SkyDekker 1,465
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Governments in the region are sending teams to help control the outbreak of an epidemic in Phuket. Encouraging people to travel there is only encouraging teh quick spread of disease to every corner of the world.
SkyDekker 1,465
and they are still sending water to Phuket as well, eventhough food and water is abundent on Phuket.
Attached is a picture from Patong Beach taken yesterday, about one block from the beach......
Unfortunately we don't see pictures like that in the media. Imagine if most if not all business had left New York City after 9/11 and all tourism seized. That is exactly what people are doing by not resuming their vacation plans in the area.
Attached is a picture from Patong Beach taken yesterday, about one block from the beach......
Unfortunately we don't see pictures like that in the media. Imagine if most if not all business had left New York City after 9/11 and all tourism seized. That is exactly what people are doing by not resuming their vacation plans in the area.
NYC was not at risk of widespread disease and epidemic. Hell, I'm not saying abandon the concept of tourism for the area. But how about giving them a little more than a week to make sure there isn't an outbreak of typhus?
SkyDekker 1,465
QuoteNYC was not at risk of widespread disease and epidemic. Hell, I'm not saying abandon the concept of tourism for the area. But how about giving them a little more than a week to make sure there isn't an outbreak of typhus?
NYC is still at risk of a major terrorist attack. Phuket is about 700 years removed from anotehr tsunami of this size.
Staying away from the area is tehw rong message to send.
Well, I'll take the advice of the CDC and their equivalent bodies in other countries over the Phuket tourism council.
There is a real risk of worldwide pandemic stemming from the areas affected by the tsunami. The CDC and others are advising NOT to travel to areas affected.
There is a real risk of worldwide pandemic stemming from the areas affected by the tsunami. The CDC and others are advising NOT to travel to areas affected.
rehmwa 2
Then what? Get the US and UN to collect more $$$ to support the businesses that didn't get hit by the physical wave, rather hit by the economic wave caused by good, but falsely based, intentions?
This whole thread is about stepping on those not impacted (vacationers, small Phuket businesses away from the shoreline) because of long distance opinions and sympathy for those truly impacted.
As for analogies, I understand the Florida DZs were very much hurt during the hurricane season because people chose not to visit. Multiply that by 100,000 and see what it does to a small country's economy.
But at least the damage would be cause by good intentions....
(BTW - for the Deland analogy -We had one newbie go to Deland this last hurricane season - (lucky) bastard got to jump for a discount, was loaned a 2nd rig free to keep him jumping and got to do a couple 4-ways with 3 of the Majik guys.)
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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants
This whole thread is about stepping on those not impacted (vacationers, small Phuket businesses away from the shoreline) because of long distance opinions and sympathy for those truly impacted.
As for analogies, I understand the Florida DZs were very much hurt during the hurricane season because people chose not to visit. Multiply that by 100,000 and see what it does to a small country's economy.
But at least the damage would be cause by good intentions....
(BTW - for the Deland analogy -We had one newbie go to Deland this last hurricane season - (lucky) bastard got to jump for a discount, was loaned a 2nd rig free to keep him jumping and got to do a couple 4-ways with 3 of the Majik guys.)
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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants
SkyDekker 1,465
It is the US State Department offering that advice. They also advice you not to travel overseas due to the threat of rioting and anti-US feelings.
It is more CYA than anything else.
It is more CYA than anything else.
jcd11235 0
I must have missed the Deland analogy, but I can say for certain that SD Deland was not hit hard by any of the hurricanes, at least compared to Lake Wales. There was some structural damage that was relatively minor, and quickly repaired. The trailer park adjacent to the drop zone never even lost power, although a trampoline was, admittedly, destroyed. The threat of hurricanes was much more detrimental to the DZ than the actual hurricanes. Summer is traditionally the slow time of year for Deland, anyway.
Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!
SkyDekker 1,465
QuoteI must have missed the Deland analogy, but I can say for certain that SD Deland was not hit hard by any of the hurricanes, at least compared to Lake Wales. There was some structural damage that was relatively minor, and quickly repaired. The trailer park adjacent to the drop zone never even lost power, although a trampoline was, admittedly, destroyed. The threat of hurricanes was much more detrimental to the DZ than the actual hurricanes. Summer is traditionally the slow time of year for Deland, anyway.
Now imagine everybody telling all jumpers to stay away from that dz.
Imagine a competitor dz emailing everybody telling them to come to his dz in stead so they don't run the "risk" of jumping at Deland.
Imagine what that would do to Deland.
rehmwa 2
People didn't go to "Florida" because the hurricanes hit "Florida". So Deland was fine and was still impacted economically because of wrong decisions based on incorrect assumptions.
That's why it's a good analogy for this discussion. You even said it - "the threat of hurricanes".
Hope this helps you get it.
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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants
That's why it's a good analogy for this discussion. You even said it - "the threat of hurricanes".
Hope this helps you get it.
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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants
QuoteDecember 26, 2004
This Public Announcement is being issued to urge American citizens to avoid travel to the southwestern area of Thailand encompassing Phuket, Phi Phi Island, Krabi, and the small islands in the vicinity due to the aftermath of lethal tsunamis. US citizens in those areas are also urged to depart as soon as safe transportation is available. This Public Announcement expires on January 25, 2005.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1998.html
SkyDekker 1,465
yeah yeah, on the same site you'll find a world-wide caution, telling people they could get caught in anti-US violence at any time. Really, they don't want you travelling anywhere in the world.
This is the same CDC that told people not to travel to Canada due to SARS.
CYA is all it is.
This is the same CDC that told people not to travel to Canada due to SARS.
CYA is all it is.
QuoteWith relief officials warning of possible cholera epidemics and malaria, Dr. David Nabarro, head of crisis operations for the World Health Organization, has warned "we could have as many dying from communicable diseases as from the tsunami."
Nabarro said the main threat to life now is communicable diseases associated with a lack of clean water and sanitation.
"The initial terror associated with the tsunamis and the earthquake itself may be dwarfed by the longer term suffering of the affected communities," he warned.
Whatever. If you want to travel where everyone except travel bureaus are saying to stay out of, go for it. But it's not false or misleading to say that you are at great risk by doing so.
mikkey 0
This issue does represent a moral dilemma. On one hand it seems like in very bad taste to be sun bathing close to where many people died, on the other hand, the best long term help that can be given the areas that are / were tourist destinations, is to rebuild the infrastructure and get the tourists back in.
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When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.
When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.
Quotethe best long term help that can be given the areas that are / were tourist destinations, is to rebuild the infrastructure and get the tourists back in.
And I don't disagree with that. All I'm saying is, how about waiting a couple weeks?
mikkey 0
QuoteQuotethe best long term help that can be given the areas that are / were tourist destinations, is to rebuild the infrastructure and get the tourists back in.
And I don't disagree with that. All I'm saying is, how about waiting a couple weeks?
Agree. Going to Maldives this Easter and have no intention of cancelling. 85% of their GDP is from tourism.
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When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.
When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.
Muenkel 0
Michele,
I felt the same contempt when I heard about this story. However, there clearly are two thoughts on this and a lot of people here touched on both of them. The first being that it is insensitive, selfish behavior on the part of these tourists. The second being the need for the economy to be stimulated as much as possible.
I remember after 9/11 the huge publicity campaign that was created to get tourists back to NYC. So much money was lost with the smaller businesses taking the biggest hit along with the hotels, theatres, restaurants, etc.
As for the tourists in Thailand who are bitching about service...I wonder if the news focused on the minority or the exception. Perhaps many of the tourists did give up their vacation to lend a helping hand.
Having worked in the resort industry for 15 years, I can give you a very long list of the most ridiculous things people bitch about. But it has been my experience that those people are very much in the minority and probably live very miserable lives. I am referring to those who don't have a legitimate gripe.
For those who complained about the lack of champagne or their lousy view, I only have contempt for. I'm hoping there were many more who rolled up their sleeves and lent a helping hand.
Chris
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Chris
I felt the same contempt when I heard about this story. However, there clearly are two thoughts on this and a lot of people here touched on both of them. The first being that it is insensitive, selfish behavior on the part of these tourists. The second being the need for the economy to be stimulated as much as possible.
I remember after 9/11 the huge publicity campaign that was created to get tourists back to NYC. So much money was lost with the smaller businesses taking the biggest hit along with the hotels, theatres, restaurants, etc.
As for the tourists in Thailand who are bitching about service...I wonder if the news focused on the minority or the exception. Perhaps many of the tourists did give up their vacation to lend a helping hand.
Having worked in the resort industry for 15 years, I can give you a very long list of the most ridiculous things people bitch about. But it has been my experience that those people are very much in the minority and probably live very miserable lives. I am referring to those who don't have a legitimate gripe.
For those who complained about the lack of champagne or their lousy view, I only have contempt for. I'm hoping there were many more who rolled up their sleeves and lent a helping hand.
Chris
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Chris
mikkey 0
QuoteAs for the tourists in Thailand who are bitching about service...I wonder if the news focused on the minority or the exception. Perhaps many of the tourists did give up their vacation to lend a helping hand.
From what I have seen from Thailand this seems to be very much the case.
Here in Australia there is a campaign of getting professionals like Nurses, Doctors etc. to go to the worst stricken areas as volunteers to help. There has been a great response to this initiative. Here is an example:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Asia-tsunami/Volunteering-surgeon-packs-his-bags/2005/01/03/1104601296222.html
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When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.
When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.
QuotePhuket is about 700 years removed from anotehr tsunami of this size.
Wow - you're good .... may be you'd would like to choose some lotto numbers for us as well
(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome
Quote
Whatever. If you want to travel where everyone except travel bureaus are saying to stay out of, go for it. But it's not false or misleading to say that you are at great risk by doing so.
Remove the word "great" and you're accurate. And you'd describe traveling to developing nations at any given moment. Tourists are not at great risk from these problems because they're living in hotels, in conditions that are conducive to many of these diseases the tourists would be rightfully complaining, and checking out.
That state department posting you listed was a joke - dated the 26th, good for 30 days. It was boilerplate.
The CDC always errs grossly on the side of caution in its messages, esp by standards of risk used by skydivers. Just look at their typical recommendations for malaria.
Michele 1
I completely understand the economics of the situation. I also understand that for me, going there right now would not be an appropriate thing.
I would suspect that many travel agents, hotels, airlines, and other accommodaters would be more than willing to find a way to postpone a holiday/vacation for someone.
If I could not postpone it, I would either choose to not go (and take the financial hit), or to go and to volunteer/assist in the recovery (which I would more likely do). I would not sunbathe on a beach where thousands had died. If all I did was go there and hand out clean water, then that would be far more satisfying than laying on a beach.
Consider also that many of the islands have places that weren't hit/devastated by the tsunami. I'd also look at going to one of those (sister hotels) if I couldn't do either of the above.
I am not sure that some people can wrap their heads around the magnitude of this catastrophe. The enormity of this event is astounding, and horrifying. And I think that is part of the problem, as well.
(And KelpDiver, "Ghouls Rush In" was the title of the article I linked. Not my creation.)
Ciels-
Michele
~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~
I would suspect that many travel agents, hotels, airlines, and other accommodaters would be more than willing to find a way to postpone a holiday/vacation for someone.
If I could not postpone it, I would either choose to not go (and take the financial hit), or to go and to volunteer/assist in the recovery (which I would more likely do). I would not sunbathe on a beach where thousands had died. If all I did was go there and hand out clean water, then that would be far more satisfying than laying on a beach.
Consider also that many of the islands have places that weren't hit/devastated by the tsunami. I'd also look at going to one of those (sister hotels) if I couldn't do either of the above.
I am not sure that some people can wrap their heads around the magnitude of this catastrophe. The enormity of this event is astounding, and horrifying. And I think that is part of the problem, as well.
(And KelpDiver, "Ghouls Rush In" was the title of the article I linked. Not my creation.)
Ciels-
Michele
~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~
This is not true in Phuket. People staying away and not going on their vacations on Phuket will do far more damage.
They want and need tourism to continue..... Please remember that a relatively small portion of Phuket is affected, shops are open just a block form the beaches and they are working hard to clean everything up.
The main source of income is tourism.
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