Bangkok, 23 May 2014: Last evening, the Thai military took control of the country to prevent the conflict from escalating. The preemptive move came after talks between representatives of opposing sides and top officials failed to reach a common ground.A nationwide curfew has been announced from 22.00 – 05.00 hours effective yesterday, and martial law is to remain in effect until further notice, the army announced.
Businesses and public services are adjusting their operating hours to comply with the curfew.
All airports in Thailand remain open, and air passengers with arrival and departure flights scheduled during the curfew can travel to and from the airports at any time as usual. However, tourists with arrival and departure flights during the curfew are advised to prepare all travel documents when travelling to and from the airports.
Travellers arriving at Thailand during the curfew should experience no difficulty finding taxis to their destination. However, in another preemptive move, a CIP lounge has been introduce to offer a comfortable wait for those who desire to make their commute after the end of the curfew at 5 am. Travellers may also contact the Suvarabhumi Airport call centre on 1722.
All offices and businesses are functioning as usual and all the tourist attractions are welcoming visitors. Life in Bangkok is running smoothly and everything is on track.
Mr Sethaphan Buddhani, director, Tourism Authority of Thailand says “This is a preemptive move aimed at preventing any damage to property or any escalation of the protest. Tourists can continue to enjoy the kingdom’s renowned hospitality and exciting attractions. However, we advise travellers to avoid rally locations and adhere to the curfew. I underline that those with flights to catch may go ahead as usual, but must keep documents handy as they journey to the airport.”
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is closely monitoring the situation, and will be providing more updates as soon as there are further developments.
Tourists looking for information on-the-go may contact the TAT Call Centre on 1672, the Tourist Police Call Centre on 1155 and the Traffic Police Call Centre on 1197 for information and assistance.
For further information:
Raynah Coutinho
Tourism Authority of Thailand
45, Free Press House l 4th Floor, Free Press Journal Marg l Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021
Tel: +91 9769030986