Thai province calls for martial law clarification amid UK warning
The Thailand tourism industry in the province of Trat is calling on the government to revoke the martial law declaration for the province.
It is hurting the local tourism industry, especially for UK travellers.
They say it is costing the industry about $21 million in lost revenue during the peak season.
The martial law declaration dates back many years, but the UK Foreign Office advisory is now especially strict.
It advises only essential travel to Trat including the popular holiday island of Koh Chang.
Due to the advisory British travellers are unable to get travel insurance cover for Koh Chang.
Most other countries do not advise against travel to Koh Chang.
The issue was recently raised by a British tourist who contacted the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s London office.
Jan Robinson is a regular Koh Chang visitor but says the UK Foreign Office warnings have made it impossible to obtain travel insurance.
“At the moment our Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the Trat region including Koh Chang,” Robinson said in a letter to TAT London.
“This is stricter than other European countries which specifically excludes Koh Chang from these restrictions,” she wrote.
“The situation at the Trat border is not a combat zone like the incidents occurring in the Northeast; it is simply an area adjacent to Cambodia,” said Acting Sub-Lieutenant Korakod Opas, Director of TAT’s Trat office.
“Furthermore, Koh Chang, Koh Kood, and Koh Mak are not dangerous areas, as large numbers of tourists continue to visit every day.”
“What foreign tourists, especially from Europe, are still concerned about is the fact that Thai security forces have declared the entire Trat province a Martial Law zone.”
“If the security sector understands and revokes it in areas that are not involved, it could help tour operators,” Korakod added.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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