TOURISM MANAGEMENT IN A CRITICAL PERIOD

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TOURISM MANAGEMENT IN A CRITICAL PERIOD
JATA World Tourism Congress 2009 18th September
2009

• Mr Suraphon Svetasreni
• Deputy Governor for Policy and Planning
• Tourism Authority of Thailand

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TATS ROLE IN RISK MANAGEMENT
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TATs approach to risk management is systematic
and structured.
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TOURISM INTELLIGENCE UNIT AND CRISIS Tourism
Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Founded in 2007 - Integration information /
news - Monitoring news/tourism situation -
Formulate strategies/planning Current status -
Designed prototype - Set up data base phase1
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TIC Early Detection and Early Warning Mechanism

• Managing tourism risks begins long before a
  crisis surfaces.
• Monitoring market situations under normal
  operating conditions
• Monitoring undercurrents when the storm is
  brewing
• During the crisis
• Post-Crisis Confidence Building and Tourism
  Recovery Efforts

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TAT RISK MANAGEMENT IN ACTION
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Is Influenza A (H1N1) truly the reason for the
sharp decline in International Visitor Arrivals
to Thailand? Fact or myth?
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TAT marketing intelligence indicates a
combination of factors come into play.

• Global economic slowdown
• Political instability leading up to airport
  closure and the Songkran protest
• H1N1

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Key Factors Influencing the Decision to Travel

• Influenza A (H1N1) was a key factor in 6 out of
  21 key source markets (28)
• Political unrest and political instability was a
  key factor in 17 out of the 21 markets (81)

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POST-CRISIS CONFIDENCE-BUILDING
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Measures to Ensure Airport Security Visitor
Safety

• The strict enforcement of existing laws
• The enactment of new legislation

Airport Security Bill Approved The Thai cabinet
endorsed in principle the draft law to help
maintain security at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The
bill will grant authority to Airports of Thailand
(AOT) officials to disperse mobs and arrest
intruders, and they can impose more fines on
wrongdoers.
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THAILANDS TSUNAMI EARLY WARNING SYSTEM TSUNAMI
EVACUATION DRILLS
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Thailands Tsunami Early Warning System Tsunami
Evacuation Drills

• Thailands National Disaster Warning Centre in
  operation since May 31, 2005
• Thailands Tsunami Evacuation Plan in place since
  2006
• Tsunami evacuation drills held at least once a
  year, every year.
• August 21, 2009 A full-scale tsunami evacuation
  drill was conducted simultaneously in Phuket,
  Phang-nga, Ranong, Krabi, Trang and Satun

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Thailands Tsunami Early Warning System Tsunami
Evacuation Drills

• The Objectives
• Assess the readiness of all agencies working in
  collaboration to implement existing evacuation
  plans in the event of a tsunami incident
  occurring
• Test the operability and efficiency of the
  evacuation plan in place
• Generate preparedness and enhance confidence
  among officials concerned and the general public
  and familiarize all parties with the systematic
  evacuation procedure
• Ensure the safety of lives and property of the
  public and tourists in high risk areas
• In Phuket, drills were conducted in a total of 19
  sites, with a comprehensive test being conducted
  at Patong Beach.

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Tsunami Evacuation Drills Routes, Patong Beach
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THAILANDS NATIONAL DISASTER EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
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Diagram of National Disaster Early Warning
System in Thailand
TV Broadcasting (10 stations)
Thai Meteorological Department

• Radio Broadcasting
• AM 211 Stations
• - FM 312 Stations

Mineral Resource Department
THAILAND NATIONAL DISASTER WARNING CENTRE
Ministry of Interior (Dep.ofDisaster
prevention And Mitigaation)

• Amateur Radio System
• - Local Radio Station (1000 Stations)
• - Cable Radio Stations

National Early Warning committee
Warning Studio
Royal Irrigation Department
Warning Data from Other National Agencies
Mobile Telephone System SMS (20 Million sets)
Data From Other International Agencies such as
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), Japan
Meteorological Agency
Warning Tower Located in disaster risk areas
Information from Threatened Populations
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Diagram of Early Warning System at National
Disaster Warning Center, Thailand

• Early Warning Messages
• 42 televised systems of mass media communication
• 64 radio network stations of Public Relation Dept
• 216 stations of Thailand Telecommunications Dept

General Public? People? Radio Amateur
Society of Thailand

• Government Agencies
• Meteorological Dept
• National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
  Dept
• Pollution Control Dept
• Dept of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
• Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
• Royal Irrigation Dept
• Naval Hydrographic Dept
• Dept of Mineral Resources

• Government Agencies
• Prime Minister
• Cabinet
• Military, Police
• Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Dept
• Governors
• Warning Towers via fire station control of Patong
  Municipality connected by Leased Line

• Rapid Warning Message
• Voice recorder via trunk mobile and repeater
  system
• Satellite linked Warning Tower System Control

• Earthquake Detection / Warning Network
• Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, Hawaii
• Japan Meteorological Agency, Hokkaido
• Pacific Disaster Center, Hawaii

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PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO AVOID CONTRACTING
INFLUENZA A (H1N1)
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Health Tips for Travellers from Thailands
Ministry of Public Health and the US Centers of
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Do not travel while you are sick, except to get
  local medical care.
• Stay home when you are sick to help prevent
  others from catching your illness.
• Avoid being in crowded and poorly ventilated
  places. Or wear surgical masks.  
• Avoid close contact with individuals/patients
  with influenza-like symptoms.When you are sick,
  keep your distance from others to protect them
  from getting sick too.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Or use
  waterless alcohol-based hand gels.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Avoid sharing glasses, straws, spoons, napkins,
  handkerchiefs, and towels
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you
  cough or sneeze and put your used tissue in a
  wastebasket. Don't have a tissue? Cough or
  sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.  
• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of
  sleep, be physically active, manage your stress,
  drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
• It is important to follow the advice of local
  health and government authorities.
• SourcesThailands Ministry of Public Health and
  the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
  (CDC)

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Influenza A (H1n1) Prevention Measures Undertaken
By THAI

• Regular deep-clean fumigation with EcoTru 1453 on
  board flights flown to and from high-risk
  countries
• 36 common touch points are disinfected
  especially items in the passenger seat pocket,
  aircraft interior, passenger seat, galley, and
  lavatory on board THAI aircraft. This is in
  addition to regular on-ground cleaning upon
  flight arrival.  
• THAI has installed on all its aircraft TRUE HEPA
  air filters guaranteed by Airbus and Boeing to
  keep air as pure as in hospital surgical units.
  Air filters are changed more often than the
  recommended standard. 
• For ground services, THAI's staff at the check-in
  counter and boarding gate are also required to
  observe passengers for possible influenza
  symptoms. If there are doubts as to the
  passengers condition, staff are allowed to
  refuse or deny boarding. 
• Surgical masks are available for passengers to
  wear to prevent spread of infection
• THAIs cabin crew observe for passengers with
  flu-like symptoms and separate contagious
  passengers from others. International infectious
  diseases unit contacted prior to flight landing.
• Source Thai Airways International Corporate
  Communications

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Influenza A (H1n1) Preventive Measures
Undertaken To Prevent The Spread Of Infection

• Retailers, cinemas and mass transit operators
  have stepped up preventive hygiene measures to
  assure consumers.
• Public areas such as store entrances, elevators
  and lift buttons, escalators (handrails), and
  restrooms, are sprayed with germ-killing alcohol.
  
• Shopping carts are also being cleaned as
  frequently as possible.
• Bangkok Sky Train carriages serving the Bangkok
  Mass Transit System (BTS) are being sprayed every
  three hours before they leave from the Main
  Terminals (at Mor Chit and the National Stadium).
  
• The Bangkok Subway train carriages are being
  cleaned with germ-killing spray in areas
  frequently touched by passengers such as seats,
  handrails and banisters on a daily basis. Metro
  staff and security guards are being educated on
  virus preventive measures and are being provided
  with gloves, sanitary masks and antiviral gel for
  use during sanitization

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ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM (ARF) Statement On
Cooperative Counter-terrorist Action On Border
Security
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ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM (ARF) Statement on
Cooperative Counter-terrorist Action on Border
Security

• Recognizing thatTerrorism constitutes a grave
  threat to stability, peace and security in the
  Asia-Pacific and beyond.
• It has links with trans-national organized crime,
  such as money laundering, arms smuggling, people
  smuggling, and the production of and trafficking
  in illicit drugs. It is also associated with the
  illegal movement of nuclear, chemical,
  biological, and other deadly materials.
• Because terrorism has multiple dimensions,
  manifestations and causes and respects no
  national boundaries, it is a complex phenomenon
  that requires a comprehensive approach and
  unprecedented international cooperation (more)
•  
• International terrorism terrorism practiced in
  a foreign country by terrorists who are not
  native to that country

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TOURISM MANAGEMENT IN A CRITICAL PERIOD
JATA World Tourism Congress 2009 18th September
2009

• Mr Suraphon Svetasreni
• Deputy Governor for Policy and Planning
• Tourism Authority of Thailand
• Arigato Thank you Khop Khun Khrup
• Sawasdee khrup.
•  
• A copy of this presentation is available on
• www.TATnews.org