Travel to Asia - Is it Safe?

Traditionally the period around Christmas and New Year is a time of celebration and feast, of giving, receiving and of forgiveness, of that much needed break after a stressful year, a time to catch up with friends and family, a time to escape to paradise on holiday. Christmas 2004 though, will be remembered by many around the world not with joy, but with the horrifying and graphic images from the largest natural human disaster in the world's history.

As thousands of people woke up to their daily routine on Boxing Day, 26 December 2004, little did they know of the living nightmare that was about to take so many lives and affect so many millions of people around the world.

Many of the areas worst affected were blessed with such outstanding natural beauty, they were among some of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Destinations that rely on the income generated from tourist arrivals for their own survival.

This survival, is today under threat, but not from the tremendous power of the sea, but by tourists canceling trips or changing their original destination to an area of the globe which was not even remotely affected by the Tsunami devastation.

The travel industry in Asia is not a stranger to problems, it managed to successfully overcome the challenges faced by terrorist threats, the Iraq war, and SARS. The aftermath of the Tsunami disaster could potentially be much worse, and this, perhaps the greatest threat the industry has faced yet, must be handled swiftly.

The Christmas period has always been a time for compassion and giving, and the world community has come together like never before, donating billions of Dollars to the areas affected to help with relief and reconstruction.

Governments around the world though, had another gift to give, one potentially more devastating than the Tsunami itself - travel  advisories. Travel Advisories which are currently issued by individual governments, rather than through a UN body such as the World Tourism Organization, often slam whole areas of a country, regardless of how badly they were affected.

For example many countries are now advising against travel to the Western Coast of Thailand even though many areas are perfectly fine. Patong and other beaches in Phuket have now been cleaned up and while there are some bars, restaurants and hotels still closed, many are open and things are gradually returning to normal. The Gulf of Siam was not at all affected, so resort destinations such as Pattaya, Hua Hin and Koh Samui are operating exactly as they did prior to the Tsunamis.

We have received hundreds of emails from hotels within the worst affected areas, reporting that their property is safe, unaffected and operating as normal. As if to ram home the point, many even include pictures of their guests enjoying the beach, and the hotels facilities.

Regardless of what the Travel Advisories state, it needs to be remembered such a disaster has never hit Thailand or even other areas in the Indian Ocean before, and could potentially happen anywhere in the world, at anytime.

While all the countries affected do need the relief and donations being offered, they also greatly need the support that tourists can offer simply by visiting the country. Thai Airways is about to launch a special  promotion with packages to Phuket at dramatically reduced prices, hotels should offer guests a money back incentive if their clients holiday or the hotel does not meet their expectations. TAT should try and invite some celebrities and the media to Phuket and other areas that are now operating as normal as can be.

So is it safe to travel to Asia? Yes, at least as safe as anywhere else, and now is not the time to cancel, or change plans, when like never before your tourist dollar and your presence means the survival of many.

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