Over-reaction on all sides
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Do the various factions taking to the streets with their seemingly endless demonstrations realise the damage they are doing to Thailand's reputation and economy? I have just received an email from my sister-in-law attaching the latest Australian governmen
My brother and his wife are planning to visit me next month and she is now nervous and wants to know if it is still safe, or should they postpone?
Specifically, Australia advises a high degree of caution to all travellers in Thailand “due to the threat of terrorist attack”. It applies this to all of Thailand, with specific mention of the southern provinces. It also advises the Thai government has activated the Internal Security Act in three of Bangkok’s 50 districts and again urges caution for travellers. In reality this is a total put-off, for few travellers will be familiar with the specific districts subject to the ISA and will consider the whole of the capital unsafe.
In summary, the warning says that, if you must travel to Thailand, exercise a high degree of caution, reconsider your need to travel, and if you don’t need to go, cancel your plans. Further down are the long-standing warnings about all the scams that tourists face in Thailand – the jet-skis, taxis and other criminal activity, but that is another matter.
Long-term foreign residents of Thailand might consider the Australian government’s warning an over-reaction. But there it is in black and white, and potential travellers to Thailand are taking it seriously.
David Brown
Rayong
