Dazed, stranded tourists just want out of Thailand

By Martin Petty

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Bangkok's shiny new airport resembled the aftermath of an all-night rock concert as thousands of confused people wandered aimlessly in search of food and help while others, wrapped in beach towels, slept where they could.

With the $4 billion terminal besieged by anti-government protesters, forcing the cancellation of all flights on Wednesday, foreign tourists had little option but to bed down on benches, behind check-in desks, and even luggage carousels.

"This is a big problem," Dutch tourist John Crushak said as he lay on a makeshift bed of clothes and suitcases in one of the world's biggest airports. "I just want to go home. I don't care what has happened. This can't go on any longer."

Disheveled men and women wandered around the terminal soon after sunrise in search of coffee, food and some word about what was going on.

Many resorted to a breakfast of cup noodles and potato chips from a convenience store, one of the few businesses inside the futuristic terminal building that was not shuttered up or deserted by staff.

"I understand the people, but the airlines are terrible. They've given us no information," said Swede Christopher Persson, who spent the night underneath a check-in desk.

"I haven't had any sleep. I don't know whether to go to Bangkok or stay here. It's just terrible," he said.

Despite the anger, People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters camped outside the terminal doors were unapologetic.

They said their airport protest was justified as part of their six-month-long campaign to remove an elected government they believe is a puppet of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

"We will stay until the government steps down. This government is not legitimate. Thaksin is in control," said retired university lecturer Sunthorn Kaewlai, dressed in the PAD's obligatory yellow worn in honor of Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

"We have not interfered with passengers' travel. The airport authorities have to run this airport," he added.

Behind him long queues snaked out of the toilets, the flooded, filthy floors of which were likely to dent the reputation of the "Land of Smiles" as a premier tourist destination drawing 14.5 million tourists last year.

The industry, which directly employs 1.8 million people and brings in 6 percent of gross domestic product, has survived the SARS epidemic, the Asian tsunami, bird flu and a 2006 coup.

But the long-running protests have hurt, with many big hotels losing conference business after a state of emergency was briefly declared in Bangkok in September.

"It's not the people stranded in the airport who are the big problem in terms of their view of Thailand. It's the people who now won't come in December or January for their holidays," said Chris Bruton of corporate risk firm Dataconsult.