An industry association warns Thailand's tourism business faces staggering losses this year because of the confrontation 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.
泰国一个行业协会警告说,泰国反政府示威者跟安全部队的对峙今年将给泰国观光业带来惊人的损失。许多观光客取消了泰国之行,或者逃离了过去几天发生血腥冲突的地区。
The Federation 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.
泰国工业联盟(The Federation of Thai Industries)表示,反政府抗议者和安全部队之间血腥冲突的画面在全世界播放之后,这场政治冲突可能给泰国旅游业造成超过10亿美元的损失。
The FTI says hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and shopping malls near the protest sites would be hardest hit.
泰国工业联盟说,受损最严重的将是抗议地点附近的酒店、餐馆、纪念品商店和购物商城。
More than 40 countries have issued travel warnings regarding Bangkok.
40多个国家发布了跟曼谷有关的旅行警告。
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.
考山路是曼谷市最著名的观光区,它靠近星期六发生最严重暴力事件的地方。有20多人在那次冲突中丧生,几百人受伤。
Kumtan drives a tuk-tuk, or small three-wheeled taxi, on Khao San.
库姆坦在考山路上开小型电动三轮出租车。
Kumtan says foreign travelers will stay away this year because they are afraid. He says is not good and will hit his income hard.
库姆坦说,外国游客害怕发生危险,今年不会到曼谷观光。他说,那将非常糟糕,他的收入会减少很多。
The protesters largely support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006. They want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and call new elections. They began mass protests in the city a month ago.
抗议者基本上都支持在2006年一次政变中被推翻的前总理他信。他们想要现任总理阿披实下台,并要求举行新选举。抗议者一个月前开始在曼谷举行大规模抗议示威。
Even before the violence, hotels in Bangkok reported that 20 percent of their reservations were being canceled by travelers concerned by the protests.
即使在暴力事件发生之前,曼谷的酒店就报告说,游客担心发生抗议活动,取消了20%的酒店预定。
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.
旅游业官员预计,由于抗议事件接连不断,今年到达泰国的游客人数将减少到大约1450万人,比先前预计的人数少100百万。旅游收入占泰国GDP大约6%。
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.
有一处主要的抗议地点位于一个大型购物、酒店和交通枢纽的中心地带。抗议造成几百家受到游客喜爱的商店在过去这个星期停业,这是从来没有过的,造成的损失有数亿美元。
The violence led to the Bangkok city government to cancel official celebrations for the Thai New Year, the Songkran festival, which begins Tuesday.
暴力冲突导致曼谷市政府取消了4月13日开始的泰国新年泼水节的官方庆祝活动。
Alice, a tourist from France, says she notices the difference in atmosphere among the people.
法国游客艾丽丝说,她注意到人们的表情变化。
"All the people are very stressed, stressed out," she noted. "People from Thailand are not like this usually, they are not like smiley people. This is just weird ambiance."
“所有的人都非常紧张。泰国人通常不是这样,他们的脸上没有了往日的笑容。这种气氛非常不同寻常。”
Small companies are especially at risk because they lack cash reserves. Krishna at a Khao San tailor shop says his business is suffering.
小企业缺少现金储备,因此处境更加危险。考山路上一家裁缝店的克里希纳说,他的生意正在蒙受损失。
"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.
“这个月几乎没有任何生意。考山路现在非常冷清。这条街在泼水节期间是最繁忙的,不过今年好像没人光顾。附近几乎空无一人。”
Bob James, tourism industry consultant, says while the situation is serious, he expects tourism to recover.
旅游业顾问鲍伯·詹姆斯认为,尽管局势严峻,他预计旅游业将会复苏。
"It's a serious situation but I also think you have to put things into context," he explained. "Thailand is renowned 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."
“目前局势严峻,但我同样认为人们应该综合地看问题。泰国的观光业非常有名,它是亚洲最重要的旅游国家并且一直是这样。泰国过去遇到过挑战,经历过盛衰沉浮,但是它都挺过来,并重获成功。”
Thailand's tourism authority is planning to begin a new wave of promotions once the political conflicts subside.
泰国旅游当局计划,这场政治冲突平息之后立即开始新一轮旅游促销活动。 |