Gap year: Thailand 'turning the corner'

Gap year students have been told that Thailand has turned the corner, and travellers are looking at returning to the country after a period of political unrest.

Niel Alobaidi, commercial director for Hayes & Jarvis, said that a "catalogue of woes" might have hit the destination over the past year, but Thailand is now fighting back hard to recover.

"Fluctuating exchange rates, ash clouds, riots and airline strikes should have dampened demand, but Hayes & Jarvis believe that aggressive pricing by hoteliers and airlines has resulted in eye-catching offers that have kept customers booking some of the hardest hit long-haul destinations," he added.

Mr Alobaidi commented that the political unrest had dented bookings, however, things are now starting to pick up in the region.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Royal Thai government has extended a range of measures to promote tourism to the country, including a waiver of visa fees until March 31st 2011.

See the different gap year destinations on offer.

( Last Updated: 2010-07-08 09:14:26)