A total of 11 blasts hit popular areas including Phuket, Hua Hin and Surat Thani last Thursday and Friday, killing four people and injuring dozens, including 11 foreign tourists.
However, despite the attacks the trade is reporting that overall, bookings have taken a minimal hit.
Kuoni said although guests in-resort were “concerned” during the incidents, it has only had “a couple” of guests asking to amend their trips.
“Bookings are still coming in steadily – even the day after the bombings,” said director of purchasing and customer experience, Wendy Kenneally. “In the past when incidents like this have happened [elsewhere] we’ve seen a dramatic drop in bookings.”
Premier Holidays said it had seen no cancellations for Thailand and interest in the country “remained strong”.
Agents reported a similar story. Nicholas Harding-McKay, managing director of London-based Travel Designers, said Thailand sales typically represent around 5% of business.
He admitted he did not receive any bookings for the country off the back of the agency’s weekly marketing alert on Sunday, which was “very unusual”, but added he had not received any cancellations or “comfort calls” regarding Thailand. “The word Isis has not been attached to the blasts – if it had there would have been a lot more media coverage, which would lead to consumer concern,” he said.
Alex Williams, manager at Blue Skies Travel in Cardiff, said he booked a couple to one of the affected areas – Hua Hin – on Tuesday morning, four days after the attacks. “My customer said as it wasn’t Isis involved, she didn’t feel she should be that concerned,” he said.
Williams is travelling to Thailand himself in mid-September.
David Carlaw, head of Faraway product at Premier Holidays, added: “There’s been a lack of media interest and it doesn’t appear to be related to international terrorism.”
Meanwhile, John Cummings, manager of Flight Centre’s Bournemouth branch said “customers seem more concerned about travelling to Europe than Thailand.”
Chris Lee, head of marketing UK and Ireland at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the situation in the country “appeared to be returning to business as usual”.
TAT is preparing a marketing push in September, which was originally conceived in response to “the slightly quieter post-Brexit period”.
Thailand’s resilience after blasts put down to ‘no Isis involvement’
Register for free to continue reading
Get unlimited access to the latest travel industry news and analysis, comment on articles and sign up to newsletters.
Register for free
Already registered? Login here or below.
Having difficulty logging in? Try these tips, or contact support@flymy.co.uk