泰国的旅游业从打击中恢复

AS IT IS 2016-08-25 Thailand's Tourism Industry Works to Recover from Attacks 泰国的旅游业从打击中恢复

Officials in Thailand are working to help the tourism industry in several provinces affected¹ by deadly bombings earlier this month.

Bombings in several southern provinces killed or wounded more than 30 people, including foreigners.

Experts say more attacks could have a deeper effect on the industry, which is very important to the country’s economy.

Economists³ at the University of the Thai Chamber⁴ of Commerce say the attacks may cause up to 365,000 fewer people to visit the provinces. And they estimate the areas could lose $170 million in revenue.

Popular beach resort areas were targeted by the attacks. They include Hua Hin, where the Thai royal family has a vacation home.

Lisa Onghang is the president of the Hua Hin Cha Am Tourism Association. She said the area is returning to normal after the shock of the bombings.

She said there were “cancellations by some Thais, but not from abroad. From abroad they just see the situation. I have many emails from our clients who seem to understand,” she said.

In addition to Hua Hin, attacks by people setting fires or exploding bombs took place in six provinces. Phuket, which had almost 30 million visitors in 2015, was among the affected areas. Surat Thani, Phangna, Trang, Chumphon and Nakhon Si Thammarat also had attacks.

The World Travel and Tourism Council says tourists spend $72 billion a year in Thailand. The industry directly or indirectly⁵ employs about five million people. That is more than 14 percent of all jobs in the country.

Officials expect about 33 million people to visit Thailand this year. They say about 30 percent of them will come from China.

In 2015, the bombing of a Hindu shrine⁶ in Bangkok killed 20 people and wounded 120. Many of those killed or hurt were from Asia. Thailand’s tourism revenues dropped 20 percent after the attack. The number of visitors to the country dropped sharply in the last three months of last year. The numbers have only begun to increase this year.

Sukanya Jandoo is the general manager of a Bangkok hotel and a vice⁷ president of the Thai Hotels Association. He said fewer people cancelled their planned visits after this year’s attacks than did after the bombing in Bangkok in 2015.

“I would admit that yes when that kind of thing happens they would have some cancellations. But I would say it was nowhere near the magnitude of the previous tragic⁸ event [in August 2015],” he said.

Economist² Somphob Manarangsan said the lack of information about the attacks and the attackers has caused people to fear more violence.

“It depends on whether it’s going to happen again,” he said. “I think if it is only one incident and no more like that I don’t think it’s going to have a big impact [on] the Thai economy, particularly the business sector⁹.”

Analysts¹⁰ disagree about whether the attacks are linked to politics.

The attacks happened soon after voters approved a new military-supported constitution. It is expected to increase the military’s influence in the next elected parliament.

Other experts link the attacks to Muslim rebels in the provinces on the southern border with Malaysia. Peace talks between the rebels and the government have been moving very slowly.

Pornthip Hirunkate is the vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand. She said the industry has called on the government to increase security to prevent further attacks.

“We have asked the government to take more precautions, especially security -- buildings, airports and hotels. There’s more measures for security. The concern is [if there] is a repeat. That’s why I think we all need…to be alert and prepared if anything happens,” Pornthip said.

Words in This Story

tourism – n. the business of providing hotels, restaurants, entertainment, etc., for people who are traveling

revenue – n. money that is made by or paid to a business or an organization

resort – n. a place where people go for vacations

magnitude – n. the size, extent or importance of something

particularly – adv. used to indicate someone or something that deserves special mention

sector – n. an area of an economy; a part of an economy that includes certain kinds of jobs

precaution – n. something that is done to prevent possible harm or trouble from happening in the future

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

3 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 indirectly   

adv.间接地，不直接了当地

参考例句：

• I heard the news indirectly.这消息我是间接听来的。
• They were approached indirectly through an intermediary.通过一位中间人，他们进行了间接接触。

6 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

7 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

8 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

9 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。