Foreign Tourists Urged To Stay Away From Bangkok

[george]

Foreign operators urged to switch tour groups to non-Bangkok destinations

BANGKOK: -- Foreign operators with tours due to arrive next week are being advised to switch their groups to out-of-Bangkok destinations, in order to avoid any impact from rising political tension and the likelihood of protests turning violent.

At least two countries - Australia and Canada - have issued advisories to their citizens to consider safety matters very carefully when travelling to Thailand, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand.

TCT secretary-general Pornthip Hirunkate yesterday said the council had sent advice to all its members to help them deal with the political situation and the potential for violence as the court ruling in ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's assets-seizure case approaches.

Local operators have been urged to ask their overseas alliance partners to come up with alternative destinations to Bangkok in the final week of the month.

Pornthip said operators could still bring groups to Thailand during the period, but they should avoid Bangkok and shift the tours to destinations such as Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin, as well as to provinces nearer the capital.

"The council is moving to give the best options to our alliances to get away from violence which may occur at the end of the month," she said.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to rule on the fate of Thaksin's family assets on February 26. The verdict is expected to lead to violence in the capital and other parts of the country.

Suraphon Svetasreni, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, yesterday said Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa would discuss the issue with the TAT's management on Friday. They will establish emergency plans to deal with a chaotic situation and the effect it could have on tourists.

The TAT is also scheduled to meet with key private associations on February 23 to assemble urgent measures to cope with the situation, he said.

"The TAT is closely monitoring the situation and will focus on a number of possible scenarios. The Crisis Management Centre of the TAT will prepare measures to cope with problems under each scenario," said Suraphon.

The agency has put out a message to its offices worldwide, stating that the political situation is still under control. This is in response to a number of foreigners reportedly calling Thailand to ask about the situation.

The political protests are expected to heat up just as the country's high season is ending. In February alone, the TAT forecast the country would welcome 800,000 foreign visitors, a huge increase compared to the same month last year, when Thailand was reeling from the airport shutdown by anti-Somchai Wongsawat government protesters in December 2008.

Surapol Sritrakul, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, on Monday said Thailand risked falling short of its tourist arrival target of 15 million-15.5 million for the year.

He said political instability scaring away foreign tourists was the only factor standing in the way of the industry's recovery this year.

-- The Nation 2010-02-17

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[astral]

Where is the major gateway airport for the country............

Aim gun, shoot foot.

[ChiangMaiFun]

Guess next months Tom Jones concert is off then!

[ScubaBuddha]

Is it coup season already?

Pornthip said operators could still bring groups to Thailand during the period, but they should avoid Bangkok and shift the tours to destinations such as Phuket...

I'm sure the transport mafia is salivating over this one.

Edited February 17, 2010 by ScubaBuddha

[basjke]

Guess next months Tom Jones concert is off then!

sex BOMB

[kangeroo]

yes well australians are warned about going to bkk but , they warn us about every other country in the world as well

cheers

[coolhandjoe]

I do not need to be reading this s h i t when i'm taking my family there next month, all bought and paid for.

Can all the Red and Yellow shirted nutters please vacate to Cambodia and have a good ole fight there.

[scotbeve]

Aim gun, shoot foot. whistling.gif

Again ... you mean. Except it's the guys in the suits and golf shoes instead of the yellow shirts.

[salty]

Bring in the football system. Send the Red Shirts off and book the yellow shirts.

[Thailand]

Come to Chiang Mai- it's much nicer and all the violent aggressive red shirts will be in Bangkok meeting up with the violent aggressive yellow shirts etc.

[asiawatcher]

"Suraphon Svetasreni, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, yesterday said Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa would discuss the issue with the TAT's management on Friday. They will establish emergency plans to deal with a chaotic situation and the effect it could have on tourists.

The TAT is also scheduled to meet with key private associations on February 23 to assemble urgent measures to cope with the situation, he said.

"The TAT is closely monitoring the situation and will focus on a number of possible scenarios. The Crisis Management Centre of the TAT will prepare measures to cope with problems under each scenario," said Suraphon."

Ya gotta be kidding!!! TAT handling bulk protests???? What next? T.I.T. Lead poisoning usually gets results. Bureaucrats haven't got a clue. But we can all kiss our as**es goodbye if it starts again. Last one out switch off the lights!

Edited February 17, 2010 by asiawatcher

[spongeman]

Oh yea break out the beers and start toasting the marshmallows and sit back and watch the fireworks.

[kratiam]

Oh yea break out the beers and start toasting the marshmallows and sit back and watch the fireworks.

I take it that's meant to be funny....but it isn't!

[reenatinnakor]

more bullshit scaremongering from WASP (white anglo saxon protestant) based country's.

even in full demonstration and political upheaval mode, bkk is no more dangerous than driving through East Ham, Moss Side or Bankstown at night....now, that's fuc_king scary. give me bkk upheaval any day.

[eggomaniac]

Is it coup season already?

To correctly answer your question; yes, for about the Past 80 years AND the next 100 years.

[stevehhd]

Call me a cynic if you wish

Brilliantly typical Thai plan. Create a crisis,pretend you are doing something about it then queue up with the others angling for your share of the cashola based on all the work you have pretended to do and never mind the implications of your actions. That said, when the money,if there is any left by now,gets released there WILL be squabbling.

[anon467367354]

it seems like the same old Thai concept, if it worked once, it'll work again. Sensationalist crap once, and then sensationalist crap again, and again, again. Time to get away from this shallow type of thinking and grow up. Other countries are just getting there facts from the Thai attention getting wannabe journalists. Consequence happens, when are they going to figure that out. Keep a dog that bites, someone is going to get bitten one of these days, get rid of the dog

[Thai at Heart]

Sorry to say this, but when as a country it is decided that allowing protest groups to take over a major international airport, you cannot very well be surprised if foreign tourists and authorities get jumpy about their travel arrangements. When it is common place for groups to be able to defy law enforcement and take over important parts of the city with the inevitable result that the army or riot police have to be brought in, don't get surprised that your average tourist doesn't bother to work out that the problem is isolated to one part of the city.

If someone called me up and said "Sir, we advise that despite you having booked to travel to Bangkok, we recommend that you go to Hua Hin instead because Bangkok will be too dangerous", I wouldn't draw breath before I asked them for a refund. To 99.9999% of travellers the risk just isn't worth it. It isn't as though the protesters have no history of approaching and being allowed to mess around with airports.

Furthermore, I am so glad that they are waiting until the 23rd to have this urgent meeting to plan and organise their plan for problems that will come only a couple of days later. Well done Mr. Tourism minister, I am glad to see that you have your finger on the pulse. Thai management at it's best.

[Samuian]

Sorry to say this, but when as a country it is decided that allowing protest groups to take over a major international airport, you cannot very well be surprised if foreign tourists and authorities get jumpy about their travel arrangements. When it is common place for groups to be able to defy law enforcement and take over important parts of the city with the inevitable result that the army or riot police have to be brought in, don't get surprised that your average tourist doesn't bother to work out that the problem is isolated to one part of the city.

If someone called me up and said "Sir, we advise that despite you having booked to travel to Bangkok, we recommend that you go to Hua Hin instead because Bangkok will be too dangerous", I wouldn't draw breath before I asked them for a refund. To 99.9999% of travellers the risk just isn't worth it. It isn't as though the protesters have no history of approaching and being allowed to mess around with airports.

Furthermore, I am so glad that they are waiting until the 23rd to have this urgent meeting to plan and organise their plan for problems that will come only a couple of days later. Well done Mr. Tourism minister, I am glad to see that you have your finger on the pulse. Thai management at it's best.

However, WHO takes the "credits" for this one now - the "grand savior" of Thailand?

[astral]

The current UK view is:

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Summary (explosive device defused next to Supreme Court).

The overall level of the advice has not changed; we currently advise against all travel to some areas of Thailand and against all but essential travel to other areas of Thailand.

See http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living...ceania/thailand

[ingvar]

SO what they are saying then is; they cannot guarantee the safety of tourists destined for BKK?

I think that is a worlds first for a tourist destination to announce a thing like that, except for war zones of course but they are not really tourist destinations are they?

If the safety of tourists cannot be guaranteed, what about the safety of Bangkokians???

[joker1973]

Call me a cynic if you wish

Brilliantly typical Thai plan. Create a crisis,pretend you are doing something about it then queue up with the others angling for your share of the cashola based on all the work you have pretended to do and never mind the implications of your actions. That said, when the money,if there is any left by now,gets released there WILL be squabbling.

Yeah maybe but how about typical whinging expat who chooses to live in Thailand and then complain about the govt and their policies and the "Thai way". No one is forcing you to stay and I have no doubt that you knew what the country is like before you moved there.

Your post reminds me of a tool expat that I met on my first trip to Thailand back in 1998, he told me the "the only problem with Thailand is there are too many Thai people"

It amazes me the amount of expats that complain constantly about Thailand but still continue living there. Usually because they are exploiting the economy and the women.

[DostyTheCat]

I'm coming to BKK with my wife and son (Both Thai) next month for our annual holiday/Trip to see the family.

I have lived in London for a long time - and I am not worried at all. The worst that can happen is that I get trapped by the pool in the hotel for a couple of weeks. Beats the Brixton/Notting Hill riots anyday!

It hasn't hit the news over here at all, but then we Brits seem to take advantage of cheap tours during "dangerous" times. I went to Egypt during both Gulf Wars - the only people travelling were the Brits and the Russians (!!). Hotels were cheap and empty!

See you soon x

[Donnyboy]

I'm coming to BKK with my wife and son (Both Thai) next month for our annual holiday/Trip to see the family.

I have lived in London for a long time - and I am not worried at all. The worst that can happen is that I get trapped by the pool in the hotel for a couple of weeks. Beats the Brixton/Notting Hill riots anyday!

It hasn't hit the news over here at all, but then we Brits seem to take advantage of cheap tours during "dangerous" times. I went to Egypt during both Gulf Wars - the only people travelling were the Brits and the Russians (!!). Hotels were cheap and empty!

See you soon x

sounds like a novel new way to holiday

forget medical vacation, warzone vacation is here!

[GuyLakeman]

Call me a cynic if you wish

Brilliantly typical Thai plan. Create a crisis,pretend you are doing something about it then queue up with the others angling for your share of the cashola based on all the work you have pretended to do and never mind the implications of your actions. That said, when the money,if there is any left by now,gets released there WILL be squabbling.

Not only Thai ... that happens in management worldwide!

Cook up scheme to cause dissent then fix it and take credit and bonus ...

[NativeBob]

sounds like a novel new way to holiday

forget medical vacation, warzone vacation is here!

Great idea - trip to warzone. Whats next? "Kabul-city of smiles"?

[Thai at Heart]

Sorry to say this, but when as a country it is decided that allowing protest groups to take over a major international airport, you cannot very well be surprised if foreign tourists and authorities get jumpy about their travel arrangements. When it is common place for groups to be able to defy law enforcement and take over important parts of the city with the inevitable result that the army or riot police have to be brought in, don't get surprised that your average tourist doesn't bother to work out that the problem is isolated to one part of the city.

If someone called me up and said "Sir, we advise that despite you having booked to travel to Bangkok, we recommend that you go to Hua Hin instead because Bangkok will be too dangerous", I wouldn't draw breath before I asked them for a refund. To 99.9999% of travellers the risk just isn't worth it. It isn't as though the protesters have no history of approaching and being allowed to mess around with airports.

Furthermore, I am so glad that they are waiting until the 23rd to have this urgent meeting to plan and organise their plan for problems that will come only a couple of days later. Well done Mr. Tourism minister, I am glad to see that you have your finger on the pulse. Thai management at it's best.

However, WHO takes the "credits" for this one now - the "grand savior" of Thailand?

As to "who" takes the credit, I don't see any winners here. The blame doesn't lie at only one man's feet.

The political system has been so rotten in Thailand for so long that there was a certain inevitability about all of this. God know how many coups, how much corruption on all sides, politicisation of the armed forces, conflicts about division of power have gone on over the years. When benefit is seen to be gained through connection over ability for long enough, people get annoyed. When laws are re-written at the barrel of a gun for long enough, people get annoyed.

We all know the main reason behind most of the problems, and the issue has been put off in typically Thai fashion until today when the people have to suffer for it. There is no other problem in this country other than the insatiable greed of people at the top of business, politics, armed forces and public service in this country on ALL sides of the supposed political spectrum.

I don't believe the concept of "public service" exists in Thailand. Certainly when there is a chance to get ahead.

Edited February 17, 2010 by Thai at Heart

[GungaDin]

more bullshit scaremongering from WASP (white anglo saxon protestant) based country's.

even in full demonstration and political upheaval mode, bkk is no more dangerous than driving through East Ham, Moss Side or Bankstown at night....now, that's fuc_king scary. give me bkk upheaval any day.

You've been thru Bankstown at night and survived!!!!! :D

[jfchandler]

I recall the red shirt leaders declaring recently that their movement would remain peaceful in all the coming stuff...

Nice to see that they're being believed....and The Nation in the article above declaring that violence is expected in connection with the Thaksin verdict...

Ohh...memo to the red shirt guys....can someone please pass along the message to the ones who grenaded the university and placed a bomb at the Supreme Court...

And ya gotta wonder, with all the police presumably detailed to guard the Prime Minister's home...presumably around the clock, just how does someone get close enough to throw bags of sh** at the place???

I hope they do as good a job at protecting the airport this time around...

How do those GD200 machines do at sniffing out bags of sh**... Since they don't work for explosives, maybe they can find a new life as sh** detectors...

[jesimps]

Call me a cynic if you wish

Brilliantly typical Thai plan. Create a crisis,pretend you are doing something about it then queue up with the others angling for your share of the cashola based on all the work you have pretended to do and never mind the implications of your actions. That said, when the money,if there is any left by now,gets released there WILL be squabbling.

Yeah maybe but how about typical whinging expat who chooses to live in Thailand and then complain about the govt and their policies and the "Thai way". No one is forcing you to stay and I have no doubt that you knew what the country is like before you moved there.

Your post reminds me of a tool expat that I met on my first trip to Thailand back in 1998, he told me the "the only problem with Thailand is there are too many Thai people"

It amazes me the amount of expats that complain constantly about Thailand but still continue living there. Usually because they are exploiting the economy and the women.

How d'you know they're whinging expats living in Thailand? People come on this forum from all over the world. You're that little goody goody that used to sit at the front of the class and say "It was him that did it teacher, I love school".

There are lots of us that have lived in Thailand for a long time, but can see the cracks and wrinkles as well as the good side.