VOA标准英语2010-Thailand's Tourism Industry Falls Victim

Anti-government protesters take camp in a main commercial shopping district causing shops and businesses to close down where they have occupied for more than a week in Bangkok, Thailand, 11 Apr 2010

An industry association warns Thailand's tourism business faces staggering losses this year because of the confrontation¹ between anti-government protesters and security forces.  Many tourists have canceled travel to Thailand or have fled areas caught up in deadly clashes in the past few days.

 

The Federation² of Thai Industries says the political conflict could cost the tourism industry more than $1 billion, after images of deadly clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces were flashed across the world.

The FTI says hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and shopping malls near the protest sites would be hardest hit.

More than 40 countries have issued travel warnings regarding Bangkok.

Khao San Road is a popular tourist area in the city, and it is close to the location of the worst violence on Saturday, when more than 20 people died, and hundreds injured.

Kumtan drives a tuk-tuk, or small three-wheeled taxi, on Khao San.

Kumtan says foreign travelers will stay away this year because they are afraid. He says is not good and will hit his income hard.

The protesters largely support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted³ in a coup⁴ in 2006. They want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and call new elections. They began mass protests in the city a month ago.

Even before the violence, hotels in Bangkok reported that 20 percent of their reservations were being canceled by travelers concerned by the protests.

Tourism industry officials expect visitor arrivals to fall to about 14.5 million this year, one million less than had been expected, because of the protests. Tourism accounts for some six percent of Thailand's national income.

One of the main protest sites is in the heart of a large shopping, hotel and transportation hub. As a result, hundreds of popular shops have been forced to close ever the past week, with hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.

The violence led to the Bangkok city government to cancel official celebrations for the Thai New Year, the Songkran festival, which begins Tuesday.

Alice, a tourist from France, says she notices the difference in atmosphere among the people.

"All the people are very stressed, stressed out," she noted⁵.  "People from Thailand are not like this usually, they are not like smiley people. This is just weird⁶ ambiance."

Small companies are especially at risk because they lack cash reserves. Krishna at a Khao San tailor shop says his business is suffering.

"This month is almost no business at all. It's been very quiet right now. Khao San is the most busiest during the festival, but this year seems like nobody here. It's almost empty around here," he noted.

Bob James, tourism industry consultant⁷, says while the situation is serious, he expects tourism to recover.

"It's a serious situation but I also think you have to put things into context," he explained.  "Thailand is renowned⁸ for its tourism - it's one of the major tourism players in Asia and always has been. It's had its challenges and ups and downs but has rallied and come through."

Thailand's tourism authority is planning to begin a new wave of promotions⁹ once the political conflicts subside¹⁰.

 

1 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

2 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

3 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

4 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

7 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

8 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

9 promotions   

促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传

参考例句：

• All services or promotions must have an appeal and wide application. 所有服务或促销工作都必须具有吸引力和广泛的适用性。
• He promptly directed the highest promotions and decorations for General MacArthur. 他授予麦克阿瑟将军以最高的官阶和勋奖。

10 subside   

vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降

参考例句：

• The emotional reaction which results from a serious accident takes time to subside.严重事故所引起的情绪化的反应需要时间来平息。
• The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon.围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。