27 July 2010

Thailand travel advice stands

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not altered its travel advice for Thailand following an explosion in central Bangkok on Sunday.

The blast, at a bus stop in front of a Bangkok department store, killed one person and injured 10.

On the Thailand travel advice page of its website, the FCO says: "This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment of the summary (reports of an explosion). The overall level of the advice has not changed."

It currently warns against travel to selected areas not popular with tourists, adding "elsewhere in Thailand the situation is generally calm following recent political and civil unrest. There have been no serious incidents of violence since 21 May".

It advises visitors to follow news reports in case of further unrest.

An emergency decree is in effect in 16 Thai provinces including Bangkok.

The tourism sector in Thailand has been urging the government to lift the decree, but there seems little hope of this happening while security concerns remain.

The Bangkok Post reports extra security measures will soon be deployed in public places such as shopping areas, inter-provincial bus stations and the subway.

By Debbie Ward and TravelMole Asia