The Tourism Authority of Thailand is known for sugar-coating bad news so as not to damage the image of Thailand and keep tourists away.

But, when the Tourism Authority of Thailand recommends an area, Songkhla, that is hard hit with flooding and posts inaccurate news updates, it is bordering on gross negligence.

Songkhla Floods

I posted on December 28th and followed up on 31 December and 2 January about the Tourism Authority of Thailand all of a sudden promoting Songkhla since it made no sense to me. Songkhla was included in a list that the Tourism Authority of Thailand provided to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to post in their first ever survey of foreign and local tourists.

On 27 December, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, at their TATNews site, posted this about the storm down south:

A ridge of high pressure from the northeast has triggered seasonal storms in the Gulf of Thailand. A monsoon storm is currently causing strong winds and waves in some provinces such as Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Surat Thani. The large waves have affected some beachfront villages. Small craft warnings are in effect and may cause delays for some ferry and boat services. As these conditions are caused by a storm that is passing through the area, the Thai Meteorological Department expects these conditions to only last for a few days.

Only last for a few days – HAH!   On 29 December, The Nation wrote this – People flee as heavy seas storms pound south.  On January 2nd The Nation reported Flash floods hit 3 provinces in South.  No update on the TATNews site from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

On 3 January The Nation reported Disaster zones declared as flooding hits Phattalung.  No update and no warning from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The Nation also posted photos of the floods down south here – Southern flash floods in pictures.

On 5 January, The Nation reported that more storms were on the way to add to the already inundated areas down South – More downpours, flash floods to hit five southern provinces.

And, we FINALLY get an update from the Tourism Authority of Thailand at TATNews.org – PERIODIC FLOODING IN SOUTHERN THAILAND.

Heavy rains have caused periodic flooding in a few provinces in lower-southern Thailand, including Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla. Almost all are flash floods in mountainous areas, plus occasional localized flooding of low-laying land and areas near waterways and the coast. The flooding in these provinces is expected to subside within a few days as weather conditions improve.

How many kilos of sugar are poured on this “situation update” from the Tourism Authority of Thailand?

The provinces affected by these floods are approximately 400-600 kilometers south of Bangkok and 950-1,200 kilometers south of Chiang Mai. Other tourist destinations within Thailand have not been affected by the floods.

Deflect to other areas of Thailand and don’t give an honest report about the floods.  Tourism Authority of Thailand style.

Transportation links in Thailand are not affected by this periodic flooding, and are operating as per normal, including all airports, bus and train services in the South, and ferries to Koh Samui and Kho Pha-Ngan.

It is so bad, the Thai Government has called in the Thai Army, heroes during the 2011 flooding, to take charge – from The Nation – Army takes the plunge as Nakhon Si Thammarat battles floods. No mention of this from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Oh, and that bit about transportation from the Tourism Authority of Thailand -

Of 23 districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat, 14 have been declared disaster zones with some 124,000 people in 290 villages affected, 3,000 others evacuated, and about 120 roads and 30 bridges damaged.

And, what about tourists in the flooded areas?  Thanks Tourism Authority of Thailand for putting Songkhla in the top ten Thailand destinations.

More than 70 tourists, stuck at the Tha Ha waterfall in Lan Ska, have been rescued and are now residing at a resort free of charge courtesy the provincial authorities, Governor Wiroj Jirarangsan said.

If only the Tourism Authority of Thailand provided timely and accurate updates.

Here is how the Tourism Authority of Thailand covers its ass:

Tourists planning to travel to the lower-southern provinces affected by the flooding are advised to check the latest weather forecasts for their destination and confirm arrangements with the transportation providers with which they will be travelling.

Because the Tourism Authority of Thailand is too frigging lazy to do it job.

More rain and flooding are expected from 6 January – 10 January as reported  here – More rains predicted to lash South.

But the Tourism Authority says on 5 January, “The flooding in these provinces is expected to subside within a few days as weather conditions improve.”

I would hope that tourists who relied on information from the Tourism Authority of Thailand ask for total refunds for putting up with this misery.  Granted, it is difficult to predict the weather, but telling people on the official Tourism Authority of Thailand News site that the rains are periodic and the storms will pass in a couple days, is totally contrary to what the news media and the weather folks say.

I would also hope that if anyone was injured or died, that the victim and/or his family sue the Tourism Authority of Thailand for Gross Negligence.

The text was modified to remove a broken link to http://www.tatnews.org/situation_update/5788.asp.

The text was modified to remove a broken link to http://www.tatnews.org/situation_update/5836.asp.

Tags: flash floods gross negligence songkhla tourism authority of thailand