Foreign nationals warned to avoid Thailand

Japan and other countries provide assistance to flood-hit victims

With 21 countries issuing travel warnings to their nationals about visiting Thailand due to the flood situation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Surapong Towijak-chaikul has instructed the Thai embassies in these 21 countries to ensure the public are accurately informed about the situation, ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said on Tuesday.

The 21 countries included the United States, Mexico, Spain and Japan, with the latter warning Japanese people to avoid visiting Thailand and especially Ayutthaya, an informed source said.

Seiji Kojima, Ambassador of Japan to Thailand, was scheduled to meet PM Yingluck Shinawatra this afternoon (October 11) at the National Flood Relief Centre. Japan has announced it will be sending disaster relief items worth Bt12 million to Thailand through the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).

Surapong also reported that three countries have offered assistance through the Thai Red Cross Society: China is donating US$1 million and relief items worth Bt50 million; New Zealand is donating 100,000 New Zealand dollars and the United States is donating $100,000.

Expatriate Thais have been invited to donate money and flood relief items at Thai embassies in their respective countries. The amount of money donated by overseas Thais through embassies and consulates so far has reportedly reached more than Bt4 million.

-- The Nation 2011-10-11

But its ok, the Minister of Tourism assures us there is no impact on tourism...

... just cos no one takes any notice of this government, i guess they figure foreigners do the same...

But didn't that guy from Dubai tell the Japanese to grow their rice here?

wish the thai goverment would have thier left hand speak to their right hand - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/504632-thai-tourism-minister-floods-not-hurting-tourism/

The US Embassy only stated:

"We advise you to monitor local media, confirm travel arrangements, and defer travel to or through flood impacted areas."

Bangkok is not flooded, so I can travel.....

The US Embassy only stated:

"We advise you to monitor local media, confirm travel arrangements, and defer travel to or through flood impacted areas."

Bangkok is not flooded, so I can travel.....

it's not flooded.....yet.

Foreign Embassy's will only issue advice about travel and thats to cover their own ass.

It wont deter return visitors as they know where they are going and organise appropriately, possibly put off those planning to come tho seriously doubt it.

Didn't Mr Chump Ole Silpa-Archa just announce this AM that the floods are not affecting tourism? Why YES! He did and it MUST be true because HE SAID IT!...

The US Embassy only stated:

"We advise you to monitor local media, confirm travel arrangements, and defer travel to or through flood impacted areas."

Bangkok is not flooded, so I can travel.....

it's not flooded.....yet.

The issue is not flooding in your area, but rather whether there is flooding in another area that knocks out the electricity in your area.

read this link:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/504632-thai-tourism-minister-floods-not-hurting-tourism/

Who you gonna believe?

Edited October 11, 201114 yr by toybits

The two headlines, virtually right next to each other, makes for a funny read

The US Embassy only stated:

"We advise you to monitor local media, confirm travel arrangements, and defer travel to or through flood impacted areas."

Bangkok is not flooded, so I can travel.....

it's not flooded.....yet.

Nor will it. Today is the 11th and they have a 1000 boats out to push the water away.

Foreign Embassy's will only issue advice about travel and thats to cover their own ass.

It wont deter return visitors as they know where they are going and organise appropriately, possibly put off those planning to come tho seriously doubt it.

So I guess Pattaya is not flooded

Just got an email from the Netherlands embassy with these three links:

http://disaster.go.th/dpm/flood/floodEng.html (daily flood situation reports, latest from 8 Oct)

http://www.tmd.go.th/en/ (weather report)

http://www.thaiflood.com/ (in Thai, flood situation)

Edited October 11, 201114 yr by rubl

It's not the flooding that these Embassies are worried about it's those 100 crocodiles that got them worried.

lets hope more of this disaster aid reaches the victims than the aid sent for the tsunami, but doubtful.

Edited October 11, 201114 yr by Scott
spelling

Tourism is a big business and other countries will try to scare tourist to come here so they may go there.

Hope some of the donated money and goods get into the hands of the affected people.

Why all the hand wringing? The travel advisories are responsible statements: Please stay away from the flood stricken areas. That's all they are saying. None of the government advisories redflags Thailand. If that were the case, the direct flights to Phuket from Taiwan, Australia, China etc. would be halted.

Didn't Mr Chump Ole Silpa-Archa just announce this AM that the floods are not affecting tourism? Why YES! He did and it MUST be true because HE SAID IT!...

Which is not way off the mark. I seriously doubt many tourist will avoid Thailand over this, they might skip towns such as Ayuthaya, but avlidimg Thailand alltogether is a different matter. I am due to arrive this Sunday, and if there happens to be a bit of water pouring down Thong Lor, I just might get myself a few boots, or go elsewhere.

The anti Thaksin squad is out in force again, jeez it's been what 6 months, still sour grapes. Some people on this forum sure sound like a broken record.

One off-topic post has been deleted. Please stick to the information in the OP.

What pathetic nonsense - as usual. You are a sad ...

lets hope more of this disaster aid reaches the victims than the aid sent for the tsunami, but doubtful.

My apologies, Plumeria. This was aimed at Givenall but, as usual, I seem to have got the post wrong.

Again - sorry.

But didn't that guy from Dubai tell the Japanese to grow their rice here?

You must think about that guy day and night.I feel sorry for you.

Foreign Embassy's will only issue advice about travel and thats to cover their own ass.

It wont deter return visitors as they know where they are going and organise appropriately, possibly put off those planning to come tho seriously doubt it.

but......

I was under the impression that when there was a travel warning for countries from an embassy, then the travel insurance companies would refuse to insure travellers.

This does stop people from travelling.

Foreign Embassy's will only issue advice about travel and thats to cover their own ass.

It wont deter return visitors as they know where they are going and organise appropriately, possibly put off those planning to come tho seriously doubt it.

but......

I was under the impression that when there was a travel warning for countries from an embassy, then the travel insurance companies would refuse to insure travellers.

This does stop people from travelling.

Contrary to the sensational headline, there is no advisory against travel to Thailand, just a warning to avoid flooded areas. There is no question that insurance companies will refuse to insure travellers heading for Thailand.

Put the beer on ice will be there Thursday morning

Beauty hides human toll: Postcard pictures from Thailand as country tallies cost of record floods

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2047832/Postcard-pictures-Thailand-country-tallies-cost-record-floods.html#ixzz1aV13uV2N

Thai envoys told to provide correct info

The Nation

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul has instructed Thai ambassadors in 21 countries, where travel warnings have been issued against Thailand, to ensure that the public is given accurate information, ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said yesterday.

Thai nationals living overseas have been invited to donate money and relief items via Thai embassies and so far, more than Bt4 million has been collected in donations, Thani said.

Surapong said three countries were helping out via the Thai Red Cross Society, namely China, which is donating US$1 million (Bt31 million) in cash as well as relief items worth Bt50 million; New Zealand is sending NZ$100,000 (Bt2.4 million); and the United States is donating $100,000. Japan also said that it would send disaster relief items worth Bt12 million via the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The foreign minister said he had been given the job of seeking technical assistance from the US, China and Japan in relation to rehabilitation efforts.

Meanwhile, Fine Arts Department chief Somsuda Leyavanija said Unesco voiced sympathy and promised to provide $75,000, some of which would be spent on repairing ancient sites in Ayutthaya once the floods recede.

-- The Nation 2011-10-12

Why all the hand wringing? The travel advisories are responsible statements: Please stay away from the flood stricken areas. That's all they are saying. None of the government advisories redflags Thailand. If that were the case, the direct flights to Phuket from Taiwan, Australia, China etc. would be halted.

Travel advisories mean your travel insurance is invalid. This is the issue. This is the problem. If you travel to a country while there is a travel advisory your insurance company can and likely will refuse to cover you whether your injury is related at all to the cause of the travel advisory or not.THIS is what scares off travelers.

No, historically airlines don't cancel flights due to travel advisories.