NEARLY a week after protestors left Suvarnabhumi Airport, Singaporean travellers remain wary of Bangkok as a holiday destination.

A check with major tour agencies and airlines found that many are still cancelling their trips and heading elsewhere to Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Other places within Thailand like Phuket are also popular as alternatives.

Some are switching even though it may cost them more money. For example, a three day package for Vietnam or Cambodia can cost up to $200 more than a similar one to Bangkok because they are less popular, according to ASA Holidays spokesman Ms Louisa Chin.

Her company has seen up to 40 cancellations for Bangkok trips since the crisis started, 'with more still flowing in', she added. CTC Holidays, meanwhile, has seen the Dec take-up rate for their Bangkok packages plummet by 50 per cent compared to last Dec (07).

Many travellers are waiting to see how the political situation in Bangkok plays out.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.