Tourism Authority of Thailand deputy governor of marketing communications, Prakit Piriyakiet, confirmed the latest additions stating it was due to the “intense and sensitive political situation in the country”.

The latest advisories were issued by Brazil; Latvia; Czechoslovakia and Cambodia.

Cambodia, a neighbour of Thailand, raised the security risk for travel to Thailand to its highest level stating travellers should revise their plans and avoid Thailand.

The 27 countries that issued warnings earlier were: UK; Belgium; Germany; Ireland; Canada; Australia; New Zealand; France; Italy; Switzerland; Denmark; Norway; Netherlands; Austria; USA; Israel; Japan; Poland; Romania; Spain; Russia; Finland; China; Macau; South Korea; Taiwan and Sweden.

Many of Thailand’s tourism industry leaders, including the top management of local hotels and tour companies, are attending ITB Berlin and will be out of the country over the weekend when political rallies take place that could attract up to 1 million people.

Tourism leaders recognise that repeated political disturbances are seriously compromising the industry’s ability to recover, despite financial incentives from the government.

When the latest rallies are over, there will be substantial price to pay in lost business. It will cause another round of travel company closures or lay offs and again the government will need to prop up the industry with soft loans if there are significant drops in tourist arrivals. Industry leaders recognise that Thailand is caught up a vicious cycle that is destroying its ability to compete with neighbours and embark on economic recovery.

On 9 March, representatives of the Federation of Thai Travel Agents expressed these concerns to Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjachewa. They asked the PM to create confidence among foreigners over government’s capability to control political unrest.

According to most tourism associations, there have been just a few reports of cancellations. Thai-Japan Tourism Club president, Anek Srishevachart, reported no cancellations from Japanese groups, so far, but admitted there had been several inquiries regarding the political situation.

Thailand Convention and Association president, Sumate Sudasna, said he was trying to survey members about the current situation in the MICE market.

However, there were very few responses as most executives are in Berlin for the ITB show. In his view, there have been minimal cancellations because of the nature of the meetings and incentives market, which fixes business at least one year in advance.

“That makes it difficult to change a destination at the last minute,” he said.

However, he said the travel advisories would have a long-term impact on future business. He describes the latest political turn of events as very disappointing for the country’s tourism business, which is still suffering from the impact of violent demonstrations last April.

He says the private sector needs the government, especially Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to send a message that can reassure overseas tourists “but it should be based on facts”.

Unfortunately, facts are few and far between, with even government officials stating they are at a loss to say what will be the outcome of rallies due to start tomorrow.

Association of Thai Travel Agents honorary advisor, Apichart Sankary, said leisure groups from Scandinavia have not yet cancelled their trips because they have paid for everything. However, he says some small incentive groups from China have already cancelled bookings at Bangkok hotels such as Narai Hotel and the Amari Group has registered cancellations.

“The forward booking seems static now. There has been so much negative news reported about Thailand so many tourists prefers to wait and see,” said Mr Apichart.

Ms Thanittha revealed she had meetings with representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourist Police, General Insurance Association, Tourism Council of Thailand, Thai Hotels Association and Association of Thai Travel Agents to start the project rolling.

Also the Ministry will send staff to tourist areas in Bangkok — Sanam Luang and the Royal Palace area; Khaosan Road; Paragon Department Store and Silom Road. A call centre will be set up at 1672 and 1155 to assist visitors in need.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration deputy governor, Tya Teepasuwan, said the BMA planned to set up 31 tourist assistance booths  in Bangkok. It will offer information to tourists to avoid protest sites. The emergency number is 1555.

Tour operators and travellers share a single concern. Will the protestors close the airports following the example of yellow shirt protestors in late 2008.

However, a red shirt leader, Jatuporn Prompan, announced yesterday the red shirts would not seize the PM’s Office, Suvarnabhumi Airport, government and private sector’s buildings claiming they would not follow the yellow shirt’s actions in 2008.

Airport security has been beefed up and more checkpoints installed on the highways leading to the city’s two airports.

Also, the red shirts announced yesterday they had cancelled two protest meeting points – Tung Song Hong police station and Bangna.

(See related story: TAT situation briefing on other sites)

The red shirts announced that the 14 March rally will stretch from Sanam Laung to Equestrian Statue of King Rama V (Amporn Gardens) with the main stage at Phan Fa Leelad Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Klang road (Near the Democracy Monument).

The report filed by correspondent, Conor Duffy, on http://abc.com.au,  states “tension in Bangkok has been rising in recent weeks as the city prepares for a high-profile court verdict involving the former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.”

It claims that “Thailand’s Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has upgraded to a bullet-proof and grenade-proof car and military checkpoints have been set up around the city.”

ABC says authorities say “there may be more trouble when supporters of the former Prime Minister hold what they say will be a million-strong march designed to bring down the government.”

The report quotes Tourism Council secretary, Pornthip Hirunkape who told ABC “Australians should consider avoiding Bangkok for the next two weeks.

“Tourists, especially from Australia, are coming direct from Australia into Phuket,” she said.

“Australians are quite resilient and also many of them are repeat [travellers] so they know the conditions and they know the situation of Thai politics quite well.

“I think they would then avoid just the capital city.”

The TCT secretary general subsequently told the media she had been misquoted by an English language newspaper and thast ABC news had incorrectly attributed quotes out of context.

The ABC also quoted Prime Minister spokesman, Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn suggesting the government could introduce martial law.

“If there is an escalation in the tensions or the situation, we do have other contingency plans, including the use of the internal security act and the use of the emergency decree,” Dr Pantian said.

ABC quotes the spokesperson saying the army has upgraded to a level-three security alert and soldiers have set up roadblocks and checkpoints in key areas.

“We are increasing the patrol units just to make sure that security measures are in place and we can identify trouble spots, including separate groups that would like to take this opportunity to create incidents,” he said.

TTR Weekly reporters confirmed that the government beefed up security in the inner part of city, mainly around government buildings and the courts since 15 February. A day later the government established a ” security monitoring committee”  according to Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn. There is no evidence to indicate security levels, elsewhere in the capital, have risen significantly. 

According to the government spokesperson,  police and security officers are working  under the scope of, what he called, “normal  law related to security”. If there is a significant  escalation,  the “internal security act” would be activated and finally in an extreme case, where the situation was “beyond control,” the government would declare a state of emergency.

The city’s business community is concerned, but  tourism is currently on a roll with record tourist arrivals in January and February.  If there are road blocks, other than those manned by police to catch drunk drivers, they are well hidden.   There have been no recent updates on travel advisories by countries with a consulate presence in Thailand.