BANGKOK, Nov 14 – In an attempt to restore sagging visitor arrivals, officials of Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport are campaigning to tell prospective travellers around the world that the gateway to Thailand, and almost all of Thailand’s provinces, is not affected by the current floods, according to airport management.

In visits to a number of countries and tourism-related organisations, Thai officials are spreading the word that travel to Thailand is unaffected by the current floods, and that Suvarnabhumi airport is safe from flooding.

The move follows a significant drop in the numbers of daily arrivals at Thailand’s gateway airport where numbers have been cut 20,000 daily from a normal average of 130,000 persons every day.

Airports of Thailand (AOT) executive Somchai Sawasdeepon, in his capacity as Acting General Manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport said an airport working committee visited several countries and an international tourism conference to clarify the news that tourism to Thailand is not affected by the floods, after the countries issued travel warnings to their nationals.

The visits were in response to misunderstandings internationally that Bangkok was no longer accessible by air.

The confusion struck Thai tourism after news images of a flooded and closed Don Mueang Airport carried worldwide in international media gave the impression that the Thai capital was now cut off by air. The misunderstandings meant that Suvarnabhumi Airport needs to clarify to would-be tourists that the country’s gateway airport remains unaffected by the floods.

Flooding at Don Mueang, Thailand’s former international airport, does not affect travel to Thailand as Suvarnabhumi is the main airport for international flight services, and there is no disruption of travel from Bangkok to other provinces, Mr Somchai emphasised.

He conceded that after many countries issued travel warnings to Thailand, tourist arrivals at Suvarnabhumi dropped by some 20,000 daily.

Tourist numbers from Asian countries such as China and Japan dropped as travellers were concerned that Bangkok flooding would inconvenience them.

Mr Somchai also said Suvarnabhumi Airport officials on Monday met representatives from nearby communities, local authorities, and educational institutions to discuss measures to counter floods at the airport and its neighbourhood.

He expressed confidence that the airport will be spared flooding with cooperation from nearby communities by draining water through Khlong Pravet, Khlong Saen Saep and other canals near the airport.

Airport workers and local residents have been working together to dredge the canals.

The airport’s 3.50 metre dyke can effectively handle the oncoming floodwater, currently reported at 0.80 metres north of the airport and 0.50 metres south of the airport. (MCOT online news)