Tsunami hits spa resorts

Resorts and spas throughout the Indian Ocean's coastal regions were among the worst hit by the Boxing Day tidal waves.

A number of properties have been completely destroyed, while others have been forced to shut down operations as the massive waves left entire resorts without any power or clean water.

Le Meridien was forced to close its beach spa resort in Khao Lak, where seven guests and 12 staff died as the resort was destroyed by the tidal wave.

The Aspara spa at the Holiday Inn Resort in Phuket was badly damaged and Intercontinental Hotels – which owns the resort – announced that the hotel and spa will be closed until further notice.

The full cost of the damage to the property is yet to be determined. A spokesperson for the company said that all guests had been relocated and the hotel would remain closed until at least 30 April.

Banyan Tree, which operates five hotels in the Laguna Phuket region, said that all of its hotels will remain open, despite the destruction of the group’s beach restaurants and a total of 50 guest rooms out of the groups 1,100-strong room portfolio.

According to reports from the area, the effects of the tsunami were very localised. Some beaches in Phuket were virtually untouched by the waves, while others such as Patong Beach were badly hit.

The Thai government said casualties were particularly high in the Khao Lak area and on the Phi Phi island, while rebuilding the region’s infrastructure could take years.

In Sri Lanka, the tidal waves destroyed large parts of the islands west and south coasts.

The coastal city of Galle was badly damaged and the Lighthouse Hotel and Spa was forced to close after the tsunami completely destroyed the lower levels of the hotel, including the spa.

Resorts in the Maldives were also badly hit, although the islands escaped some of the destruction partly to its geography. Its low-lying profile ensured that the massive waves largely ‘rolled over’ the small islands – rather than hitting them with forces experienced in neighbouring Sri Lanka.

The Taj Exotica Resort & Spa on Emboodhu Finolhu, South Malé Atoll suffered severe damages and will remain closed until late 2005. Taj’s second Maldives site, Taj Coral Reef, was also affected but aims to fully reopen by 31 January.

Four Seasons closed its resort at Kuda Huraa after it was badly damaged by the tidal wave, while all guests were evacuated from the Fun Island resort in the South Male’ Atoll. Most of the resort, which is operated by Villa Hotels, was destroyed by the tsunami.

Six villas at the Soneva Fushi resort were damaged by the waves and the Soneva Gili resort was forced to close. Six Senses, which operates the two resorts, aims to re-open Soneva Gili during February.

Per Aquum, which operates two resorts in the Maldives, reported minor damages to its facilities and continues to operate its Huvafen Fushi and Dhoni Mighili resorts normally.

Although all five water bungalows at Huvafen Fushi were damaged by the waves, the resort’s underwater spa treatment rooms were not affected.

The Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa also escaped damage, while tour operator First Choice announced that only one of its 584 customers in the region had been killed by the tsunami.

Tourism accounts for around 20 per cent of the Maldives’ gross domestic product (GDP) so a drop in visitor numbers would create major pressure on the island nation’s economy.

The Maldives Tourism Promotion Board, however, remains optimistic and issued a statement saying that the 87 island resorts had fared considerably better than many situated on the coastlines of neighbouring countries.