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9 Jan, 2005: Thailand post-tsunami update |
All photographs in our gallery are freely available. No prior permission to use is necessary.
Click: donating 10% of all room revenue
Click: CBS news distortion
Click: Stockholm-Phuket
Click: Phuket is a far too important destination too close down
Click: Giving new hope and confidence
Click: Business as usual for the MICE industry
Click: Absolutely no truth to rumours of heavy devastation
Click: None of the and reefs showed any sign of damage
Click: I love this country... I did not cancel
Click: For the Thais, this luxury [of returning home] does not exist
Hajo von Keller, Managing Director, Mangosteen Resort
All travellers who are coming back to Phuket quickly are helping the local Thai community financially and morally! (Mangosteen is donating 10% of all room revenue until 31.03.2005 to the tsunami victims in Khao Lak. For more details visit http://www.mangosteen-phuket.com or email Hajo directly at hajo@mangosteen-phuket.com)
From Jeroen Deknatel, Managing Director, Fantasea Divers - Ocean Rover Cruises
CBS News distortion
To those of you who saw Ocean Rover in the CBS News report about coral damage: do not believe what they are telling you! We are furious at CBS.
One of their producers contacted us and asked if we could help them get to the Similan Islands to report on coral damage. They assured us the piece would be "fair & balanced".
We did everything we could to assist the CBS news team and they spend half a day filming and interviewing people on board Ocean Rover. One of our clients kindly gave them his underwater video footage for use during the broadcast. CBS promised our client that his footage would be used in a responsible manner.
Our Cruise Director Hans Tibboel described one specific divesite in Surin Island with the words: "it looked like a giant sandblaster was used". Again, Hans was describing only one divesite and made positive remarks about the actual lack of damage at other places. Of course, the CBS editor used the "sandblast" soundbite and hardly anything else. Footage was also arranged in a 'before & after' method that is not consistent with the real situation. All the beautiful 'before' footage shown by CBS was actually filmed AFTER the tsunami.
Somehow the media just cannot help themselves and turn everything into a gloom & doom story. CBS should be ashamed of what they did here. We have talked to their producer since but of course she blames the New York editor. This is the way the media works. The way the news piece came out is 100% the opposite of what was promised to us. We urge fellow dive operators to be very careful in dealing with the media. These people do not let scruples get in the way of a juicy story. Shameful!
The CBS piece is damaging to our reputation and business. It paints the wrong picture about the true level of coral damage in the Similans AND it makes our own website reports look like lies. All we can say is when you dive with us, you trust us with your lives. When you read our website, you can trust us to be truthful.http://www.ocean-rover.com/latest-news/tsunamiupdates.htm
Mr Kent Rausner, Area Manager. My Travel (Scandinavian Tour Operator)
It is correct that we will resume [from February 1st] with 1 charter going Stockholm-Phuket and 1 going Oslo-Copenhagen-Phuket and finally 1 Helsinki-Phuket. This gives me totally 960 seat in-coming per week. Trust me it will not be enough and I predict further flights will be added.
Christian Larsson, TUI NORDIC (Scandinavian Tour Operator)
There are not any specific information that I can can give you as of yet. What i do know is that Phuket is a far too important destination too close down and that the general plan is to resume our flights as early as the beginning of February. I know that the destination manager will be back here to prepare for the remainder of the season around 25th of January. We are also working hard to educate the swedish people about the fact that the most popular resorts in Phuket for Swedes and Scandinavians in general were largely untouched by the tsunami, and that the press ought to be more responsible when they report about Phuket, when in fact they are reporting from the devastated area of Khao Lak.
The rest of the season will in large part be determined by the way media is reporting from now on. I have heard encouraging reports from family and friends in Sweden that people are starting to understand that the best way to help local people to rebound is to come here and not change their holiday plans because of some misleading, sometimes confusing media coverage.
Peter de Jong, President Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)
PATA believes that to support the speedy recovery of destinations, local employment and local self-sufficiency, consumers must be encouraged to proceed with their travel plans to the region. PATA President and CEO, Mr Peter de Jong, said: "The human loss of this tragedy is unprecedented. However, the negative impact will only be exacerbated if tourists cancel or postpone their visits. Now more than ever, Indian Ocean countries want you to come visit. Not only will tourism maintain jobs and boost local economies, it will also be a sign of support and solidarity, giving new hope and confidence to those who have begun to rebuild their lives and livelihoods."
Mr de Jong added: "If you have not yet planned a visit, please consider booking a trip. If you wish to make a difference, visit the many safe and in tact parts of the affected destinations. The money you spend and, importantly, the hearts you touch, will make a difference."
Manoon Kalapat, Executive Director, Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA)
Dear Friends and Supporters of Thailand, The Thai Tourism community was saddened by the tragic tsunami incident on Sunday, 26 December 2004 , which took thousand of lives.The world community is also sharing the pain that our unfortunate world citizens are going through. The Thai Government had declared the national agenda to revive and rebuild the damaged areas.
However, less than 1 percent of TICA members in Phuket, Phang- Nga and Krabi suffered major loss, and less than 2 percent suffered minor damage; TICA is pleased to inform all friends of Thailand that it is business as usual for the MICE industry. On behalf of TICA members, I would like to thank you for all your past support.
Alistair Beveridge, President, The Dive Operators Club of Thailand (DOCT)
There is absolutely no truth to rumours of heavy devastation, and loss of marine life. We encourage you to continue diving and not cancel your ... plans. In this way you can support the local economy so that the people, (especially Thai locals), in southern Thailand will not face another tragedy, this time economic, in 2005 and beyond.
Klaus Thumm, H2O Sportz Phuket (Dive operator)
We been diving already since 28th December on Koh Doc Mai, Koh Khai Nok, Shark Point and the Sea King Wreck. None of the and reefs showed any sign of damage to the corals from the tide wave.
Eulalia Wehlen, Tourist to Koh Lanta
I am not Thai but I love this country and want to contribute a little. I did not cancel my reservation and spent 5 days in Koh Lanta at Layana Resort & Spa from 29.12.2004 till 02.01.2005. In the attachment you can see some of my photos after the tidal waves.
On 26th February I will come again to Lanta to commemorate my 51st birthday
Andre Gysin, Krabi Seaview Resort
Many people overseas have been asking what they can do to help those here in Thailand affected by the tsunami disaster. Obviously sending money to aid organizations is an excellent way to start, but we also need to be looking at what we can do on long-term.
For those foreigners living here, we have the option of returning home, or re-locating elsewhere to find work. For the Thai locals, this luxury does not exist. Contrary to what is sometimes being portrayed, Ao Nang/Krabi itself is safe and was always ready to accept tourists. Ao Nang/Krabi is not devastated at all and today you would hardly see any damage! What the locals need to rebuild their community is tourism.
They are now more than ever dependant upon tourists to come to Ao Nang and stay in the resorts, hotels and guesthouses, eat at the restaurants, go shopping, go on day trips, and go diving. Without this, the local Thai population will suffer even further. What an excellent opportunity and reason to plan your next vacation in our beautiful region.
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