Thailand awash with illegal hotels

BANGKOK, 3 February 2012: Over 300 unregistered hotels in Bangkok are being promoted heavily through internet hotel booking sites without service or security monitoring, Thai Hotels Association vice president, Surapong Techauvichit reported earlier this week.

He claimed hotels that failed to register and comply with the nation’s hospitality laws were a potential hazards and also deterred genuine investment in the industry.

He was speaking at a joint THA and Association of Thai Travel Agents meeting on Monday. Read more

Council calls for credible coms

BANGKOK, 19 January 2012: Tourism Council of Thailand has urged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to provide more accurate information on bomb and terrorist threats to counter negative travel advisories in the future.

TCT president, Piyaman Tejapaibul, said the government needs to learn how to communicate accurate information that is credible, noting that 11 countries issued travel warnings on Bangkok in the wake of last week’s arrest of a terrorist suspect.

“The council needs to be assured that the government can communicate accurate information to ensure embassies understand what the Thai government is doing in response to intelligence feeds,” she said. Read more

US sounded alarm on Bangkok threat

BANGKOK, 17 January 2012: A United States embassy warning on possible terrorist threats in Bangkok has triggered a new round of advisories on travel to Thailand that could threaten peak season tourism.

Last Friday, Thai police detained a Lebanese-Swedish citizen, Atris Hussein, suspected of having connections with Hezbollah after the US government issued a warning to all US citizens of a possible terrorist threat. The initial warning was issued by both the US and Israeli embassies early Friday.

The suspecgt was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport as he was about to board a flight.

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Police charge suspected terrorist

BANGKOK, 17 January 2012 : Thai police charged a Lebanese man suspected of planning an attack in Bangkok after they raided a property on Monday and discovered chemicals that could be used to make a bomb.

The United States warned of a “serious” threat of a terrorist strike on tourist areas in Bangkok and a manhunt is under way for a second suspect who could be hiding in the Thai capital, prompting extra security.

The Lebanese man is accused of breaking weapons control laws, deputy national police chief Pansiri Prapawat said, after a large amount of fertiliser and ammonium nitrate was found at an address rented by the suspect.

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Mum’s the word on bomb scare

BANGKOK, 20 December 2011: The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has asked security agencies to be more cautious when reporting bomb threat news particularly related to the up-coming Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The ministry spokesman, Watchara Kannika, said daily news updates concerning possible bombs threats in Bangkok would spook tourists at time when the industry is hoping for recovery.

Last week, the Ministry of Interior, which oversees the police force issued an alert identifying hot spots in the city that could be targets for bombers. It was quickly followed up by an arrest of a suspect, who allegedly planted home-made bombs at various sites before being caught red-handed by police officers.

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Police beef up security

BANGKOK, 14 December 2011: Local English language newspaper the Nation reports police have identified 10 sites that could become bomb targets and urged people to stay away from these areas during New Year celebrations.

The surprise warning was issued yesterday by police officers who said they were hoping it would prevent a repeat of  attacks in Bangkok five years ago that killed three and wounded 38 other revellers.

Police said people should stay away from the following landmarks:

Victory Monument; Major Ratchayothin cinema complex, Seacon Square, CentralWorld, Khao San Road, Chitralada Palace, Si Sao Thewes, Mor Chit bus terminal, Soi Nana and Pata Pinklao. Read more

Actor thrown off US airline

LOS ANGELES, 8 December 2011: US actor Alec Baldwin apologised to fellow passengers Wednesday after he was thrown off a plane for “extremely rude” behavior — but slammed “Greyhound”-style service on US airlines since 9/11.

The “30 Rock” star also insisted he was singled out unfairly when a “1950s gym teacher” American Airlines flight attendant ordered him to turn off his phone while waiting to take off.

In a series of tweets — which were later unavailable as Baldwin had deactivated his Twitter account — he said he was playing a popular smartphone game when he was told to leave the plane at Los Angeles airport Tuesday.

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Shipping stops on Mekong

BEIJING, 11 October 2011 – China Monday suspended shipping on the Mekong after 11 sailors were killed on two cargo ships attacked last week in the Golden Triangle where the river runs through China, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.

The halt in boat traffic was announced by the ministry of foreign affairs and reported by the official Xinhua news agency, citing maritime officials in southwest China’s Yunnan province.

TTR Weekly believes the incident and subsequent suspension of shipping could damage river tourism as it will cast doubt on the security of cruises, always a concern for tour operators who promote the region. Many of the cruises originate in Chiang Rai province in Thailand that considers itself a gateway to the Mekong Region.

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China complains over tourist safety

BANGKOK, 22 September 2011 – A boom in individual travellers from China has a downside according to the National Tourism Administration of the People’s Republic of China, which claims there has been an increase in accidents involving Chinese visitors.

The assessment was made at a recent meeting with Ministry of Tourism and Sports on how to build confidence in China and ensure Thailand remains a safe country to visit.

China’s tourism administration vice chairmen, Zhu Shanzhong, said that around 25% of all visitors from China are individual travellers who book and organise their own trips and they are more vulnerable to accidents. Read more

India admits security weaknesses

NEW DELHI, 8 September 2011 – Indian investigators on Thursday combed through the wreckage of a deadly bomb attack outside New Delhi’s High Court, as the prime minister acknowledged systemic “weaknesses” in domestic security.

Wednesday’s powerful blast ripped through a crowd of lawyers and litigants queuing to enter the court complex in the heart of the Indian capital, killing 12 people and injuring nearly 80.

It was the latest in a long list of bombings in Indian cities and prompted searching questions in the national media about the authorities’ inability to prevent such attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice. Read more

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