Bangkok  - The week-long closure of Bangkok's two airports expected to reduce Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.3 to 0.5 per cent in the last quarter of
2008, a government think tank revealed Monday.

The National Economic And Social Development Board (NESDB) has estimated that Thailand lost revenues amounting to 104 billion baht (3 billion dollars) because of the closures of Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang airport by anti-government protestors from November 26 to December 3, the Bangkok Post newspaper said.

The airports were reopened only after protestors, led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), announced that they had succeeded in toppling the last government after the Constitutional Court dissolved the ruling party on election fraud charges, effectively forcing then-prime minister Somchai Wongsawat to step down.

Because of the drastic interruption to Thailand's vital export and tourism sectors, combined with the impact of the global financial crisis, the NESDB - the government's main economic think tank - has lowered Thailand's projects GDP growth for 2008 from 4.5 per cent to 4 per cent.

Next year's GDP growth rate is now expected to be below 3 per cent, said NESDB secretary-general Ampon Kittiampon. (dpa)