Australians abandon Phuket as election protests rock Bangkok

UNREST in Bangkok is taking a toll on tourism outside the capital, with travellers abandoning Thailand's biggest resort island.

THERE'S trouble in paradise. Australian travellers are abandoning Phuket as violent protests in Bangkok take their toll on tourism outside the capital.

Since October, there has been a startling 88 per cent decrease in Australians looking for accommodation on the resort island, new figures reveal.

The decline comes as unrest in the lead-up to elections this weekend has seen Bangkok placed under a state of emergency.

However, interest in Bangkok itself, where the protests are centred, has decreased by only 29 per cent.

The word on the street: What Aussie travellers say

A supporter cheers on a passing anti-government march in Bangkok. Picture: AP

The statistics come from the world's largest online hotel search site trivago.com.au, which compares rates from over 700,000 hotels on more than 200 booking sites.

Its figures show since the beginning of the political turmoil, there has been an overall search decline of 23 per cent by Australians researching or booking Thailand travel.

The good news for those who haven't been turned off a trip to Phuket is prices have plummeted during what's usually the busiest season.

January is traditionally the most popular month to visit the resort island, with low rainfall and humidity.

The trivago.com.au statistics show the average price for a hotel in Phuket during January has fallen from $281 a night in 2013 to $242 a night this year.

A source at the Australian Embassy, questioned the figures, telling local news site Phuketwan that: "If anything, we are finding more people choosing Phuket as an alternative to going to Bangkok."

However Australian Nick Tenediotis, who has visited Thailand often and has spent the past three weeks on Phuket, described it as "nearly Aussie-less".

"I have hardly seen any Aussies, whereas with all my previous visits, I often wondered whether I had left Australia with more Aussies here than any other race," he said.

Travellers urged: Check your travel insurance

Australian travel interest in Phuket between September 2013 and January 2014. Graphic: Trivago.com.au

Meanwhile, Bangkok's role as a key stopover destination and business traveller hub may have protected it from bearing the brunt of the tourism exodus.

Tourists have been reasurred that it's possible to enjoy a visit to Bangkok while completely avoiding the areas affected by protests.

Intrepid Travel spokeswoman Amanda Linardon said its tours were continuing, with travellers advised to avoid the protest sites.

"Our local operator has assured us that the protests are quite localised," she said.

"We do have contingency plans if things do erupt ... (and) we're not going to put anyone's safety at risk."

Australian travel interest in Bangkok between September 2013 and January 2014. Graphic: Trivago.com.au

However, hotels and restaurants close to protest locations are facing dramatic declines in guest numbers that normally are close to 80 per cent occupancy at this time.

Thai Tourism officials have said the campaign to "shut down" Bangkok had led to a decline of 5 per cent, or about two million visitors, in overall tourist arrivals.

Leigh Scott-Kemmis, president of the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce, said earlier this week that investors still saw Thailand as a key investment hub for the region.

"Companies such as Visy Packaging and BlueScope, their message is the same: they all selected Thailand as a hub and they have no reason to back off that," Mr Scott-Kemmis said.

"If anything, the experience has proved them absolutely right, and none of what's going on in Bangkok gets in the way of that."

A Thai pro-election activist distributes flags carrying slogans during protests in Bangkok. Picture: AFP

The Australian government's Smartraveller site warns travellers to Thailand to exercise a high degree of caution due to the possibility of civil unrest and the threat of terrorist attack.

It recommends travellers avoid all polling places, political rallies and protest activities.

Tens of thousands of police will be deployed across Thailand on Sunday as voters go to the polls.

But experts warn the vote is unlikely to end a long-running cycle of political violence.

At least 10 people have been killed and hundreds injured in clashes, grenade attacks and drive-by shootings since mass opposition rallies against her government began three months ago.

Pro-election protesters call for a free and fair election. Picture: Getty

The 60-day state of emergency imposed in the capital and surrounding areas gives authorities extra security powers.

Election officials warn that a poll result may not be known for months because of problems caused by the protests.

"Thailand seems to be in a perpetual state of conflict right now and I don't see any end in sight," said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch.

The word on the street: What Aussie travellers say

For more information about Thailand travel visit the Smartraveller website.

- with AAP / AFP