I would be interested too. I couldn't do it. I'd come spend money and be
there, but I would want to do something. Still, on our news (CNN) Thailand
seems pretty desparate to have just this happen. They want tourists to
continue to come. THere was one lady who says her staff look at her in fear
that people won't come and what will she do (ie. close down)? But I would be
interested in unofficial feeling.

One argument I've heard is that one of hte best things tourists can do if
they can't offer immediate help (in the form of medical assistance etc) it
to just keep on being tourists. Why? Because they plug in a sh*tload of
money into the economy, and by continuing to show its possible to holiday
there, they are giving out powerful advertising that its still a place worth
holidaying in. Considering that the local economies of alot of small towns
and villages are pretty much entirely dependant on the tourist trade, not
only have they suffered from the immediate devestation, if tourists don't
come back, they've also lost their means of livelihood. It has to be worth
their while to re-build the expensive infrastructure that tourists want (ie,
big fancy hotels etc etc) and if it looks like the tourist industry is going
to dry up, there is no point re-building such facilities.

So as much as it seems disgusting that rich (in relative terms) foriegners
are kicking up their heels in luxury when a large number of people have
suffered total devastation, they may well be doing the survivors a favour -
at least in the long term.

Yowie

Well, I can't watch the local news media because it's in Thai.  So I'm
just watching CNN Asia and they don't say too much about it.  But I've
been to the area and it's not the same as in some of the other places.
Phuket is huge and there are tons of roads and I'm sure that the aid
is getting there.  The Thai military has been doing a great job and
I've heard them encourage people to give to the relief effort in other
countries instead because they have it under control.
Thailand is very westernized and has a great bus system and trains and
many small, cheap domestic airlines.  People do not have to loll about
right next to the destruction.  I think they could at least go to
another area.  It's not like hotels are expensive here.  You can go to
another beautiful resort for less than $50/night and basic
accommodation would be less than $20.  Getting there would cost
minimal money too.  It just seems crass to me to be lounging around
with all this destruction around.
But I have heard that they want the tourists to keep coming.  I worry
too about how this will affect the tourist industry.  Many people
depend on it.  It just doesn't seem right that they are going to
*right next door* to the destruction.  Personally, I couldn't do it.
--
Britta
Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's
covered in fur!
Check out pictures of Vino at:
http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album

Mine too!  Not that I want Thailand to suffer anymore than it must from
lack of tourist dollars in view of the cost of cleaning up, but for
now, when people are trying to restore order after the disaster, I
would think it would be more helpful to stay out of the way in another
country altogether, if you're not willing or able to help. Take a trip
to Thailand, yes, but take it later, when things are not so chaotic!

Speaking as a potential tourist, I'd rather have had the warning "It's
not safe to come to Thailand right now" rather than be swept out to sea
by a 15 foot wall of water with my whole family, and possibly drown.
Melissa

Yes, the necessity for the living to find some way to go on living is what
leads to my somewhat ambivalent feelings -- but it is also what lead to my
statement that my disgust is directed more at tourists than at
some of the locals.  I seriously doubt that the tourists involved are coming
at this time in an attempt to "help the local economy."  Ironically, they
probably will help the local economy -- but I'm not sure even that staement
is correct at this very early stage because resources are so strained in
attempts just to get basic food to those left devastated by the water.

MaryL