For a country so dependent on tourism revenue, the SARS outbreak creates a major threat to the Thailand economy. Already tourism arrivals are down 20 to 30% over the past 10 days, and even PM Thaksin Shinawatra is running around with his wings in a flap, threatening to recompense everybody who can prove they got SARS in Thailand 500,000 Baht. What's more, if you actually kick the bucket he will double the pay out. And if you get it during Songkran, the annual Thai new year peak holiday season, he will double it again... Brings a new meaning to the old saying "See Thailand and die"...

Not that it's likely.

You see Thailand has one of the lowest incidences of SARS in the region now, despite welcoming some of the largest numbers of tourists, including those from China, Singapore and Hong Kong, of any Asian country. According to the government there has been no incidences of the virus being transmitted in Thailand itself. All cases caught the bug outside the Kingdom.

Thailand's Don Muang airport is now fully fitted out with mobile medical examination clinics to check out all tourists from SARS affected nations. What's more if you come from Singapore, China, Taiwan, Vietnam or Hong Kong you have to wear a face mask 24 hours for the first 2 weeks of your stay.

Yet once outside the airport, the evidence of SARS is Thailand is almost non-existent. Despite running around at meetings for 3 whole days on the road I have yet to see face masks more evident than as usual in a city where traffic cops wear them regularly just to keep out the normal Bangkok air. But it is true that the tourist traps are markedly less well attended, and when a patron emits a small sneeze or cough, you can hear a pin drop, as others look sideways suspiciously for a few seconds.

Let's just say, that Singaporeans or Hongkies who have already been a month are clamoring for visa extensions to forestall arriving back in their home towns. After all it's Songkran soon, though avoiding a soaking to forestall getting any sort of cold, may be well advised.