| Over the last six months, Thailand has reached | | | | discussion here. We are currently more concerned |
| the headlines across the globe. In November | | | | with the impact these struggles could have on the |
| 2008, the "Yellow Shirts" held the International | | | | economy of Thailand and on the number of |
| Airport at Bangkok under siege, and over the last | | | | tourists who want to visit. When the first major |
| few weeks, the country has faced another | | | | protests began in November 2008, many |
| national emergency, when the "Red Shirts" | | | | holidaymakers cancelled their trip, and having just |
| decided to fight back with their protests in | | | | recovered from the impact of the Tsunami, |
| Bangkok. Yet, in many areas of Thailand, all | | | | many businesses in the tourism industry of |
| seems peaceful and quiet, and there are no signs | | | | Thailand faced yet another season of lowering |
| of these political protests. No sign that is, apart | | | | tourist numbers. The fallout from this is wide |
| from the concern and worry of the locals, and | | | | spread. Entire families rely on the income delivered |
| the quieter bars, restaurants and hotels. | | | | by tourism to survive. |
| The issues behind these protests are complex, | | | | As such a high proportion of the population in the |
| but to put it as simply as possible: | | | | tourist hotspots of Thailand survive on the income |
| The Yellow Shirts (also known as The People's | | | | of tourism alone, the majority of the locals in |
| Alliance for Democracy or PADs), agree with the | | | | these places want nothing but a peaceful |
| concept of democracy, but also feel that people | | | | resolution. They want foreigners to continue to |
| need to have some understanding of the long | | | | regard Thailand as The Land of Smiles. |
| term economic, social and political consequences | | | | Whilst no one wishes to encourage you to walk |
| of their vote. They believe that Thaksin used | | | | into the middle of a conflict, I'm sure I'm speaking |
| corruption to gain the vote of the majority | | | | for the large majority when I ask you to consider |
| population of the rural regions of Northern | | | | the real impact of these struggles on your visit to |
| Thailand, on the lead up to the 2001 elections that | | | | Thailand. Neither the Reds nor the Yellows have |
| made him prime minister. | | | | an issue with tourists or expats, but if you are |
| The Red Shirts, however, see Thaksin more as a | | | | concerned about the recent troubles in Bangkok, I |
| Robin Hood character, who took from the rich | | | | would like to highlight that you do not need to fly |
| and gave to the poor. They believe they would | | | | to Bangkok if you wish to visit Thailand. You can |
| be financially better off both in the short term | | | | fly from Kuala Lumpur to Krabi, or fly direct into |
| and the long term under the rule of Thaksin. Now, | | | | Phuket. From there you can go straight to your |
| Thaksin faces corruption charges, and an | | | | final holiday destination, where a warm welcome |
| unelected party and prime minister are ruling their | | | | and a peaceful atmosphere awaits - just as |
| country. As a result, they feel cheated. | | | | tourists have grown to expect from Thailand - |
| Who is right and who is wrong is not for | | | | The Land of Smiles. |