News

More help for Bangkok visitors

13 Mar 2010

Now in Bangkok and unusure of where to go or not go?

The new National Tourist Assistance Centre is there to help anxious visitors during this period of anti-government protests. The service will operate around the clock until March 23, 2010, the day the government has said that it intends to end enforcement of the Internal Security Act in the capital and nearby provinces.

The centre is staffed by representatives from the Tourism and Sports Ministry, Transport and Foreign ministries, tourist police, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and General Insurance Association.

Its first instruction was to suggest that visitors avoid Ratchadamnoen Road, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Rama IX, Samsen, Silom, Rama IV, Ratchadamri Road and the area around Victory Monument.

As of yesterday, March 12, 2010, TAT reported that 35 countries had issued travel advisories for Thailand, an increase from 32 countries earlier. However, no country has advised a total travel ban to Thailand, said Sansern Ngaorangsri, a TAT deputy governor.

Hotels have also set up contingency plans such as allowing flexible check in and check out times such as the iconic Dusit Thani is doing. Most have stepped up providing information such as the areas to avoid or are accessible.

Helpful hotlines:

• TAT assistance centre (1672)

• Tourist police (1155)

• Thai Hotel Association (1552)

• General Insurance Association (1356)

For more details, visit www.tourismthailand.org and www.thailandtourismupdate.com

Margie T Logarta

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