“…The flood is a crisis but not enough to keep Thais down for too long…!
Today Tourism-Insider has asked people in the Tourism Industry which so far are not infected by the water for a short answer about the situation in Bangkok. We would not publish news about the crisis only we will also let you know what is happend besides the flood. We have asked four questions.
Veronique Sirault, General Manager , Park Plaza Sukhumvit Bangkok
www.parkplaza.com/bangkokth Asoke Skytrain Station (Exit 4)| 16 Rachadapisek Road
How is the flood situation in or around your hotel / company or office ?
No flood in Asoke or Sukhumvit area.
How is the situation at your home and how you go to work ?
Normally by BTS ( sky train) , all station are open so far as it is elevated.
How is the F&B situation ? Do you have enough food and water ?
Yes, all shopping mall are open and have plenty of food and water/juice/soft drink
And the future ? What is your opinion ( flood and economy ).
Economy for tourism business will be down as many international traveler are afraid to come to Bangkok while the center and usual tourism attraction are clear so far.

A GM from a hotel on Sukhumvit road, Asoke area :
How is the flood situation in or around your hotel / company or office ?
no flooding, it is business as usual
How is the situation at your home and how you go to work ?
no flooding, it is business as usual
How is the F&B situation ? Do you have enough food and water ?
some supplies are difficult to get but in general there is more than enough
And the future ? What is your opinion ( flood and economy )
The “dry land” or the part of the centre of Bangkok that has not been flooded, is getting smaller and smaller. There is a risk of flooding. Even if the flooding was to cause minimal damage, the damage through media reports will be devastating. Tourism would be at the risk of collapse just at the beginning of high season. The supply at risk of running short is apart from water, Beer. Phuket restaurant, bar and hotel operators are seriously worried that the island could be out of beer within weeks. In general in the short term the national economy will suffer. First six months of 2012 will see an economic boom to rebuild all. Shortages of material can be expected.

Karin Lohitnavy, MIDAS PR for Tourism & Hotels; Wireless Road Lumpini, Pathumwan:
How is the flood situation in or around your hotel / company or office ?
I am lucky to have both my home and office in the town center that has so far remained unaffected by the flood.
How is the situation at your home and how you go to work ?
For the moment for me personally nothing much has changed- except that I have built a concrete wall in front of my door and I have sand bags just in case, unfortunately I can’t say the same for 3 of my colleagues whose homes are in the near flooded areas and are about to be flooded in the next days. So of course this means delays and in some cases relocation for some of my team.
How is the F&B situation ? Do you have enough food and water ?
Once again I am lucky to be able to afford the overpriced water that is now being sold in the shops at about 3-5 times the usual price, but some are not so fortunate and have to drink carbonated drinks that are cheaper and still available or else boil tap water. The restaurants next to my house are out of white jasmine rice which is almost unheard of here in Bangkok and many staple necessities are still really hard to find, many of the cities’ restaurants have had to remove items from the menu because they just can’t source some vegetables, rice, etc…
And the future ? What is your opinion ( flood and economy )
I am inviting a political columnist Khun Voranai Vanijaka to one of my events this Friday http://www.facebook.com/beyourguest?sk=info#!/event.php?eid=244159685641230 so I will be able to tell you much more after listening to him. Although from my past experiences Thais are very resilient, hard working and creative and somehow always find a way of getting up and moving on after each fall. I think this time the fall was much harder than last year’s Red shirt episode but not enough to keep Thais down for too long.
As far as the flooding situation is concerned I believe it might take until early next year until the whole city is more or less back to normal, so this means a definite slowdown in all activities until then. As a PR company we have advised our clients to postpone their events until at least next month and some even until early next year so they can get the exposure they deserve.

Srayut Ekahitanonda, GM LIT! Bangkok Hotel, 36/1 Soi Kasemsan 1, Rama 1 Road, Pathumwa:www.litbangkok.com
How is the flood situation in or around your hotel / company or office ?
No flood arond our hotel
How is the situation at your home and how you go to work ?
No flood at home and between home to work
How is the F&B situation ? Do you have enough food and water ?
No effect at Food and beverage
And the future ? What is your opinion ( flood and economy )
Flood situation will be better but economy will be somehow bad and somehow good from the recent flood

Sipim Sugunnasil, Senior Public Relations Manager, Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, 991/9, Rama 1 Road, Pratumwan, www.kempinski.com/bangkok
How is the flood situation in or around your hotel / company or office ?
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok presently remains dry & operational as normal.
How is the situation at your home and how you go to work ?
It depends on the home location of each employee. As for those who lives in central Bangkok, the travel is made possible by the usual means of transportation such as Skytrain, Underground, private cars, and taxis. For those who unfortunately live the affected area, the hotel is giving assistance according to the severity. In extreme cases, the staffs are provided accommodation on the property.
How is the F&B situation ? Do you have enough food and water ?
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok has been equipped with preventive measures to guard the possible flood as well as plans to tackle the situation in event of the water does reach the inner part of the city. Clean water, food and other provision have been amply stocked to last for days in the extreme case of the suppliers being unable to deliver the goods to the hotel.
And the future ? What is your opinion ( flood and economy )
Unfortunately, we are not in the position to forecast what might happen in the future but we do hope for the best. The government is keeping the public closely posted on the current status as well as the strategies to control the situation.