Could you do it NY Daily News article http://www.nydailynews.com/front/sto...28627c.htmlont page article

Absolutely NOT.

In a similar circumstance, I think I'd want to be on the first plane home.

If you read the article, one Belgian tourist complained that he wasn't met at his Phuket hotel with the Champagne reception.

That was a Russian tourist, by the way, Ryan.

This is one of those "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situations.
The locals and even the government are pleading for people to go ahead with their vacations there. Bringing the tourist dollars will do more for the local economy that sitting at home sending a few dollars to some organization. Like here in Florida after the hurricanes, many were begging people to go ahead with their travel plans and help rebuild and support the stricken areas with their tourist dollars. Now here are people doing just that, and they are being damned for it.

Of course, I'm not trying to justify people complaining about the inconveniences of things not being perfect, and I doubt that I could do it, but there is something to be said for those who didn't cancel their plans and keep their money at home. Don't forget all those hotel and restaurant workers have nothing at all left but their jobs. Do you really want them to lose their jobs as well by closing up all the tourist buisnesses, the only thing that keeps these places alive?

Sorry, you're right Patrick. The Belgian complained about the view.

I copied and pasted the address, but couldn't find the article. Could someone give me a few more details, please?

Never mind, I found it, and I am reading it now.

It's essentially an article about how tourists still arrive at Phuket and lounge on the beach while the dead are being accounted for. I found it a rather sided article personally. Clearly the writer felt that all these people should stay home, the resorts should all close to business, and the locals should all lose their liveliehood, formerly based on tourism.
Well, to each his own opinion, I guess.

Of course to add to the sensationalism, points were made about how people complained because there were some inconveniences to their stay.

Patrick, it is afterall, The Daily News.

I could not lie on a beach knowing that so many bodies are unaccounted for, sorry. I completely agree with your point regarding the poor worker who is now struggling to keep his/her job but the question was "Could you do it?" and my answer is still "No".

I agree with Patrick that there is a fine line that can be walked. I'd like to think that I would keep my vacation plans as much as would be practically possible. I also hope I would express my sympathies for the locals and that I would be sensitive to how they might view my actions. As an example, I would want to be careful about drinking by the poolside in such a manner that flaunts my good fortune at the same time the locals are experiencing such misfortune.

I understand Patrick's point about not cancelling your plans and boosting the economy. But if you do carry on with your plans so soon after such a catastrophic event, you shouldn't be too surprised if things are a bit different from what you expected. And I certainly wouldn't complain about dumb stuff like a champagne reception.

Believe it or not, last year I was considering a trip to Thailand in January 2005. I later decided on Paris instead, and I must admit I am glad. If I still had plans for Thailand in January, I would be facing some tough decisions right now. In as much as I would like to help the Thai economy, I don't think I could enjoy being in a place where there is so much grief, not to mention the possibility of disease from decaying bodies. However, I still keep Thailand high on my list of things to do in life, and hopefully I'll make it over there in the next year or so.

Patrick,
I agree that these countries and tourist industry workers will best be served by things returning to as close to normal as soon as possible.

I think it is a question of when that is appropriate and I do not think less a 7 days after the event qualifies as appropriate. To hit the beach while workers are still pulling bodies out of the nearby sand, smacks of insensitivity. But, it's a personal decision.

Perhaps my views on the subject are jaded by some of the actions I witnessed in the months after 9/11 as my old office was 1/2 block from the WTC complex. After some of the things I saw tourists do, nothing surprises me.

P M
Please, do consider taking that trip to Thailand sometime in the future. It is a truly wonderful country and the people are sooooo hospitable.

I've been to Thailand 6 times so far, with number 7 in March 05. I've stayed on Phuket three times so far. The resort where I've stayed just sent me an email saying that they were closed temporarily due to damage on the first floor, but would open soon and they hoped I would plan to visit again. They DO depend on tourist dollars! Patrick is right. The best way to help the situation is to go there and spend your dollars!!

I could not stay. I would return soon because it is so good for there economy but to be as ignorant as some of those people are is just sad. I mean the children that have died, no I could not stay but I could help. This country is in mourning and will be for some time. I think a little respect is in order for these people.

I think I could only go through with such plans (and I am not one to cancel plans easily) if I spent part of the time there actually helping out in some way. I would just feel too guilty about it otherwise. Even if I helped though, I would have a very hard time lying on the beach and getting any enjoyment or peace out of the vacation part of the experience. This wasn't any ordinary disaster like your average hurricane or something. I wouldn't condemn those who go through with their plans, but it would be hard for me to do. All that said, I was considering that area for a big anniversary trip in about 1 1/2 years, and I would still go then without much hesitation.

First of all, let's make it clear: Russians demanded champagne (coming from Soviet Union I can say: how typical!). "Other tourists" complained there is no view. After that in the next paragraph a Belgian tourist questioned whether he should stay.

I know of many tourists who refused to leave to help other compatriots to look for missing people. So people do stay for different reasons.

If I felt I could help I'd stay. If I felt I will only be getting in the way I'd leave. Under no circumstances I would even consider alcohol.