The Tourism Authority of Thailand took offense at one sentence in a Bangkok Post article, Wrong message being sent abroad, and posted a rebuttal in the letters to the editor entitled TAT is doing its best.

The rebuttal is another crock of bullshit from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Bangkok Floods

Here is the line from Chris Bailey, senior vice-president for sales and marketing of Centara Hotels & Resorts, that the Tourism Authority of Thailand didn’t like:

“The problem is ineffective communications by the government, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. They always said the flooding problem won’t affect tourism.”

The Tourism Authority of Thailand Executive Director of Advertising and PR Dept, SUGREE SITHIVANICH, only cited the first part of the first sentence – ”The problem is ineffective communications by the government, the Tourism Authority of Thailand…” and then listed all the “wonderful” things that the Tourism Authority of Thailand supposedly did.  Probably left off the reference to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (higher HQ) since Khun Chumpol stated that the floods would have “no impact on tourism”.

- Daily updates via email to over 5,000 recipients including all 24 TAT overseas offices, other government departments, travel trade media around the world, tour operators, foreign government offices and industry associations.

These must have been the same sugar-coated “situation updates” that were at the  Tourism Authority of Thailand tatnews site.  Had they accurately portrayed what was happening in Thailand they may have been believed.

- Utilising the TAT website to provide daily updates on the flood situation and useful information for tourists.

FAIL.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand tatnews website provided 1-2 day old “situation updates” that were inaccurate, incomplete, sugar-coated, and in many cases, false.  I just looked now at 0500 on 10 November and the latest update is from 9 November at 1530 and it says this about today’s Loy Krathong festivities – “Some Loy Krathong events in Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Suphanburi have been scaled down to reflect the traditional elements of the festival due to the flood. “  Totally false.  The event has been CANCELLED at the Chao Phraya in Bangkok and also in Ayutthaya.  Scaled down is extremely misleading.

- Updating tourists on the destinations and attractions that are not affected.

The Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said something to the effect – areas where tourists are likely to go are not affected.  This is hardly a detailed list. TAT was also telling folks that most of Ayutthaya was open for tourism while the Thai Government was evacuating the area.

- Coordinating with government agencies and online travel agencies to distribute E-News directly to worldwide travellers.

Again, I seriously doubt this since there has been no coordination at all between the Tourism Authority of Thailand and other Thai Government agencies throughout this crisis.  And, if this were the case, why are there still travel alerts from America, England, Hong Kong and others?

- Daily monitoring and handling enquiries of traveller postings on 200 travel community websites in 7 languages in order to provide accurate and timely information.

HAHAHAHAHA – accurate and timely – words that the Tourism Authority of Thailand does not know.  No updates at the Tourism Authority of Thailand Amazing Thailand Facebook page – just an occasional link to the tatnews.org site with old information.

- Utilising social media including Facebook, Twitter, Youtube to distribute video clips of traveller and trade interviews to create confidence among tourists.

I already mentioned that the Tourism Authority of Thailand has still not figured out what Social Media is and did not use Facebook to its fullest.  The Youtube video was an “interview” with Mr. Martin Craigs, the CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) begging people to come to Thailand.  This guy probably scared more people away.  Uploaded 3 November and has a whopping 178 views. And, you can see that the  Tourism Authority of Thailand doesn’t really monitor things when my “what a crock of shit” comment is still there. The other video, uploaded on 4 November, is misnamed “Flooding Situation Update” when it should be called “Flooding Shopping Update” as it shows two Thai males interviewing tourists at an upscale shopping center, Emporium.  Most likely, it was edited to only show favorable comments.  It has 1,170 views.  Not really using Social Media to its fullest.

- Working closely with public and private agencies such as Airports of Thailand Plc, Thai Airways International, State Railway of Thailand, Association of Thai Travel Agents, and Thai Hotels Association, to distribute official statements and interviews from their representatives.

None of these “official statements” were distributed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand at tatnews or on their Facebook page.

- Using our 24 overseas offices to reinforce that Thailand’s tourism sector has been largely unaffected by the flooding.

This obviously did not work.  I have not seen anything from the Tourism Authority of Thailand offices in LA or New York posting anything anywhere.

- Setting up the Tourist Assistant Centre (call 1672) to provide updated information.

The TAT Contact Center is already established and is set up for local tourists.  You can visit the web site and see that it is all in the Thai language.  Not very foreign tourist friendly.  This was not set up  by the Tourism Authority of Thailand specifically for the floods.

We are clarifying the situation of Thailand’s tourism sector at major international conferences such as the World Travel Mart in London. TAT executives travelled to their related markets in order to fully inform and update tour operators and stake holders about the facts and real situation regarding the flooding, to help potential travellers to Thailand make informed decisions.

Apparently not.  If you visit the Brit’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Thailand Travel page, you will see that it is still incorrect, outdated, and inaccurate, with information provided solely by the Thai Government – including the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

It was a nice but feeble attempt by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to try to save face but they continue to make ridiculous and outlandish claims when everyone knows they are completely worthless.

Tags: bangkok fco floods foreign and commonwealth office Ministry of Tourism and Sports mots TAT tatnews tourism authority of thailand