CCTV9英语新闻：Chinese New Year bookings plunge in Thailand

By CCTV correspondent Dusita Chumsri

In Thailand, the anti-government movement’s plan to shut down Bangkok on January 13 is expected to damage the city’s image as a prime tourist destination. The impact will continue through the Chinese New Year which begins on January 31. And with warning signs of charter-flight cancellations, especially from China, Thailand’s tourism industry is worried about how long it can withstand the pressure.

It is often dubbed 1 the ’Land Of Smiles’. It’s what they are known for and it’s what they believe keeps tourists coming back. But Thailand’s tourist-friendly image has been tested in recent months with images like this circulating the globe- from mass demonstrations 2 that paralyze the city to deadly clashes between anti-government protesters and police.

Protest Leaders are now upping the ante. With their planned operation to seize Bangkok, Thailand’s lucrative 3 tourism industry is under threat.

“The planned mass rally on January 13 could continue. This will be a concern for Chinese tourists as we get closer to the Chinese New Year." said Somsak Pureerisak, Caretaker Tourism and Sports Minister.

And that means bad news. Thailand is one of the most popular travel destinations for Chinese tourists during holidays. Last year, for the Chinese New Year period alone, it was estimated that more than $140 million was injected into Thailand’s economy. This year, however, the numbers looks set to plunge 4.

“The number of Chinese tourists, before the Chinese New Year period, has gone down by 70 percent. That’s a lot.” said Paiboon Saetang, Vice 5 General Manager, C.C.T. Express Co., LTD.

More than 40 countries, including China, have issued travel advisories 6 to Thailand, and it seems, their citizens are listening. It’s peak season and there aren’t as many tourists as usual. The queues at key tourist sites have disappeared- a telling sign that all is not well.

Thailand’s tourism industry accounts for more than 7% of the country’s economy. But, the scale of the planned protests, which could coincide with Chinese New Year, has deterred 7 tourists from the Kingdom. The tourism industry has already started seeing signs of flight cancellations especially those from China.

“The situation in Thailand is unstable 8. Chinese tourists are concerned for their safety so they are canceling reservations. This has reduced our passenger numbers so we have cancelled some flights.” said Yuan Shengli, General Manager, Thailand Bureau, China Eastern Airline.

Ultimately, Thailand’s tourism rebound 9 seems to a case of “when” given that a solution to this political crisis seems as far away as ever. And unless the nation’s political troubles are dealt with, Thailand’s public ’smile’ won’t be able to hide its inner turmoil 10 for much longer. And that will likely to keep visitors away.

点击收听单词发音  






1
dubbed

  
 


v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制


参考例句：





Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》












2
demonstrations

  
 


证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威


参考例句：





Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。












3
lucrative

  
 


adj.赚钱的，可获利的


参考例句：





He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。












4
plunge

  
 


v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲


参考例句：





Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。












5
vice

  
 


n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的


参考例句：





He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。












6
advisories

  
 


n.（有关进展、动向、建议等的）报告( advisory的名词复数 )；公告；通告；通报


参考例句：





Compliance with Practice Advisories is optional. 是否遵守实务公告由审计师自行选择决定。 来自互联网
Hardened-PHP: not as such a PHP security information website, but it does have security advisories. 增强PHP:不仅仅是一个PHP安全新的网站，它还提供安全建议。 来自互联网












7
deterred

  
 


v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 )


参考例句：





I told him I wasn't interested, but he wasn't deterred. 我已告诉他我不感兴趣，可他却不罢休。
Jeremy was not deterred by this criticism. 杰里米没有因这一批评而却步。 来自辞典例句












8
unstable

  
 


adj.不稳定的，易变的


参考例句：





This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。












9
rebound

  
 


v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回


参考例句：





The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。












10
turmoil

  
 


n.骚乱，混乱，动乱


参考例句：





His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。