Having saved up for the holiday of a lifetime and aimed to stay in Thailand as long as financially possible, let’s say you’re budgeting about £2,000 all-in, and sensibly keep checking the Internet and Teletext for bargain flights. Making the right savings on your airfare can mean the difference between a 2-week and a 4-week holiday, in my case it freed up an extra month’s expatriate living costs.

During the UK summer (Thai rainy season and therefore not tourist high-season), flight-only, return-ticket deals to Thailand, can still be bought for as low as £285 + airport taxes. These cheaper flights do not include accommodation or transfers, and normally require at least one change of aircraft.

Chiang Mai, THAILAND, 1 December 2008 – Several countries are making efforts to evacuate their nationals stranded in Thailand after anti-government protesters closed down the Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports in Bangkok.

Reports from various sources state that all trains south to Malaysia and the Kuala Lumpur International aviation hub, are fully booked through to 8th December. Alternatives such as the Laos capital, Vientiane, are an arduous journey from Bangkok with no guarantee of flights available from the far smaller airport there. Flights from the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai to Singapore (another regional aviation hub) are also reported as fully booked through to the 8th December.

Up to Sunday, there were some 100,000 Thai and foreign passengers stranded in Thailand, and abroad, due to the closure of the two main airports, Suvarnabhumi last Tuesday and Don Mueang airport last Wednesday. One report has claimed Suvarnabhumi will reopen tonight at 6pm, but that is seen as impossible by most observers.

COMMENTARY – Shot in the Foot

Xenophobia & Nationalism Retard Tourism Growth in Northern Thailand

CHIANG MAI, Thailand – 28 January 2003 - Recent national and regional press coverage has printed conflicting reports concerning the tourist arrivals dilemma in Northern Thailand. The Aviation Department has released detailed statistics showing exponential growth in the number of airlines and flights bringing people into the kingdom, but admits that Chiangmai is having difficulties increasing its passenger load due to slow growth of inbound flights.

In this respect, the Prime Minister’s aim to promote his home city as a regional hub may be more suitable than the inaccurate mass interpretation that it is to become a global hub. Private tourism industry leaders have complained that returnees are dropping, as they don’t want to see the same, degraded, sights each trip.

Published in Chiangmai City Life Magazine – August 2002

Rebuilding Lan Na – Part 1
CHIANG MAI, Thailand – 27 June 2002

For many years, Thai governments have developed and promoted inbound tourism, to level the country’s balance of payments, and to sustainably generate employment. Notwithstanding seasonal pressures, this has generally been successful, and the announcement that over 10 million arrivals were recorded in 2001, boosted euphoria and confidence. However, for the peoples of the North, there is uncertainty coming from that success.

During August 2001, the Thai Interior Minister initiated a clamp down to enforce old laws, and make night-entertainment places close variously between midnight and 2:00am. This campaign has been largely successful, but has affected northern Thai citizens, and foreign investors, whose income opportunities are during the hours of darkness.

Initial reactions to the Social Order Policy came from entertainment venue owners and their staff. Reduced opening times meant reduced earning opportunities, and there were some cases of severely curtailed incomes. Yet by no means did only suffering come from this…