Thread: M'sia to lure Bangkok-bound tourists

DHARMENDER SINGH
Sunday May 16

PUTRAJAYA: The Tourism Ministry is working closely with local and foreign tour operators to lure Malaysian and foreign tourists looking to cancel their trips to conflict-torn Bangkok.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen said the military lockdown in the heart of Bangkok that has sparked fierce clashes with Red Shirt protestors has alarmed Bangkok-bound tourists.

She said the ministry had learnt that some foreign tourists currently in other parts of Thailand like Phuket or Southern Thailand also planned to cancel their scheduled trips to Bangkok as a result of the current situation.

Given its proximity to Thailand, she said, Malaysia could offer a good alternative to such tourists that would allow them to continue their holidays instead cutting them short.

“We will be launching the Colours of Malaysia 2010 event at Dataran Merdeka on May 22 and this will be another good attraction that we can offer such tourists,” she told reporters Sunday after closing the Mass Sports Clusters and Active Sports being held here as part of the National Youth Day Celebration 2010.

On Malaysians currently in Thailand or planning to go there, Ng said the ministry's advise was that they avoid going near the protest area.

“We have not issued any travel advisory against Malaysians visiting Thailand because the protests are not being held in the whole country, they do not even involve the whole of Bangkok.

“The current situation is not something that occurred suddenly but has been brewing for several weeks, so we believe Malaysians are already aware of the situation and will be wise enough to avoid troubled areas,” she said.

She said the ministry was working closely with the Foreign Ministry and had been told that there had not been any cases yet of Malaysians coming under any danger while visiting Bangkok.

thestar.com.my

Originally Posted by Mid

Given its proximity to Thailand, she said, Malaysia could offer a good alternative to such tourists that would allow them to continue their holidays instead cutting them short.

There's a shortage of hookers here, though . . . so I'm told.

Originally Posted by Mid

“We have not issued any travel advisory against Malaysians visiting Thailand because the protests are not being held in the whole country, they do not even involve the whole of Bangkok.

Sensible

Originally Posted by panama hat

There's a shortage of hookers here, though . . . so I'm told.

I take it you've never partaken of a beer in the Beach Club then...?

Never . . .




. . . since I moved here

Originally Posted by panama hat

There's a shortage of hookers here, though . . . so I'm told.

A temporary problem. No visa needed for Thais to travel to Malaysia, is there?

Perhaps they could linethe girls up aong the border and the tourists could enter or even multi entry from the safety of Shuria Kelantan unlessthe Wahid comes fist

There's a shortage of hookers here, though . . . so I'm told.

don't believe everything you hear. There's loads of freelancers in the bars frequented by the increasing numbers of foreigners who are now routing through KL, partly because of the extra demand Herndandez' enterprise has generated, and also because Air Asia also flies inexpensively from the countries where the hookers mostly come from - Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia.

bars to check out are the Thai Bistro and the Beach Bar, which are opposite each other on Jalan Ramlee.

there's also numerous brothels all over the city catering to a very lively local trade. Numerous shop fronts, you see loads of men going in and out, but less frequently, maybe once an hour, a young, attractive, and rather immodestly dressed female going in.

prices can be cheaper than you think too. I was offered just 80 ringgit from a newly arrived Vietnamese girl at the Beach Club which is basically cheaper than you'll likely find in Bangkok, but that was exceptional - usually they'll want more like 300.

I even thought she meant US dollars, but I confirmed she did in actual fact mean ringgit.

in any case, there isn't anything new about more foreigners being in KL than before. There's visibly many more than there were even a few years ago - a combination of Air Asia, and the 'Malaysia - my second home' expat programme.