Bangkok Central now a No Go area
BANGKOK – Violence between the red shirts and those who have had enough of their protests in the Thai capital erupted overnight with at least one death being reported and scores injured
Today police have also confronted the red shirts demanding they remove barricades made of bamboo and car tyres.
With tourism businesses caught in the crossfire, authorities are attempting to reclaim central city traffic routes that have been blocked by protestors, leading to the closure of luxury Bangkok hotels and shopping malls.
Adding to the volatile mix, a new ‘multi-coloured’ group is planning a demonstration of 50,000 people in Bangkok’s old quarter to demand the red shirts end their rally.
The US, Britain France and Australia on Thursday warned their citizens visiting Thailand to stay away from political protests in Bangkok as they could turn violent.
As a result of the revised warnings, Thai Airways in Australia said it would waive cancellation and amendment fees for travellers to Bangkok departing up until April 30, 2010
The Australian foreign affairs department issued the travel warning as it confirmed that a 26-year-old Australian was hospitalised after being wounded in a grenade blast in an elevated railway station late on Thursday.
Injured Melbourne man Benjamin Rowse told The Age newspaper of his shock at being caught in the Bangkok bomb blasts just hours after arriving in the Thai capital.
The 26-year-old was waiting to board a train at Bangkok’s Sala Daeng skytrain station when a bomb exploded.
In its advice for travellers to reconsider their need to travel, the Australian government warned, “The Thai Government may seek to disperse Red Shirt demonstrators in the “Ratchaprasong†and Silom road areas, and at other locations.
“Armed force could be used to disperse demonstrators or in attempting to arrest rally leaders. There is a strong possibility that such action will be met with resistance, and violent clashes could occur.â€
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive