‘Business as usual’ in Bangkok

Bureaus and DMCs on regular programming despite some cancellations

Amid ongoing anti-government demonstrations in the capital, Thailand’s Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has emphasised that business events and activities in the city are proceeding as normal. According to the bureau, business venues in and around Bangkok have not been affected.

Destination Asia Thailand’s CEO James Reed says that all of the company’s tours and activities in the Bangkok have continued and only isolated areas of the city have been disrupted by the protests. These are mainly the government buildings along Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the Laksi District, where the Department of Special Investigation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are located, the Ministry of Finance in Phayathai District, and the Government House in Dusit District.

He says unlike the situation in 2010, where shopping malls and some tourist areas were taken over by demonstrators, the vast majority of Bangkok remains unaffected at this time, with international airports, public transport such as the SkyTrain and MTR, and city and provincial bus lines still running on regular schedules.

Some DMCs however, are opting to stay on the side of caution. Thailand-based AsiaWorld Enterprise, the official travel partner for the international Race of Champions, has confirmed that the event will not take place as planned on December 14 to 15.

Managing director Stephen Envoy says that their office is assisting business groups from the US, Australia and Asia that have also cancelled or postponed trips to the city.

More than 20 countries and regions, including Japan, China, Taiwan and South Korea, have issued travel advisory notices for Bangkok in the past week.

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