Thailand has once again been a victim of a disaster that has damaged their tourism industry. On July 27, an estimated 50,000 L of crude oil leaked into the Gulf of Thailand according to oil giant PTT Global Chemical. The oil drifted to popular tourist destinations, causing tourists to flee. Last year, Bangkok, Thailand became the most visited city with 15.98 millions visitors spending one night or more. This is not the first time Thailand has been hit in the tourism industry however, who could forget the tsunami of 2004 that killed nearly 230,000 people in 14 countries. The military coup in 2006, the 2010 political protests and the floods of 2011 are just a few examples of many more.
Agreeing with the article and being from Thailand myself, i would predict that the tourism industry will most likely recover. Thailand has had the most experience of any country in maintaining a flourishing tourism industry while dealing with a disaster. This is mainly because we have a strong reputation or “image” set in the mind of tourists. The beautiful sights and attractions outweigh the negative impacts and visitors recognize that as well. We are known as “The Land of Smiles” and it shall be known for all time.
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