Planning a holiday? Try a Tsunami affected area

Kai Lover Joined: 23 May 2004 Posts: 585

Well its almost 6 months now since the Tsunami devastated SE Asia, and life is hard for the survivors.

I live in Bangkok and recently went on a break to Phuket and was impressed by how quickly the rebuilding has gone on, and perhaps more importantly for the beach goer, the seas and the beaches are cleaner than they have ever been, bars and shops are open again as are the dive sites (they haven't been affected at all apparently) there's just one thing missing - tourists.

To give you an idea, my friends went for a beer run to the local corner shop to stock up the minibar, and was greeted by an ever so polite shop keeper who informed them that they were the first customers for 4 days!

Normal tourist arrival numbers for February last year was in excess 100,000 for the month, this year that was down to 10000 and 4000 of those were aid workers!

Money from international relief efforts is taking its time to work its way down to where its most needed (i.e. in people's pockets), if you still care for the victims of the tsunami the very best way you can help them today is to go on holiday, because tourism is the only source of income for the vast majority of locals

Its very cheap at the moment too, half price room rates are common, there really is no better time to visit any of these resorts.

Thanks for your time. Smile

[FYI I am not involved in the tourism industry in anyway, I'm English and work out here]

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 8:53 am

Just not Bali. At least, don't go there via australia, there's been a big uproar, someone put in jail for twenty years for supposedly smugling drugs.

For crying out lound, it's in a body bag! How do you get a body bag full of cocain through customs?

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 8:55 am

quiksilva wrote:

I live in Bangkok and recently went on a break to Phuket

Where else are you gonna go when you need a break Smile

Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 0

Everyone should do to one of the Thai islands at some point - I was on Ko Lanta about 3 years ago - really nice place.

Glad the diving is unaffected - it's some of the best in the world.

TD

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 9:14 am

Ko Pi Pi is my destination..

netdroid - I think Bali's just a dangerous place to be in at the moment with all the anger from Corby's trial. Frankly I wouldn't go there anyway, would rather visit Thailand, Laos, Vietnam etc..

Kai Lover Joined: 23 May 2004 Posts: 585

Besides Bali was unaffected by the Tsunami, and your holiday beer money is in more need elsewhere. Very Happy