March 9, 2005
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand plans to build a museum to educate people about the tsunami disaster, the tourism authority says, dismissing reports that the country was eyeing a "tsunami theme park".
Thailand, struggling to lure tourists back to its Andaman Sea beaches where hundreds were killed by the December 26 tsunami, flew more than 1,000 travel agents and journalists to the resort island of Phuket last weekend.
But the publicity tour ran into controversy after Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Juthamas Siriwan was quoted as saying the memorial may include a simulated tidal wave on Khao Lak, the worst-hit beach where most of Thailand's 5,300 deaths occured.
"I talked to the architect and they say they are going to make something like that so maybe this will be the next Universal Studios of the tsunamis in Khao Lak," the Australian Associated Press quoted Juthamas as telling reporters in Phuket.
Some families of Australian victims of the tsunami complained that her remarks were in bad taste.
But TAT spokesman Tanes Petsuwan said on Tuesday the comment had been taken out of context and there were no plans to build a tsunami theme park near Khao Lak.
"The governor stated that the Thai government would establish a museum that would have exhibitions as well as use interactive technology to educate people about tsunamis," Tanes said in a statement.
Thailand hoped the massive public relations campaign would lure at least two million visitors during the low season from April to September and revive a struggling industry in tsunami-affected areas.
Some hotels suffered occupancy rates as low as 10-20 percent as tourists stayed away during the peak season, when 90 percent occupancy rates are the norm.
The government has said it will rebuild 70 percent of the tsunami damage in the worst-hit Andaman Sea provinces of Phuket, Phang-Nga and Krabi in three months.
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand plans to build a museum to educate people about the tsunami disaster, the tourism authority says, dismissing reports that the country was eyeing a "tsunami theme park".
Thailand, struggling to lure tourists back to its Andaman Sea beaches where hundreds were killed by the December 26 tsunami, flew more than 1,000 travel agents and journalists to the resort island of Phuket last weekend.
But the publicity tour ran into controversy after Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Juthamas Siriwan was quoted as saying the memorial may include a simulated tidal wave on Khao Lak, the worst-hit beach where most of Thailand's 5,300 deaths occured.
"I talked to the architect and they say they are going to make something like that so maybe this will be the next Universal Studios of the tsunamis in Khao Lak," the Australian Associated Press quoted Juthamas as telling reporters in Phuket.
Some families of Australian victims of the tsunami complained that her remarks were in bad taste.
But TAT spokesman Tanes Petsuwan said on Tuesday the comment had been taken out of context and there were no plans to build a tsunami theme park near Khao Lak.
"The governor stated that the Thai government would establish a museum that would have exhibitions as well as use interactive technology to educate people about tsunamis," Tanes said in a statement.
Thailand hoped the massive public relations campaign would lure at least two million visitors during the low season from April to September and revive a struggling industry in tsunami-affected areas.
Some hotels suffered occupancy rates as low as 10-20 percent as tourists stayed away during the peak season, when 90 percent occupancy rates are the norm.
The government has said it will rebuild 70 percent of the tsunami damage in the worst-hit Andaman Sea provinces of Phuket, Phang-Nga and Krabi in three months.