Khao Lak News - tsunami recovery

Here is a Story in the "Thai News" Website about Khao Lak's recovery efforts. Many part so f the story are true and interesting, but please be aware that the Hotel they are referring to (Best Western) did rebuild very quickly and did a great job. They just rebuilt in an area that no one else rebuilt in. There are no restaurants, no other hotels, no travel agents - nothing at all - withing several kilometers of their hotel. Only now, are people starting to rebuild in the area. So they chose a really really bad location to open so quickly. Resorts located here in town were running close to 100% from Mid-December to Late-January this year, and looking to be just as full for next season....

But it's strange that they are just noticing the recovery. Most everyone who lives here thinks its over.

"Two and a half years after the phenomenon, today the local businesses are busy with preparations for the coming high season including training staff for efficient services, decorating the premises, marketing campaign plus the government full scale Tsunami warning and evacuation drills on July 25th 2007 to assure that the region is well prepared in any case of emergencies..

Boosting tourism in Khao Lak will not be an easy task. An increase in local and international advertising, marketing, and media attention are some of the things it will take. Also a cooperation with travel agents and networks of tourism partners need to be actively carried out.

Take this hotel, The Best Western Palm Galleria Resort, for example. The owners spent about 150 million baht, in which 70% of the property, then under construction was damaged by the tsunami. After the Tsunami the operators received funding support form the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion and others including Tsunami Fund Recovery program to reconstruct and that it was re-opened one year later. Located in a 17 rai plot of land, the The Best Western Palm Galleria Resort houses 74 guest rooms with 200 seated capacity meeting room.

The hotel Deputy Managing Director Krivuthichai Treekrytapan told Andaman News that since it reopened near the end of 2005, the return rate of tourists is still at low levels. Things then started to look up at the beginning of this year with the clear increase in the number of tourists, giving a boost of confidence to business owners that work within the tourism industry of Khao Lak. The occupancy rate still stands at 50 – 55 % compared to before Tsunami period.

The former President of Phang Nga Tourist Association , who also runs Royal Bangsak Beach Resort, Khun Prasert Chanpolngam, agreed with Krivuthichai saying:

On the government side the Thai cabinet on July 3rd just approved another lot of 239 million baht budget to boost tourism. This includes both international marketing and encouraging domestic travel which is being launched in a campaign called “Tiew Thai Hai Sanook…Term Kram Suk Hai Chee With”, an on-going campaign slogan to boost domestic travel that translates as “Travel within Thailand…Create more happiness in your life.” Together foreign and domestic tourists are expected to generate an income of 917,200 million baht collectively this year. And Khao Lak should be included among top destinations due to its natural diversity and peaceful disposition."