No relief for Thailand tourists

December 1, 2008 - 0:0

Thousands of anti-government protesters continue to occupy two airports in the Thai capital, Bangkok, for a sixth day.

An estimated 100,000 passengers have been stranded by the occupations at the international and domestic airports.
The closures have affected Thailand's tourist industry, with the loss of millions of dollars of revenue.
Spain's government says it will send three planes later on Sunday to evacuate its citizens, who plan a protest outside their embassy.
They want the Spanish government to provide more help to them in getting home.
There are hundreds of Britons among the crowds of stranded passengers.
Some of the travelers have been trying to get to smaller airports around the country, but these are being overwhelmed.
The Thai government says it will spend some $30 million (£19.5m) over the next month to help stranded tourists, including giving them free hotel rooms and daily expenses.
Deputy Prime Minister Olarn Chaipravat said the number of foreign tourists arriving next year was expected to drop by half, to 6m, threatening 1m jobs which are directly or indirectly dependant on tourism.
Demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have been in Suvarnabhumi international airport since Tuesday and Don Mueang domestic airport since Wednesday.
About 2,000 police, some armed, were deployed on Sunday to set up four more checkpoints on the road to Suvarnabhumi, airport security commander Major General Rarshane Reunkomol told AFP news agency.
A rally by pro-government supporters may be held in Bangkok later on Sunday.
BBC correspondent Jonathan Head in Bangkok says there was an increasing risk of the civil conflict escalating.
In the early hours of Sunday, about 50 people were injured in a grenade attack on protesters who have been occupying the prime minister's office in Bangkok since August. Three people were said to be in a serious condition.
There was growing anger among pro-government supporters over the failure of the police and army to back the elected prime minister, BBC correspondent adds.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, seen by the protesters as an ally of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has refused to resign in the face of the protests.
The PAD -- a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class -- say the government is corrupt and hostile to the monarchy. (Source: BBC)