Major Woes for the Tourist Industry

[Gaybutton]

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

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Grim Warning: Stay Away from Thailand

 

By: ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT and AFP

 

Australia, Russia and Hong Kong have joined governments around the world in advising their citizens to avoid or reconsider traveling to Bangkok.

 

"We urge Australians not in Bangkok to reconsider their need to travel to Bangkok," Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told reporters in Canberra.

 

"Those Australians who are in Bangkok, we urge them to stay within their homes or their hotels, to avoid demonstrations and to certainly avoid large gatherings of people."

 

Mr. Smith's warning echoed an official travel advisory issued on Monday, the fourth time in three days the Australian government's advice on Thailand has been revised in the face of a rapidly evolving crisis.

 

In Tokyo, the Japanese foreign ministry warned travelers to be on high alert and to stay away from government buildings and street rallies.

 

The ministry also recommended that Japanese travelers and residents refrain from wearing red or yellow T-shirts to avoid being mistaken for either anti- or pro-government protesters.

 

The Philippines, Malaysia and South Korea on Monday also told travelers to stay away from Bangkok or exercise extreme caution.

 

And Hong Kong stepped up its travel advisory.

 

"[The government] strongly urged Hong Kong residents to avoid traveling to Thailand, particularly Bangkok, unless they have an urgent need to do so," a spokesman said. "Those who are already there should stay away from large crowds or protesters."

 

Beijing issued a warning that the situation has descended into violence. Officials said travelers considering Bangkok as a destination should adjust their plans. They said Chinese citizens in Thailand should avoid demonstrations and road blocks.

 

The United States told citizens in Bangkok to avoid demonstrations and to exercise caution.

 

Paris highly recommended that French citizens postpone travel arrangements to Thailand until the situation is stable.

 

Foreign diplomats in Bangkok feared political turmoil might escalate to a civil war, which would inevitably invite another coup.

 

Italian Ambassador to Thailand Ignazio Di Pace told the Bangkok Post the demonstrations were more serious than the political unrest last November when the PAD seized the airports.

 

"It is sad and unfortunate that in the past three years Thailand has yet to solve political deadlocks in a democratic and constitutional manner that could stabilize the situation," the Italian ambassador said.

 

Mr. Di Pace said there were concerns that if the situation escalated to a civil war, it would lead to another coup and "that would be dark days for Thailand".

 

Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayagorn said police, military and civilians were under strict orders to defend themselves and the situation would be put under control as soon as possible.

 

[Guest shebavon]

This should be great for the BahtDollar exchange rate.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

This should be great for the BahtDollar exchange rate.

The normal site...Bank onf Ayudhya...hasn't changed the rate since Friday evening, probably because of Songkran. It closed on Friday at Ayudhya at 34.95, and now Yahoo currency converter is showing 35.545, so a rise of 1/2 baht. But, I don't know what Yahoo was on Friday.

[Guest fountainhall]

It will also be good for those of us based here wanting to take more holidays in Thailand. Hotel rates are bound to plummet again, just as they were starting to rise.