Safety of Travel in Thailand 2014 — Martial Law, Peaceful Military Coup
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Dec 7, 2013, 1:13 pm by aBroadAbroadThis thread is for posting questions and specific news/updates of direct relevance to those traveling in or to the area.
Discussion of underlying and peripheral issues, comparisons to similar past events, and speculation about future conditions
belong in OMNI/PR or the Thai News & Open Discussion Thread. Off-topic posts will be moved or deleted.
Thanks for your assistance.
Update
13 June 2014:
Curfew has been lifted nationwide.
Travel advisories issued by a number of foreign governments remain in place. Check your country's embassy or consular website for travel advice and updates.
Courts martial have been established for violators of criminal code sections dealing with lèse-majesté, and those covering the broad subject of "national security" (including civilian violators). The NCPO has warned that it will crackdown on anti-coup protests if they do not cease. Visitors are strongly advised to stay away from all political gatherings.
Media gag has been eased, but strict censorship orders are in place, with local press and broadcast outlets reporting only approved content. ISPs have been ordered to monitor social media, and to block disruptive or "negative" content. Accurate and comprehensive information remains difficult to obtain, both in and out of the country. Censorship violations are among those subject to courts martial.
Hotlines for Tourists in Thailand- TAT Call Centre 1672
- Tourist Police Call Centre 1155
- Traffic Police Call Centre 1197
- BMTA (city bus and van service) Call Centre 1348
- BTS Hotline +66 (0) 2617 6000
- MRT Customer Relations Center +66 (0) 2624 5200
- SRT (train service) Call Centre 1690
- Transport Co., Ltd., (inter-provincial bus service) Call Centre 1490
- AOT (Suvarnabhumi Airport) Call Centre 1722
- Thai Airways International Call Centre +66 (0) 2356 1111
- Bangkok Airways Call Centre 1771
- Nok Air Call Centre 1318
- Thai AirAsia Call Centre +66 (0) 2515 9999
Links to External Information Sources- Rolling breaking news updates: Bangkok Post Lite Version (might load better than the full site for some users)
- Updates from TAT News: Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Breaking News: Thai PBS
- Latest News from NNT: National News Bureau of Thailand (government public relations)
- Travel blogger Richard Barrow: Thai news twitter feed (ongoing updates)
- Richard Barrow's map: Protest Sites in Bangkok in May 2014 (updated regularly)
- Independent web-based Thai news publication: Prachatai - Coup 2014 (English)
Special thanks to FTer c_9 for initiating this Wikipost
#1
astroflyer , Dec 1, 2013 10:22 pm
TodayI think it's time for a separate thread on the safety/security of travel to Bangkok right now. There's been some discussion in the Thai News thread, but it seems things are heating up. For example, here's the recent BBC article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25180865
It's come to tear gas and shots fired at times.
Some questions to focus on:
Let's please keep the political side of the discussion (pro or anti Thaksin) out of this thread as much as possible, so we can focus on the travel issues. I'm supposed to arrive on 12/29, so I'm hoping this calms by then. Ay info from people currently in Bangkok would be great!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25180865
It's come to tear gas and shots fired at times.
Some questions to focus on:
- Are the more tourist areas still safe?
- Any transportation issues? Airport, Skytrain, Subway
- Travel warnings from foreign countries, curfews, etc?
- Airline travel waivers?
Let's please keep the political side of the discussion (pro or anti Thaksin) out of this thread as much as possible, so we can focus on the travel issues. I'm supposed to arrive on 12/29, so I'm hoping this calms by then. Ay info from people currently in Bangkok would be great!
Quote:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25180865
It's come to tear gas and shots fired at times.
Some questions to focus on:
Let's please keep the political side of the discussion (pro or anti Thaksin) out of this thread as much as possible, so we can focus on the travel issues. I'm supposed to arrive on 12/29, so I'm hoping this calms by then. Ay info from people currently in Bangkok would be great!
I have the same questions and I am supposed to arrive 12/15 ...I came here looking for facts dealing with actual travel issues - not politics. The burning of Central World mall which is in the area of other large malls is disconcerting.Originally Posted by astroflyer
I think it's time for a separate thread on the safety/security of travel to Bangkok right now. There's been some discussion in the Thai News thread, but it seems things are heating up. For example, here's the recent BBC article:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25180865
It's come to tear gas and shots fired at times.
Some questions to focus on:
- Are the more tourist areas still safe?
- Any transportation issues? Airport, Skytrain, Subway
- Travel warnings from foreign countries, curfews, etc?
- Airline travel waivers?
Let's please keep the political side of the discussion (pro or anti Thaksin) out of this thread as much as possible, so we can focus on the travel issues. I'm supposed to arrive on 12/29, so I'm hoping this calms by then. Ay info from people currently in Bangkok would be great!
#4
yosithezet , Dec 2, 2013 4:01 am
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
How so? What is the connection?
#5
seanthepilot , Dec 2, 2013 6:04 am
formerly known as 2lovelife
Here in Phuket it's business as usual.
There are occasional protests in Phuket town, most lately at the Provincial Headquarters. Phuket protesters have stated that they will not interfere with any tourist infrastructure or tourist areas.
No issues at the airport, any of the resort areas, or beachside communities.
In Patong Beach, it's life as usual, today with a high of 31C, low of 23C.
There are occasional protests in Phuket town, most lately at the Provincial Headquarters. Phuket protesters have stated that they will not interfere with any tourist infrastructure or tourist areas.
No issues at the airport, any of the resort areas, or beachside communities.
In Patong Beach, it's life as usual, today with a high of 31C, low of 23C.
#6
Quote:
I'd just stick to the news thread.
I'm sorry but where is the news thread referred to above? I searched the TravelBuzz and Travel News forums for all posts with Thailand, BKK, or Bangkok in the title and didn't find any pertinent "news" thread.Originally Posted by transpac
Yes, No, Yes, No.I'd just stick to the news thread.
We're going on our honeymoon to BKK/HKT/REP, and will be in and out of BKK multiple times between Christmas and the first week of the new year, and are now considering cancelling and going India instead.
I'll be watching this thread with great interest, and I'd appreciate any info on where else we can stay abreast of the situation. In the meantime, I agree with the OP's idea to keep this thread active as a place where concerned travelers to Thailand can share updates
Quote:
There are occasional protests in Phuket town, most lately at the Provincial Headquarters. Phuket protesters have stated that they will not interfere with any tourist infrastructure or tourist areas.
No issues at the airport, any of the resort areas, or beachside communities.
In Patong Beach, it's life as usual, today with a high of 31C, low of 23C.
Thanks for the updateOriginally Posted by seanthepilot
Here in Phuket it's business as usual. There are occasional protests in Phuket town, most lately at the Provincial Headquarters. Phuket protesters have stated that they will not interfere with any tourist infrastructure or tourist areas.
No issues at the airport, any of the resort areas, or beachside communities.
In Patong Beach, it's life as usual, today with a high of 31C, low of 23C.
#7
Quote:
That was during the last big protest movement a few years ago now. Completely different events. In that case the red shirts had taken over that area of town for a couple of weeks before the troops moved in. The currents events are a totally different kettle of fish.Originally Posted by roylee9
I have the same questions and I am supposed to arrive 12/15 ...I came here looking for facts dealing with actual travel issues - not politics. The burning of Central World mall which is in the area of other large malls is disconcerting.
#9
yosithezet , Dec 2, 2013 9:29 am
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Quote:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thail...ge-thread.htmlOriginally Posted by mad1
I'm sorry but where is the news thread referred to above?
#10
astroflyer , Dec 2, 2013 10:33 am
Quote:
I'd just stick to the news thread.
Thanks for the info, but I'd respectfully like to make the case for a new thread. There's a lot of other stuff going on in that thread including some political back and forth. I just wanted to have a place for relevant travel-related news and info to be discussed. This is approaching a high tourist season and for those of us that are in Bangkok rarely to never, this is of high interest. This is certainly more worthy of a thread than the 300 threads of "What do you think of this itinerary"Originally Posted by transpac
Yes, No, Yes, No.I'd just stick to the news thread.
It looks like today they attempted to commandeer garbage trucks and ram the barricades surround government buildings.
I also learned that some of the protests were around the area of Wat Pho and Khao San Road which are definitely on tourist itineraries.
http://www.chron.com/news/crime/arti...ve-5026773.php
#11
dsquared37 , Dec 2, 2013 4:53 pm
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Quote:
Travel related news? Don't take the train to Chiang mai. That's about the extent of travel related news at this point.Originally Posted by astroflyer
Thanks for the info, but I'd respectfully like to make the case for a new thread. There's a lot of other stuff going on in that thread including some political back and forth. I just wanted to have a place for relevant travel-related news and info to be discussed. This is approaching a high tourist season and for those of us that are in Bangkok rarely to never, this is of high interest. This is certainly more worthy of a thread than the 300 threads of "What do you think of this itinerary"
Quote:
Smart money would be on staying away from Government House which no tourist would be near anyway.Originally Posted by astroflyer
It looks like today they attempted to commandeer garbage trucks and ram the barricades surround government buildings.
Quote:
http://www.chron.com/news/crime/arti...ve-5026773.php
The main protest site is at Democracy Monument which happens to be near Khao San rd. I've heard nothing of protests near Wat Pho. The result of this? Buses have been diverted from their normal routes.... are you planning on taking buses?Originally Posted by astroflyer
I also learned that some of the protests were around the area of Wat Pho and Khao San Road which are definitely on tourist itineraries.http://www.chron.com/news/crime/arti...ve-5026773.php
I gotta say all this angst is misplaced since little of what is currently going on will affect tourists.
#12
FWIW, I visited Loha Prasat which is right near the protest site when I was in town last month. Not that a lot of tourists go there, but some of us do. Even the Golden Mount isn't too far away. Traffic was a nightmare down there already at that point.
I think it's just a matter of tuning into the local news sites to know what's going on at the time you're there.
I think it's just a matter of tuning into the local news sites to know what's going on at the time you're there.
#13
yosithezet , Dec 2, 2013 8:40 pm
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Quote:
It looks like today they attempted to commandeer garbage trucks and ram the barricades surround government buildings.
I also learned that some of the protests were around the area of Wat Pho and Khao San Road which are definitely on tourist itineraries.
http://www.chron.com/news/crime/arti...ve-5026773.php
Respectfully, I think you are wrong about a dedicated thread. Without the context of what is going on, it is very easy for people to make the wrong choices. Those who have the most knowledge and are on the ground are in the other thread discussing and giving a sense of where things may be headed. I have not heard of anything near Wat Pho. I'm following the local bloggers and twitter feeds before I venture out. Originally Posted by astroflyer
Thanks for the info, but I'd respectfully like to make the case for a new thread. There's a lot of other stuff going on in that thread including some political back and forth. I just wanted to have a place for relevant travel-related news and info to be discussed. This is approaching a high tourist season and for those of us that are in Bangkok rarely to never, this is of high interest. This is certainly more worthy of a thread than the 300 threads of "What do you think of this itinerary"It looks like today they attempted to commandeer garbage trucks and ram the barricades surround government buildings.
I also learned that some of the protests were around the area of Wat Pho and Khao San Road which are definitely on tourist itineraries.
http://www.chron.com/news/crime/arti...ve-5026773.php
Quote:
Agreed. So best is to watch the other thread where it will become clear if things are heading in a direction which will impact tourists/foreigners. At the moment, this is the equivalent of being in Manhattan when there is a gang war going on in Staten Island and wondering if JFK is going to be closed.Originally Posted by dsquared37
I gotta say all this angst is misplaced since little of what is currently going on will affect tourists.
#14
Hi everyone,
I'm having a 3-day stopover in BKK and wonder if it's safe to visit the city centre? I'm currently sitting around in the airport hotel watching the news a bit reluctant to explore the city as it looks pretty tense on tv.
Cheers,
Paul
I'm having a 3-day stopover in BKK and wonder if it's safe to visit the city centre? I'm currently sitting around in the airport hotel watching the news a bit reluctant to explore the city as it looks pretty tense on tv.
Cheers,
Paul
#15
Welcome to FlyerTalk, FlyerPaul!
As this relates to a particular destination, we'll go ahead and move this over to the Thailand forum for discussion and analysis by the experts on Thailand over there.
It appears there is some discussion already ongoing in this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thail...-protests.html
Regards,
jackal
Information Desk
As this relates to a particular destination, we'll go ahead and move this over to the Thailand forum for discussion and analysis by the experts on Thailand over there.
It appears there is some discussion already ongoing in this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thail...-protests.html
Regards,
jackal
Information Desk