Asian Trails CEO Luzi Matzig Gives His View On The Recent Events In Bangkok
Tourism veteran Lutzi Mazig expresses his indignation with events in Thailand
Bangkok's office of Asian Trails is just in the midst of the action. Offices of one of Thailand’s top inbound tour operators are located next to Ratchadamri Boulevard, just a block away from the Four Seasons Hotel and consequently the camp of the Red Shirts rioters. Asked if he comes to the office by helicopter or on a motorcycle-taxi, Luzi Matzig says that he still comes by car for the back streets are not yet blocked.
On a more serious note, Asian Trails CEO wants to voice his anger at Western countries that have issued travel warnings and advisories against travels to Bangkok, if not to the whole Thailand.
“Germany, France, the UK and now Switzerland have all issued travel advisories to avoid Bangkok, unless it is vital to visit there. This is a totally misguided and hasty reaction. Only a tiny part of Bangkok is currently occupied by the Red Shirts. The rest of the capital is still open to the public and lives in a very normal way”, he says. “They were fewer countries that issued a travel warning even when Bangkok's airports were blocked by the Yellow Shirts in December 2008,” recalls Matzig.
Asian Trails organizes daily tours to the Royal Palace and the temples around the it. And according to Matzig, tourists do not face problems in those areas as in many others outside the Lumpini Park-Ratchaprasong perimeter. “We know that some high profile hotels such as the Four Seasons, the Grand Hyatt or the Intercontinental have now been closed for over a week. However, tourists to Bangkok can have a wonderful experience by staying in hotels in other areas. What about the Peninsula, the Shangri-La or the Oriental along the Chao Praya River, a rather picturesque part of the capital?” adds Matzig.
For Asian Trails CEO, West's reactions is an overkill. “They just issue advisories to cover their back sides. In case of anything going wrong, they would just say that they have warned their citizens beforehand” says Matzig.
"Besides, there is no danger at all in Thailand’s main seaside resort areas. Many of our customers now ask to switch Bangkok to go instead to Phuket or Samui. Hotels are doing pretty well in places such as Hua Hin, Pattaya, Phuket or Krabi.”
Luzi Matzig acknowledges however that Thailand is facing its worst crisis in at least two decades.
“It is a very tough time. Not only because Thailand’s image is seriously battered, but because of the reaction –or better said the absence of reaction- from the government. It is incredible that nothing has been done over the last two weeks, since the Red Shirts moved into the city center. It is the second time- after the airports’ incidents two years ago- that Thailand’s government shows its ineptnessto to solve the problem quickly. And this perhaps is the most worrisome problem for visitors to the Kingdom.”
Comments
My livelihood doesn't depend on money from tourism, and I'm defenitly not trying to con anyone into going to Thailand. I agree that it's not the most safe place right now, and like I said I encourage people to talk to those like yourself, the ones who are living there right now, to get help get an authentic perception of what's really going on. My site is about telling people about places to visit, I'm not setting them up with packages or anything. I had heard from people who where in Thailand who were away from the city and were still enjoying themselves. And no, they were not "customers" of mine, in fact I have none, and I can be objective.
I have just watched a vdo of a Sniper shooting at Bangkok civilians from Century Park Hotel which is a member of your group.I would like you to confirm who gave these Army Snipers permission to use that hotel for military purposes,was it the "Land Owner" or the Management of Aprime Hotels and Resorts Mr Danai Wansom ? Is this land owned by the Thai Royal family?
Update on Thailand.
We've got sex tourism, medical tourism. beach tourism.
How long before some enterprising tour comnpany starts some war tourism products. This video clip should help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25G2D-5iogI
I totally agree that a warning is just a warning. But nobody in their right mind would even dream of visiting Thailand right now. Most people who live right here in Thailand as I do, are beginning to fear that the country may be slipping into civil war.
I love this country as much as anybody, but I don't have a vested interest in conning people into a false sense of security. I am not in the travel business, my livelihood does not depend on money from tourism, and consequently I can be objective. It is impossible for people like Luzi Matzig or tikitravel to be objective. Tell your customers that Thailand is indeed the most beautiful country on earth, and a wonderful place to visit, but, for God's sake NOT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
You may have been here in March but you clearly don't understand the situation in April, like now. Listen to the Thai prime minister on BBC Hardtalk today and you might, just might, be able to improve your mind.
Are you a fascist by any chance?
A travel warning is just that, a warning. As you said above "anything can happen anywhere". This applies to all parts of the world, "dangerous" countries or "peaceful" ones. You never know what's going to happen in life, and just because there is a travel warning doesn't mean that you should abandon all your vacation plans. There are many beautiful parts of Thailand that you can visit without even noticing that there are any problem going on. Just be smart about it and and avoid areas that are likely to have protests. The first time I went to Thailand was during a military coup, I never encountered any problems at all. I knew other people who were supposed to be going at the same time who had cancelled their trips and ended up regreting their decisions when they heard what an amazing time I had. A friend of mine just came back from Thailand two days ago and said that it's not as bad as people make it out to be. I mean, of course there's tension, but that's life...get out of those areas and enjoy what the rest of the country has to offer.
Travel warnings are great, they let you know what's going on in a country, but I don't think that should be the only thing that a person considers when they are planning a trip. A better idea would be to find out a bit about the country you're visiting. A bit of the history as well as the current situation. Also, talk to other travelers who are already in the country that you would like to go to, or those who have recently come back. The best advice is from those who are there, in the flesh, who are on the same page as you, not governments. They are required to issue warnings, mostly just to let people know what's going on.
"Only a tiny part of Bangkok is currently occupied by the Red Shirts"
Perhaps you should correct all the other multiple stories being reported. I read the protesting was done in Pattaya 2 days ago. I read that protestors blocked police on route from nothern thailand to bangkok.
It's not safe when the POLICE are stopped by protests. When Protesters can become the LAW or rise above the LAWS. It's Anarchy.
I LOVE Thailand (well, all except the protesting that is way out of hand at this point)
I was there in March, and saw seemingly peaceful protests. Well mannered, driving around spreading their message. I love free speach, but when they take over a portion of any city illegally, then they are no longer protesters, they are CRIMINALS and justice needs served quickly, without reservations.
Luzi Matzig is only interested in making money. If a nuclear bomb dropped on Bangkok, this wily old operator would still find the words to try to persuade people to visit. The fact is that people who want to visit Bangkok should postpone their trip until the risks are reduced. Thailand at the moment is more volatile than at any other time in the past 100 years. Anything could happen anywhere. Even responsible newspapers like Matichon are saying that civil war is a possibility.
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