Tourists continue to go to affected areas? Sick

[itzamirakul]

A news report last night stated that tourists were now beginning to come back to Thailand and other areas that were hit by the tsunami. I did not post it then because I was sure it was a mistake. But then, I heard it again this morning. The newcaster said, "I guess those people had paid a lot for their vacations and didn't want to miss them." ((BBC)

What kind of sick fcuk would go to a country with dead people strewn about the beaches and hanging from trees, no hotels or beach bungalos, destroyed infrastructure, no food, etc FOR A VACATION, FOR CHRISSAKE?

[pop goes the weasel]

1. maybe they decided to help? n/t

[Blue Gardener]

4. Not all of them

One guy they interviewed last night sounded like he didn't give a hoot about the tragedy, as long as he still got his vacation. Obviously a disgusting excuse for a human being.

[katinmn]

11. I hope he likes the smell of rotting flesh.

Looks like everyone has their faces covered.

[Moderate Dem]

2. It baffled me too, until

Someone pointed out that these areas rely heavily on tourism, and these people with their questionable judgement are actually helping the situation.

That's not saying that I understand it...

[Wabbajack]

3. I don't know

non-refundable reservations?

I'm sure they must be encoaraging it. After all they need to start making $$$$ to rejuvinate their devastated economy.

[Robbien]

5. The article yesterday talked about tourists swimming and lounging

on the beach while the hotel behind them was shown to have massive damage.

WTF?

[AspenRose]

6. The video footage I saw on the news showed a couple of people

kicking a soccer ball around on the beach.

[elehhhhna]

13. might have been a head. there are still bodies washing up.

[seaj11]

7. Being surrounded by destruction

would ruin my vacation.

[Joe the Revelator]

8. Hey if they want to go into these areas and spend their money...

let them. A lot of people in that area make their living off of tourist's dollars.

[senaca]

10. the thought of tourists taking vacation there now is obscene

First the tourist's dollars at the expense of people working to cater to these tourist when they're in the midst of a catastrophe both personal and national is obscene.

Second, the next wave of death's will most likely be disease epidemic.
It's phenomenal that W and co. can't wrap their minds around this and order no tourism to these areas at this time. Let the aid workers do their job to help the living. What are our preparations for dealing with diseases brought back by these tourists who are taking there vacations without the regard of the tragedy of others.

[Piperay]

15. Maybe so but

it seems very sick to go into the midst of where others are grieving and suffering and continue on with your good time. x(

[theycanbiteme]

9. Its called human nature...but then again...

westerners are so cuddled that they need to see "tragedy" up close and
personal.

[itzamirakul]

12. The newspaper accounts talk about mostly Russian and

Belgian tourists. Let's hope that no Americans were insensitive enough to go there for holiday fun while over 1000 Americans are still missing.

The newspaper (NY Daily News 12/31/04) has a small inset picture of the beach in Phuket, full of bodies and debris on Monday and a half page photo of a topless woman and a man lounging under an umbrella on the same beach yesterday. Makes me feel like vomiting.

<snip>
Phuket, Thailand -- While volunteers struggled to collect bodies washing up on the once-pristine beaches of this upscale resort isle, ghoulish tourists rolled out their towels yesterday, doffed their bikini tops and vacationed like nothing had happened.

<snip>
An indignant Russian who arrived at the Novotel Phuket Resort on the day after the tsunami loudy complained that there was no champagne reception.

Other guests have pestered the hotel's grieving staff with complaints that their rooms lack good views.

Belgian tourist Desmet Romaine, 42 "I didn't want to go back to Belgium where it is so cold. And in this hotel, it's like everything is totally normal."

Some Thais are amazed that the foreigners can be so insensitive to be sipping cocktails poolside while surrounded by death and grief.

[AgadorSparticus]

14. i heard this on olbermann. i am still trying to comprehend how

anyone can vacation in the midst of such death and suffering. interesting. atleast now we have company for that "ugly" title. it's no longer just the "ugly" americans.

[itzamirakul]

16. I bet that big aftershock today

scared the cowboy shit out of them.

[Oversea Visitor]

17. They helping in their own way

They donate blood, give out cash to help people, some even help in clean out of course they also take a break to enjoy the beaches.
Please they go there even knowing that the resort might no be so comfortable. Life goes on and they helping to make it so.

[foo_bar]

18. how does negating the tourist sector help the survivors?

I met plenty of obnoxious cowboys in the wake of "Ground Zero", but their money was appreciated in a neighborhood that lost half its jobs overnight. That's the dynamic of tourism: yokels come in, miniature WTC figurines go out.

[American Tragedy]

19. From a financial standpoint, it's probably quite reassuring to residents

who depend upon tourism. After an incident like this, there is legitimate concern that people will be scared away from visiting those areas.

[matcom]

20. ummm they are helping the economy?

:eyes:

saw a similar report. and the employees were quite happy. those that survived anyway.

one resort owner said she was VERY grateful for those who decided not to cancel because it helped her employees (both mentally and financially)

but whatever

[Princess Turandot]

21. There was already a report on the new about the fact that..

Phuket is one of the prime locations for pedophiles and a variety of unsavary carachters. I saw one resport with 2 50-ish German guys sitting at a restaurant table, drinking beer and acting as if little had happened.

A social service agency in the area has indicated that they fear that many young kids, now orphaned or separated from their parents, will become prey to the underage sex machine that the area produces.
The government does not do that much to intervene in these actvities because they want the money that it brings in.

One can only hope that some of these 'tourists' were victims of the tsunamis.

[LittleClarkie]

22. If they're not sick, they will be

there's rampant disease in those areas.

Oh, they'll find out. I think there's a reality disconnect afoot.

[Imajika]

23. You do realize...

...that the local people in these areas affected by the tsunami in Thailand WANT the tourists to keep coming don't you?

"What kind of sick fcuk would go to a country with dead people strewn about the beaches and hanging from trees, no hotels or beach bungalos, destroyed infrastructure, no food, etc FOR A VACATION, FOR CHRISSAKE?"

Geeze, the entire Phuket area does not have dead people hanging from trees. The majority of hotels are actually still open - either undamaged or suffering only minor damage. Most of the infrastructure is still fine. Stop relying on TV to assume you know what your talking about. TV always shows the worst and most dramatic. Phuket is a big place with lots of islands, resort areas and population centers - most were left largely intact or even untouched. Even the biggest tourist area of all, Patong Beach, is for the most part back up and running.

Without tourists, especially during this peak season, the Thai population throughout Phuket, Thailand will lose even more than the tsunami alone cost them.

I can only assume your posting out of emotion without actually considering what your actually saying. Thailand is a 3rd world country, there will be no government programs to bail workers out or even help the people make ends meet if the tourist industry fails this season or going forward. Your talking about average Thais, who make an average of 200 baht per day (the equivalent of about 5 USD), who will see there livlihoods destroyed if the resorts, restaurants, bars, and shops can't draw customers. Further tourism amounts to a minimum of 6% of the Thai economy, but it is actually likely far higher - with more realistic university estimates in the range of 10-15%+. So a significant hit on the tourist arrivals actually hurts not only Phuket, but hurts the entire country.

I applaud every tourist that keeps their holiday plans. Further, many of those tourists upon arrival are trying to find ways to help out as many are returning individuals, couples and families whom fell in love with Phuket, Thailand and make it their regular destination. I know large numbers of tourists are tipping extra well to those whom depend on that as a source of income, donating large amounts of money to relief funds, joining beach clean up efforts, offering translation services, etc, etc.

Sorry itzamirakul, your post is just way off base.

And by the way, I previously lived in Thailand, have occassion to return quite freqently, and have been to Phuket many times. I do understand what I am talking about.

Imajika

[senaca]

25. Tourism is important, but this is not the time for it.

If I am understanding your inference, aid from the countries of the world will not reach the people of Phuket, so it is up to tourists. I'm afraid I see it differently. It would seem that aid efforts during the first initial weeks of a disaster of this magnitude are more important than tourism. I would hope that there are major efforts being made helping the people of Phuket, with potable food and water, shelter and burial. If the resorts are open and these basic needs of the workers are not being met then the point of staying open would be moot. Disease will surely spread. I remember when postal workers were assured during the anthrax scare that it was safe to go back to work. Several people died as a result. In the aftermath of 911 workers and aid workers were told that the air was fine and we found later that that was not the case right after. Wouldn't a few weeks of caution be in order, or can you positively state that tourism will not obstruct relief efforts and illness will not be spread as a result. I have not been to Phuket and I have not been a part of tsunami hit area, but I have been in an area that was hit by flooding. Even at that I cannot even begin to imagine what people are going through at this time can you?

[seabeyond]

24. my intellectual psychologist brother in law from new york

i sat flabbergasted when i heard a couple days ago he was going on a vacation to thailand and he was still going. hubby talked about all the mess and stuff, i am disgusted with vacationing amongst tragedy. i dont get it, but he is going

[Still_Loves_John]

26. This sounds gross, but it really is helping things there

In the face of tragedy, the natural response is to deny yourself and spend all your time helping other people, but this is impossible and ultimately hurtful.

Think of after September 11. I don't know about you, but I felt guilty whenever I bought anything, since it was always money I could have given to the red cross, but if I really did give all my money to charity, and so did everybody else, the economy would have tanked and compounded the problem onehundredfold.

It's the same situation here. It sounds heartless for these people to do this, but that economy is so dependent on tourism that things would be so much worse if everyone stopped spending money there. Plus, most of the problems there are so massive that they really require specialized, trained people to fix, so while it may have eased these tourists' consciences to do some menial jobs helping aid workers, they're probably helping more by simply injecting their money into the local economy.