By Melody Zaccheus
SINGAPOREAN leisure-seekers are ditching the Land of Smiles and turning to other parts of Asia, scared off by the political violence in Bangkok.
More Singaporeans are booking tours and packages to Indonesia, Indochina and Malaysia, forgoing the usual shopping haunts of Bangkok and beaches around Thailand.
Tour agencies such as ASA Holidays have seen a 15 per cent increase in the number of Singaporeans booking travel packages to other Asian destinations - and a corresponding 80 per cent plunge in bookings for Thailand.
At CTC Travel, there was not a single booking for any package to Bangkok, Phuket and Chiangmai last month and this month. 'Travellers are playing it safe and avoiding potential areas of conflict,' said its marketing and communications manager Alicia Seah. 'Even hotel promotions to the country are not proving to be particularly useful.'
She said that many Singaporean travellers had turned to Bali, Vietnam and Cambodia, echoing findings at other agencies. SA Tours, for instance, has seen a 10 per cent to 15 per cent increase in Hong Kong and Taipei bookings.
'While some have postponed their travel plans, many are simply diverting to areas like Bali,' said its marketing and communications manager Eva Wu.
