Tsunami warning dampens Phuket tourism industry

Astrological predictions that a tsunami will hit southern Thailand this month have led to a wave of hotel room cancellations at beach resorts, news reports said.

Hotels in Phuket, Phangnga, Ranong and Surin – beach resorts on the Andaman Sea coast – have reported the cancellation of 10 per cent of room bookings this month in the wake of predictions by well-known astrologers that the coast will be hit by another tsunami, the Bangkok Post reported.

A tsunami struck the area on December 26, 2004 killing more 5 000 people, half of whom were foreign tourists.

Independent Online