In 2004, one of the worst natural disasters in recent memory occurred: a 9.3 magnitude earthquake in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The earthquake, not so devastating; the tsunami on the other hand, decimated many regions in southeast Asia. There is no official figure, but estimates peg the casualties to be around 230,000 people across 14 countries. It sounds pretty hard to believe, but it’s been 5 years since.
Thailand was one of the hardest countries hit by the tsunami, with an estimated 6,000 people killed by the tsunami. Even more shocking was the massive amount of structural damage – entire cities destroyed. If not by flood, then by debris – the tsunami carried boats dozens of miles to the interior, and there’s no doubt the boats took out many structures along the way. One of the hardest hit areas were the tourist areas like Phuket and Phi Phi. Anyone that came to visit in 2005 would have been met with destruction and decay. But how’s the tourism industry doing now?
The tourism industry has rebuilt itself, this time newer and better. For instance in Phuket, already open or to be opening soon, you can find four new Marriott’s, the Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, a Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, as well as 4 other boutique/luxury hotels. This is in addition to the host of other luxury hotels already in the area as well as the more affordable hotels. That’s the best thing about Thailand though – whether you’re a trust fund baby or a poor college student, you’re sure to find accommodations to fit your needs.
Some have said that the hotel industry in Thailand is bloated – Phuket alone has 47,000 hotel rooms! As such, occupancy rates have tanked – a mere 57% in 2009. Most of the decline in tourism is directly related to the worldwide economic collapse, but that doesn’t seem to deter the citizens from trying to make a buck. At any one of the many popular beaches you can find vendors hawking everything from blankets to massages. But, if a vendor asks if you want to take a picture with a baby gibbon, don’t – the babies can only be taken if the mothers are killed, and hundreds of gibbons are killed every year for this exact purpose. In fact, there even exists a Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, a group dedicated to rehabilitating gibbons that were requisitioned for tourism.
Thailand has once again become a great place to visit. The ailing economy means that even the most high end hotels are cutting rates in an attempt to lure customers, and you have much more bargaining power these days. Thailand is arguably one of the best bang-for-the-buck vacation destinations at the moment.
