Roundup of Travel Warnings

[Evil Penevil]

Here's a roundup from Reuters of warnings, alerts, etc on travel to Thailand.

 

Evil

 

 

BANGKOK, May 3 (Reuters) - Many countries have issued travel advisories for the Thai capital since Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in April to quell unrest that has killed 27 people and wounded nearly 1,000.

The United States, Britain and Australia have recently advised against travel to anywhere in Thailand, not just Bangkok.

Arrivals at Bangkok's main Suvarnabhumi airport dropped by a third in April, putting a government target of 15.5 million tourists this year in doubt and dealing a blow to an industry that supports 6 percent of the economy.

Following are some advisories from foreign governments:

 

BRITAIN - On April 27, the British government advised against all travel to the country because "violent incidents of an unpredictable nature are occurring in many parts of Thailand", citing protests and incidents in tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Ayuthaya.

In 2009, 841,000 British tourists came to Thailand, more than from any other European country, according to government data.

 

AUSTRALIA - The Australian government has also advised its citizens to "reconsider your need to travel to Thailand".

"There is a strong possibility of violent clashes in Bangkok and in other parts of Thailand between demonstrators and security forces. These clashes could involve the use of lethal force and could occur at any time."

In 2009, 647,000 Australians visited Thailand.

 

THE UNITED STATES - On April 28, the State Department advised against non-essential travel to Thailand. In 2009, 627,000 Americans came to Thailand.

 

GERMANY - The German government has issued a heightened security alert for Thailand and tour operators have cancelled tours to Bangkok and some destinations in northern provinces.

Some 573,000 Germans visited Thailand in 2009.

 

CANADA - Canada warned on April 28 against non-essential travel to Thailand. "The security situation is very volatile with significant potential for further civil unrest, violent clashes, and attacks." About 170,000 Canadians came to Thailand in 2009.

 

NEW ZEALAND- New Zealand warned against non-essential travel to Thailand and advised citizens concerned about their safety to consider leaving the country. "There is high risk to your security in Thailand due to the uncertain political situation, civil unrest and threat from terrorism," it said.

Some 88,000 New Zealanders visited Thailand in 2009.

 

JAPAN - Japan raised its security risk level for Thailand to 2 out of the maximum 4 on April 27, advising its nationals to seriously reconsider travel plans to the affected areas and take precautions if they did decide to make a trip. Just over a million Japanese tourists came to Thailand in 2009.

 

CHINA - On April 26, Beijing warned its people not to visit and to "temporarily leave Bangkok if possible" if already there.

Chinese tourists cancelled in droves in April after violence on April 10 that spilled into the Khao San Road area, popular with low-budget travellers. Some 778,000 people travelled to Thailand from China in 2009. Another 319,000 came from Hong Kong.

 

SINGAPORE - Singaporeans have been advised against non-essential travel to Bangkok since April 10. "Singaporeans who are already in Bangkok are strongly advised to remain indoors as far as possible and avoid unnecessary travel within the city, in particular to avoid the areas where demonstrations are occurring."

 

SOUTH KOREA - South Korea is advising its citizens to avoid travel to Bangkok and other parts of Thailand.

 

TAIWAN - Taiwan is maintaining its "red" level alert on travel to the Bangkok area. Red is the highest level of alert in Taiwan's four-tier warning system and urges nationals to refrain from travelling to the affected area. About 350,000 Taiwanese tourists visited Thailand last year.

 

(Sources: Embassy and government websites; Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports; tour operators

[carsmike111]

thats a lot of people not to come still you can knock one off the brits number i will still be thereon the 10

[hazze]

Interesting stuff.

[sybarite]

So OK then, what are you saying?....we shouldn't go there?

[JIMBOB]

i never thought i would say this but looking at the situation booked for 28th may.i know there will be no problems to me,but not getting insurance cover may have to cancel.rang my travel agent but as its a bank holiday got ring back tommorrow.hope thing get sorted

[Evil Penevil]

i never thought i would say this but looking at the situation booked for 28th may.i know there will be no problems to me,but not getting insurance cover may have to cancel.rang my travel agent but as its a bank holiday got ring back tommorrow.hope thing get sorted

 

There's a lot of confusion about what Travel Alerts and Warnings mean, especially in terms of insurance coverage. The following applies to the U.S., but it's roughly the same in most other Western countries.

 

1) It depends on the specific Terms & Conditions of your insurance policy, but there is no blanket rule that says a Travel Alert or Travel Warning from the State Department automatically makes an insurance policy non-applicable in the country for which the alert or warning has been issued.

 

HOWEVER, all policies contain exclusions for acts of war (declared or undeclared), insurrection, terrorism, civil unrest, etc. This doesn't mean you're not covered while traveling in countries where such events are occurring, only that you can't claim for damages resulting from them. If you get your leg blown off because of a grenade attack on a BTS station in Bangkok, you won't be covered. If you fall down the stairs at a BTS station outside the demonstration area or get hit by a baht bus in Pattaya, you would be covered because those injuries don't result from an excluded event.

 

2) The State Department doesn't have an objective standard for "essential travel." It is purely subjective, to be defined by each individual traveler. If you consider it essential to get your knob polished in Thailand, then a trip to Bangkok or Pattaya would be essential travel, at least for you.

 

3) The State Dept has issued a Travel Alert for Thailand, which is caution about short-term developments which can pose a threat to the security of U.S. citizens. A Travel Warning covers long-term conditions and is also an admission by the U.S. government that it may not be able to extend any aid to U.S. citizens in some countries. Keep in mind these alerts and warnings are issued with inexperienced travelers, often families, in mind, not veteran horndogs who would cross a mine field if a willing woman was on the other side.

 

It's very important to note that a country does not have to be on the Travel Alert or Warning list for the terrorism or unrest exclusions to take place. Injuries or damage resulting from the Al-Qaeda bombings in London or Spain wouldn't have been covered by most policies, although it could be that the insurance company would honor claims to avoid bad publicity.

 

The State Dept. has issued travel alerts for the following countries: Mozambique; Thailand; India; Malaysia; Ethiopia; Kyrgyz Republic. There are 31 countries with Travel Warnings: Democratic Republic of the Congo; Kyrgyz Republic; Mexico; Philippines; Algeria; Lebanon; Iran; Kenya; Haiti; Colombia; Eritrea; Central African Republic; Iraq; Saudi Arabia; Pakistan; Sudan; Somalia; Mauritania; Chad; Mali; Sri Lanka; Nepal; Guinea; Cote d'Ivoire; Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; Afghanistan; Burundi; Nigeria; Uzbekistan; and Georgia.

 

4) Don't accept anything on face value that you on the Internet about insurance and travel warnings. Check with your insurance company AND GET IT CONFIRMED IN WRITING that your policy will apply for general travel in Thailand.

 

Evil

[tigerstail]

As a veteran horndog who loves a good mine field...let the festivities begin..

just so long as the reds don't shut down the airport again- as the yellows did to me...

I skip through mine fields with glee

[thaidiver]

Keep in mind these alerts and warnings are issued with inexperienced travelers, often families, in mind, not veteran horndogs who would cross a mine field if a willing woman was on the other side.

 

 

Very funny and true