| The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) met with trade association representatives from the Thai travel and tourism industry during a consultative meeting this morning to assess the impact on the Thai tourism industry of the ongoing anti-government rallies being staged by the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD)/’Red Shirt’ movement.
Participants represented the following organizations:
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The Federation of Thai Tourism Association (FETTA) |
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The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) |
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Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) |
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Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) |
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Association of Thai Tour Operators (ATTO) |
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Professional Tourist Guide Association (PGA) |
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Thai Ecotourism & Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) |
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Thai Hotels Association (THA) |
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Thai Tourism Promotion Association (TTPA) |
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Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) |
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Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) |
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Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) |
Tourism activities in all other areas of Bangkok and travel to all other parts of the kingdom have not been affected.
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For tourists visiting the Kingdom, it should be stressed that foreigners have not been targeted in the on-going political conflict. However, foreigners are advised to be vigilant, and avoid areas where crowds may gather. |
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Given the large number of people attending these rallies, the Thai cabinet during its weekly meeting on 7 April 2010 approved the extension of the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) until 20 April. The ISA covers areas of Bangkok and certain districts of Nonthaburi province and Samut Prakan province. |
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The decision to invoke the ISA is deemed necessary as a precautionary step to ensure law and order. The ISA enables security agencies – police, military and civilian – to more effectively integrate their effort and take measures provided for under the Act and applicable laws to prevent and mitigate, as much as possible, undue disruption or impact on the safety of the general public. |
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Other than the areas under the ISA, travel to all other parts of the kingdom has not been affected. Tourism activities in all other areas continue as normal. |
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AREAS TO BE AVOIDED & ROADS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC
Visitors and tourists are advised to avoid areas near the UDD rally sites.
The following roads in Bangkok near the Ratchaprasong rally site are closed to traffic.
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Rama I Road Outbound from Chaloem Phao intersection where Henri Dunant Road meets Rama I Road to Ratchaprasong intersection |
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Rama I Road Outbound from Ratchaprasong intersection to Pratunam intersection |
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Ploenchit Road Inbound from Chidlom intersection to Ratchaprasong intersection |
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For security reasons, the following department stores and shopping malls around Ratchaprasong intersection and Siam Square remain closed today – CentralWorld, Zen, Big C Rajdamri Superstore, Gaysorn Plaza, Erawan Bangkok, Amarin Plaza, Siam Center & Siam Discovery Center and Siam Paragon. |
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DEPARTMENT STORES, SHOPPING MALLS AND WEEKEND MARKETS IN ALL OTHER AREAS OF BANGKOK ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL.
Central Chidlom, Central Silom Complex and all other branches of Central Department Store, MBK Shopping Centre or Mah Boon Krong on Rama I Road, Platinum Fashion Mall in Pratunam, Peninsula Plaza on Rajdamri Road, Emporium Department Store and Shopping Complex (Sukhumvit 24), and all branches of Robinson Department Store, The Mall Department Store and other shopping centres and malls, as well as weekend markets, in all other areas of Bangkok, including Yawarat (Bangkok’s Chinatown), are also open for business as usual.Central Department Store: Locations and Hours
www.central.co.th/branch/index_en.php
Emporium Department Store and Shopping Complex (Sukhumvit 24)
www.emporiumthailand.com/directory/
Robinson Department Store
www.robinson.co.th/store-en.html
MBK Center aka Mahboonkrong
www.mbk-center.co.th/th/
Platinum Fashion Mall
www.platinumfashionmall.com |
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To avoid traffic congestion, it is best to travel by BTS Skytrain or the MRT (Bangkok Subway). |
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MICE venues in all other areas of Bangkok and around Thailand are also operating as normal. Thailand will be hosting the Thailand Open Chess Championship 2010 (April 14 – 20) in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Cha-am; the Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair 2010 (April 20 – 25) at BITEC – the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Bangna; and Southeast Asia Golf (April 30 – May 2) at the Bangkok Convention Centre at Centara Grand CentralWorld. |
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In a special announcement by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on 28 March, the Prime Minister reiterated that he wants to see the country in a peaceful state, but also accepts that different opinions still exist. Prime Minister Abhisit emphasized that the government will use the law to create peace and order, but will use the law carefully. |
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On 6 April 2010 at 16.20 hrs., Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gave a televised address to update the public about the on-going demonstrations in Bangkok as well as the action taken by the Government and security agencies concerned, stressing that he and others responsible for security matters have been working towards returning the situation to normalcy.Noting the wish of many people who want to see a return to normalcy as well as some who want the government to take more decisive action to resolve the situation, the Prime Minister said that he and the government would do their utmost to restore peace and order as quickly as possible. |
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The Royal Thai Government respects people’s constitutional right to peaceful assembly, while the security measures to be put in place would help ensure security and peaceful and orderly assembly of the demonstrators. Clear instructions have been given to all security agencies that officers exercise the utmost restraint, and should the situation escalate, that they take a graduated response – from light to heavy measures – in accordance with internationally accepted practices, with due respect to human rights principles. |
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In a separate development in response to recommendations proposed by the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, four of Thailand’s former Prime Ministers will be conferring after the Songkran holidays in an effort to resolve the political impasse. |
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Thai Tourism Industry representatives are on stand-by to provide assistance to foreign tourists and visitors.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand Tourism Intelligence Unit and Crisis Communication Centre (TIC) serves as an operations centre for state and private sector consultative meetings and joint planning sessions and enables TAT and representatives from the Thai tourism industry to plan and execute rapid and orchestrated responses. The TIC currently operates from 08.30 – 21.00 hrs daily. Representatives from Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourist Police, the Thai Hotels Association (THA), the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), and the General Insurance Association will also be on duty at the centre. |
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TAT recommends that foreign tourists and visitors to Thailand call the 24-hour Tourist Police Hotline — 1155 — for the latest updates on traffic conditions and roads to avoid. |
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The TAT Hotline and Call Centre — 1672 — operates from 08.30 – 20.00 hrs daily. TAT recommends that foreign tourists and visitors to Thailand call 1672 for tourist assistance. In the event that further coordination or facilitation is needed, they will be directed to the nearest TAT Tourist Information Centre. |
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| HOTLINES & CALL CENTRE NUMBERS |
| TAT Call Centre |
1672 |
| Tourist Police |
1155 |
Ministry of Tourism and Sports
Tourist Assistance Bureau |
1414 |
| General Insurance Association |
1356 |
| Thai Airways International (THAI) |
+66 (0) 2356-1111 |
| Suvarnabhumi Airport |
+66 (0) 2132-1888 |
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What will happen, if some tourists come to thailand in this time and got stuck (if airports are captured by red shirt protesters) ?
Will the goverment will bear the expenses?
The airports were captured 2 years ago by yellow shit protesters Surjit , it is highly unlikely that this occurrence will appear again, or at least any time soon, as it greatly effects the infrastructure of Thai economy.
I wholeheartedly accept your considerations here but can tell you from first hand experience that there is little to nothing to fear if you are from outside Thailand as these matters are generally processed and dealt with accordingly to Thai law which promotes protest and freedom of speech like any good democracy does.
Feel free to contact us further if you have any questions about Thailand or the current state of emergency.
Am planning a vacation to Pataya from 6th to 10th May. what is the impact of protest there?
The protests are peaceful and self-contained. I truly would not worry about any backlash against tourists and/or visitors to Thailand.
It really is an internal matter and is of no real worry to visitors to people here – so please don’t worry.
We still would recommend checking the TAT website listed above for up-to-the-minute information and checking travelling times from Bangkok to wherever you are going.
In your particular case I would recommend Bells travel which will take you from the airport to your hotel for 200 baht. They can be found at the bottom left (street level) of Bangkok airport at section 8.
Enjoy your stay and please think of those outside of Pattaya upon your return.
hi there,
my 2 friends and i (all females) are supposed to be travelling to Bangkok for a shopping vacation on 24th-27th April. unfortunately, the state of emergency is making us worried whether we should proceed with our vacation.
we intended to do most of our shopping in Platinum Fashion Mall but read that the area is one of the heavily focused area of the red-shirts.
any advice? thank you!
Hey Jess,
Whilst there has been much talk of trouble in and around the Platinum Fashion Mall the protests themselves are fairly peaceful. I have friends who come into and leave Bangkok on a daily basis and say the tensions are well contained and do not pose a threat to tourists.
That said the main trouble is finding appropriate transport in and around Bangkok as many of the popular and easy to use methods such as the Sky Train have been closed down which in turn increases taxi fares. Some of the shopping areas are closed down and maybe finding what you want may be easier in Pattaya (a 1.5 hour bus/taxi journey away) as it is very popular with Russian, German, British and American tourists and has many exciting shops to visit (Central Mall is particularly good).
Good luck with it and let us know how it went!