Thailand to lift curfew in major tourist areas

Bangkok : The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has announced plans to propose the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to lift the nationwide curfew at eight more tourist areas, including Krabi, Phang Nga, Trang, Hat Yai, Ko Chang, Cha-am, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai next week.

This follows the recent lifting of the nighttime curfew in three key tourist destinations – Ko Samui, Pattaya and Phuket as of 3 June 2014. The curfew was imposed nationwide on 22 May 2014 to ensure the safety of everyone during the current political transition period.

According to TAT , tourists visiting Thailand are enjoying their days in the sun and taking in the sights of the temples, mountains and beaches in any tourist destinations throughout the kingdom. 

 All airports throughout Thailand, including at key international gateways – Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang), Phuket, Ko Samui, Hat Yai and Chiang Mai – are operating as per normal. Airlines also continue to operate incoming and outgoing flights as per normal. Other modes of transport, by road, rail and waterway, are also operating as per normal throughout Thailand.

All tourism-related businesses and services – hotels, resorts, spas, restaurants, entertainment venues, cinemas, convention centers, shopping malls, superstores, convenient stores, as well as banks, petrol and gas stations throughout Thailand are  operating as per normal. Telephone and internet services continue to be available 24 hours.

In Phuket, Ko Samui and Pattaya, where the curfew has been lifted, all tourist businesses and services especially nighttime entertainment venues have resumed their normal operating hours.

In other popular tourist destinations including Hua Hin, Khao Lak (Phang-nga) and Krabi, all tourism-related businesses and services are operating as per normal. There is hardly any military presence in these major tourist destinations.

Tourists can continue to apply for visa as usual. All international checkpoints – airports, border checkpoints and sea ports – are open and operating as per normal. However, there may be a strong security presence at certain border checkpoints.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) wants to assure all tourists visiting the kingdom that tourism remains unaffected since the country was placed under the administration of the NCPO on 22 May 2014.

For more info : http://www.tatnews.org/

June 5, 2014