Thailand Unrest

Renewed political turmoil casts a shadow on IT&CMA

BANGKOK, Thailand (eTN) - As the 16th edition of IT&CMA (Incentive Travel and Convention Meetings Asia) opened here in Bangkok, political turmoil around the parliament has cast a shadow on Asia’s bi

Hotel Reservations Cancelled

Thai tourism receives first blow from unrest

Thai tourism has received its first blow from the ongoing unrest when three groups, according to Thai hotelier Andrew J. Wood, have already cancelled reservations Tuesday morning.

Thai Unrest

Thai PM declares state of emergency in capital

BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's prime minister declared a state of emergency in the capital Tuesday, empowering the military to restore order after street fighting between supporters and opponents of t

India

Gorkhaland unrest hits tourism in Darjeeling

KOLKATA - West Bengal's tourism industry has been hit badly due to the flare-up in the Darjeeling Hills over the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state. More than 100 hotels are lying vacant as tourists are leaving the pretty mountain resort in the wake of the violence.

The verdant hills and the Himalayan toy train service are a prime ... read more

South Africa

Tourism body applauds army deployment

The Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) has applauded the decision to deploy the army in townships hit by xenophobic attacks.

SATSA CEO Michael Tatalias said on Thursday the decision was right because police did not have the manpower to contain the attacks.

Lebanon

Lebanese unrest cost up to $600 Million, Sarkis says

Unrest over the past week cost the Lebanese economy as much as $600 million in lost revenue and the figure may rise as the political deadlock continues, the country's tourism minister said.

Tibet Turmoil

China moves to arrest hundreds as Tibet deadline passes

KATHMANDU — Authorities in the Tibetan capital began arresting hundreds of people in the wake of anti-Chinese protests over the weekend as a deadline passed for those involved in the marches, demonstrations, and rioting to “surrender” to police, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports.

Kenya's Unrest Is A Tourism Windfall For The Rivals

Kenya’s tourism rivals record boom

Nairobi - Kenya’s biggest tourism competitors in Africa are reaping big from the political unrest that has hit the country.

The competitors include Tanzania, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. Most of the tourists who have cancelled their visits to Kenya have booked into these countries that offer similar products.

Sri Lanka

Conflicting advice on Sri Lanka safety

Sri Lanka’s fragile peace was shattered last week by a new wave of violence that threatens to destroy the island’s struggling tourist industry. A week after the Sri Lankan government ended the five-year-old ceasefire, Tamil Tiger rebels bombed a bus in the town of Okkampitiya, 150 miles east of Colombo, leaving 38 dead and wounding scores ... read more

Kenya

Chaos or no chaos, I shall return

As tourists cancelled their holiday and left the country in droves, one resilient British guest was being wheeled into a resort in the South Coast to complete the second half of his four-month holiday.

Tour operators say they have lost up to Sh5.7 billion as a result of the cancellation caused by political violence.

Kenya

Tourists warned to stay away amid Kenya unrest

(eTN) - Foreign tourists were warned Monday to avoid non-essential travel to Kenya amid deadly poll violence, while tour operators called off local excursions for travellers already there, officials said.

Goa

Anti-SEZ group asks tourists to leave Goa by Dec 28

PANAJI (eTN) - Goa's Movement Against SEZs (GMAS), a body comprising NGOs and political parties including main Opposition BJP, on Sunday asked tourists to leave the state by December 28 since their agitation would be intensified and it could take an ugly turn.