BANGKOK FLOODING Heinecke Cries Foul

Bangkok's hospitality sector has started to feel like those stranded submariners in the movie Das Boat.

All of those drama ridden nail biting rides by journalists in the back of pick-up trucks talking about catastrophic doom and the imminent demise of the city.

For many residents the reality is very tragic and the potential loss of homes and jobs is very real.

But more biting is the damage being done by local and international media - depicting a city in ruin and a country virtually submerged in decay.

Fly in to Bangkok, visit the international hotels, Suvarnabhumi airport or shopping district and the reality is very different from the perception abroad.

An article on CNN Go, with Minor's Bill Heinecke commenting "The media gives the impression all of Thailand is under water but all of our hotels have yet to experience any floods."

He added ""The unsettling thing is we've had huge numbers of cancellations, meetings and conferences across the board in the last 30 days, which is sad because none of Thailand's tourist destinations, with the exception of Bangkok, "So it's been devastating."

Despite news that the floods are abating, the cancellations and short term impact by the negative perceptions and sensational headlines have only added to the misery.

While Phuket, Samui and other markets have been largely unaffected the truth be told is that all of the resort markets remain an integral part of BRAND THAILAND, and all remains linked in the big picture.

Getting the news out that Bangkok is alive and on the road to recovery remains of vital interest not only to those in the far away nations capital but on this island as well.

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Highly confused, shud i be traveling to koh samui or not, pl help, everything is booked. Now i have heard that it is not wise to travel, flood threat, civic unrest and beached with 0 tourists are the reasons people are advising not to travel to koh samui Bill Barnett responds:
Samui is fine, Thailand is fine, no reason not to travel, Samui had no impact from flooding and is experiencing good occupancy.

Ritur, 14 Nov 2011 | 3:53 pm

I live in central Bangkok and other than pre-emptive flood preparations, the last few weeks have proceeded normally in my area of town which includes all the shopping malls likely to be visited by tourists. Although I understand why the media focuses on stricken areas of the city not clarifying that the centre has been spared does such a disservice to the reputation of the country and only adds to the woes of the Thai people who are loosing business. Thailand is ready and able to welcome its visitors!

Elsie, 12 Nov 2011 | 9:45 pm

This is not a good time for tourists like me so I cancelled my flight even to Phuket. I heard there are food crisis in the supermarket even in Phuket. I don't want to spoil my holiday searching for food all day long, also water borne diseases seem to be spread out all of Bangkok. Not recommended time for holiday spending travellers. Bill Barnett responds:
No problems in Phuket, supermarkets stocked up and no health problems, good to get the facts from the ground which is where we are...

Shib, 12 Nov 2011 | 9:11 pm

Many folks outside Thailand don't realize that many people who live in flood-hit parts of Bangkok, if they have the means, are waiting until their homes dry out -- and they're waiting in Phuket. Or Samui. Or any of thousands of places that haven't seen a bit of flooding.
Bangkok itself is frequently painted as being overwhelmed by flooding, and the parts that have been hit are in dire straits. But many places tourists go in Bangkok haven't been touched. Most importantly, as Heineke says, BKK International Airport is just fine, the roads around the Airport are high and dry, and people can come and go without any problems.
I contrast that with, oh, 20 years ago, when heavy rains in Bangkok would completely flood the roads leading into Don Mueang. Before they built the toll road, getting into the airport back then was a nightmare - and it didn't take a 50-year flood to make it that way. Much has changed in 20 years!

Woody Leonhard, 12 Nov 2011 | 12:25 pm