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Chaiwat said the siege of Suvarnabhumi Airport by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters from November 25 to December 3 had adversely affected Thailand's aviation industry.

 

Thai News Agency quoted Chaiwat as saying he believed some foreign tourists had shifted their attention away from travelling to Thailand due to the persistent political turmoil.

 

Initially, he forecast, the number of tourists, passengers of various airlines, would fall by 40 per cent. The airport shutdown had prompted each airline to reduce both its inbound and outbound flights.

 

Should the number of passengers of each airline drop sharply, it is likely that non-Thai airlines would shift their operations bases from Thailand to other countries in the region.

 

The issue is of great concern because it could lessen revenue earned from tourism and many more Thais, who work with airlines, would be jobless.

 

"What the government should do now is to improve the security system," he said.  "Armed security guards are set up to oversee the security and safety to boost confidence that Thai airports will be neither stormed nor besieged effortlessly," he said.