Despite the advice – more people want to celebrate Christmas in Thailand

TT

Published 16.10

 

Thousands of Swedes are in Thailand during Christmas and New Year. Archive photo. Photo: Susanna Persson Öste/TT

Despite unrest and a travel advice, Swedes are more interested in celebrating Christmas in Thailand than last year.

– Thailand has a special position, says Claes Pellvik, head of communications at travel company Ving.

The tensions and fighting between Thailand and Cambodia that flared up again at the beginning of December have not affected Swedes’ desire to celebrate Christmas in the country.

Even since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced a travel advice to parts of Thailand, interest has not cooled down – quite the opposite.

– We have seen a 20 percent increase in bookings for last-minute trips in the past week compared to last year, says Dian Martinez Valencia, head of communications at travel company Tui.

Both Tui and Ving organize trips to the tourist resort of Koh Chang, an area covered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' advice - and trips there have therefore been canceled.

- Since the travel advice was introduced, we have received a few calls from worried customers, but it was mostly about wanting to orient themselves in the situation.

Most of the affected travelers have chosen to rebook to another location in Thailand.

- Interest in Thailand has not cooled down. And there I would say that Thailand actually has a slightly special position, says Claes Pellvik.

He compares it to the Gaza war and trips to countries in the surrounding region.

- Then we saw that demand decreased, we had customers who were worried and did not want to go. But not with Thailand.