Curfew cancellation boosts tourism

BANGKOK, June 7 (TNA) - Tourism in four resort destinations is expected to become robust again after the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) lifted a four-hour curfew in these locations. NCPO on Friday lifted the curfew from midnight to 4.00 a.m. in Cha-am district of Phetchaburi province, Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, and Krabi and Phangnga provinces in the South. All the four beach resorts are popular among the foreigners, especially for Thais. Rungroj Sileaungsawas, president of Hua Hin - Cha-am Tourism Business Association, praised the positive action by NCPO, saying that tourism business in Cha-am and Hua Hin would improve after it tumbled more than 30 per cent due to the curfew. Hotel bookings in the two popular resorts by foreign tourists have increased, Rungroj noted. On June 3, NCPO lifted the curfew in three resort areas in the country. They are Pattaya in Chon Buri province, Koh Samui in Surat Thani province and Phuket province after considering that the curfew was no longer necessary there and to also boost tourism. (TNA)