Japanese tourists not afraid of power cut in Thailand

BANGKOK, Feb 24 (TNA) - Japanese tourists are more afraid of protests than any power blackout in Thailand this April when the annual water festival ‘Songkran’ is celebrated, said Anake Srishevachart, president of Thai-Japan Tourism Business Association. Bangkok and some parts of the South can expect a brief power cut while Myanmar suspends gas supplies to Thailand from April 5-14 for routine maintenance at its Yadana gas field. Currently, Myanmar produces nearly 6,400 megawatts of electricity per day for Thailand by using natural gas. Anake added that he estimates between 1.4-1.5 million Japanese tourists will visit Thailand in 2013 compared with 1.3 million last year if there is no political turbulence in this country. Moreover, April is offseason for Japanese tourists because most Japanese firms close their annual balance sheets that month, he said. Most Japanese prefer to visit Thailand in January and February, when the country has a more cool weather. (TNA)