BANGKOK, April 1 (TNA) – A survey conducted by the Bangkok Poll Center indicates that almost half of Thailand's foreign tourists say the ongoing political stalemate in the kingdom has greatly affected their decisions to travel to Bangkok.

The Bangkok University opinion survey was conducted March 26-29 among 449 foreign holidaymakers while visiting Bangkok amid the anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protests.

Two in five interviewees -- 41.4 per cent of those surveyed -- said Thailand's current political conflict has impacted their travel decisions, double the 19.3 per cent indicated in last year’s October 31-November 1 survey.
 
Almost one in four -- 23 per cent -- said the political situation had affected the little and 35.6 per cent said only slightly.

However, Bangkok still tops the list of the five most attractive capital cities to visit among 11 Asian cities, with one in three travellers -- 32 per cent -- giving the Thai capital the best score, followed by Tokyo (19 per cent), Singapore (12.6 per cent), Kuala Lumpur (8.8 per cent), and Hanoi (4.6 per cent).

In addition, about three-fourths -- 75 per cent -- said they would re-visit Bangkok, while only 2.7 per cent said they would not, but one-fourth remained uncertain, according to the Bangkok University poll.

Meanwhile, around 82 per cent of the surveyed holidaymakers said they would recommend Bangkok as a place to visit to their families and friends, while less than one per cent spoke negatively, providing as their reasons the country’s internal political conflicts, Bangkok’s loud noise levels and its dirty footpaths. (TNA)