By Kor Kian Beng

BANGKOK, THAILAND: Ever since their Los Angeles-bound flight on Japan Airlines was cancelled on Nov 26, American real estate agent Martin Kanselbaum and his wife have spent more than US$500 (S$760) on accommodation and expenses.

They were among the 300,000 or so visitors trapped in Bangkok when anti-government protesters shut down two of the nation's airports. The closure has trapped the Kanselbaums, who arrived on Nov 22, and thousands of others, forcing them to fork out more for hotel stays, food and transport.

What the couple did not know, however, was that they might have been able to claim the money-
or part of it - from the Thai government.

An official of the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports told The Straits Times that it had a scheme to compensate stranded tourists for their extended stays. Each tourist, said Ms Wiparat Tharateerapad, the ministry's director of international relations, could get a subsidy of up to 2,000 baht (S$86) a day for their accommodation and food bills.

Not many tourists, however, knew about this. When told about it, Mr Kanselbaum, 58, replied: "I don't have time to find out more about this. I just want to go home."

The subsidy is part of a proposed 2.4 billion baht plan by Thailand's tourism ministry to compensate stranded tourists. It also represents an effort by the Thai government to give a boost to a tourism industry hit by the global crisis and the airport closures.

Some 24.3 billion baht has been set aside for a rescue plan for the country's ailing tourism sector.

Under the subsidy scheme, tourists who show their air tickets and passports to hotels - to prove their flights had been cancelled during the airport blockade - can get hotels to cover their accommodation and meals for up to 2,000 baht a day, until they leave Thailand. The hotels will then claim the amount from the government.

Ms Wirapat said tourists who could not leave by next Tuesday could seek an extension through the hotels, which the ministry will consider on a case-by-case basis. But those who spend more than 2,000 baht a day would have to top up the balance themselves.

Travellers also cannot claim for the subsidy later if they had not indicated beforehand they were stranded passengers.

Ms Wirapat said the scheme covers all licensed hotels. The Thai Hotels Association has some 600 members all over Thailand.

While details have been posted on the websites of the tourism ministry and the hotel association, some stranded tourists have complained that more could have been done to inform them, such as having signs placed in hotel lobbies.

Hotels, however, say their reception desks have been informing tourists about the subsidy. Still, some tourists did know about the 2,000 baht subsidy, and are full of praise.

"It's amazing what the Thai government has done," said freelance photographer Nick Free, 33, who stayed at the three-star All Seasons Gold Orchid Hotel after his London-bound Gulf Air flight on Monday was cancelled. "It's been a really nice holiday despite what has happened."

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Dec 6, 2008.

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