www.magicof theorient.com As tourists debate whether to travel to the Far East in the aftermath of the devastating tsunami, Tony Champion MD of Far Eastern specialists Magic of the Orient, urges those who have been considering a holiday to the region still to go. First ensure that the chosen resort is safe and fully operational, then go. Without tourism, those who depend on the industry will not have the income to support their families and rebuild their lives.
Tony Champion, on the future - "No one will ever forget the huge number of people who perished in this disaster and now as a world community we must do what we can to help the survivors. Tourism is one of the quickest ways of helping the local communities who in different ways depend upon this income, and who, in the less extreme cases, are perhaps less likely to be beneficiaries of aid".
In tourism terms, the worst affected areas are parts of the coast of Sri Lanka, the Phi Phi islands in south-west Thailand and Khao Lak on the Thai mainland to the north of Phuket. Contrary to impressions created by the media, only parts of Phuket were affected and in many cases it was soon business as usual. Elsewhere resorts are repairing storm damage and looking to the future. the loss of the tourist industry would deal yet another devastating blow. A vast majority of the Far East has been either minimally or totally unaffected and remains completely ‘open for business’. These areas include Bangkok and the rest of Thailand, Vietnam and Bali.
For more information and an update on the latest situation contact Tony Champion at Magic of the Orient 01293 537 700 and check out their website on ways to help those affected by this epic tragedy. |