some celebrities and the media to Phuket and other
areas that are now operating as normal as can be.
So
is it safe to travel to Asia? Yes, at least as safe as anywhere else, and now is not the time to cancel, or
change plans, when like never before your tourist dollar and your
presence means the survival of many.
See
other recent news regarding:
Travel Advisories, Tsunami
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