Due to the floods in Thailand, I have to write about travelling and risk perception. The floods are approaching the centre of Bangkok and many Bangkok residents are leaving the city. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against non-essential travel to Bangkok and 26 provinces in the country. Despite all the disaster news, lots of Swedes are travelling to Thailand these days. How does our risk perception really work?
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ShareDisaster news from Thailand
At the moment, disaster news is coming from Thailand. You can read in the newspapers about the floods approaching the centre of Bangkok and about Swedes trapped in the floods. Despite this, many Swedes are travelling to Thailand these days.
How does our risk perception work?
Whilst many tourist resorts are far from the affected areas and are certainly safe to travel to, I can't help but wonder if our perception of risk is different when it comes to Thailand? It sometimes doesn't seem to matter if there are floods, riots or the risk of civil war. We go to Thailand anyway.
Exaggerating or downplaying risks
Another interesting thing is the news flow. Today, blogs, Twitter and travel forums are broadening the traditional news perspective, especially when it comes to a country like Thailand! A while ago, blogger Foki showed empty shelves in Bangkok's supermarkets, before leaving the floods for Hong Kong.
Some may benefit from exaggerating the risks, while others benefit from minimising them. (Like the Thai woman in a news report who said "I still rent out long-tail boats, but I don't say anything about the huge snakes I've seen in the water").
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Some reflections from the first trip abroad since February
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Znogge says:
In connection with the occupation of the airport, many countries had advised against travelling to Thailand, but not Sweden. So clearly we make different judgements!
Our daughter is in Egypt right now and it doesn't feel completely safe there either...
30 October 2011 - 12:52
admin says:
Znogge, yes, there are different assessments. I haven't heard that there are any real risks in Egypt right now? But there is certainly a general concern throughout this area. But then you can't worry too much either, you have to dare to live too. I hope your daughter is doing well in Egypt!
30 October 2011 - 22:08