ARAKAN INDOBHASA

The Nation

Hong Kong October 31, 2011 7:00 am

Hong Kong Monday extended a ban on tour groups travelling to Bangkok as serious flooding continued to threaten the Thai capital.

Travel industry officials in Hong Kong last week halted all tours to Bangkok until November 1, leading to the immediate cancellation of around 50 tours carrying 1,500 people.

The Travel Industry Council Monday extended the ban until November 8, leading to the scrapping of 30 planned tours carrying a further 800 visitors.

"We are having frequent dialogue with the government to see whether or not they are going to lower the travel warning for Bangkok," the council’s executive director Joseph Tung said.

The Hong Kong government currently has in effect a red travel warning for Bangkok, meaning travellers should avoid all non-essential travel to the city.

Hong Kong is a two-and-a-half hour flight from Bangkok and is one of its biggest source markets for tourism, particularly for weekend and short-stay visitors. //DPA