Situation Update: Thailand Political Developments
Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said this morning that she has sought royal approval to dissolve the lower house of Parliament and call fresh elections as soon as possible in an attempt to calm the current political situation. The Cabinet members will also be dissolved but they will remain the interim government.
Ms. Yingluck’s announcement came as large numbers of people join various anti-government groups in mass marches from different locations through Bangkok to Government House today.
Tourists are advised to be vigilant and avoid areas where crowds may gather and pay attention to local news media reports as to the whereabouts of the anti-government groups’ marches. It should be stressed that tourists have not been targeted in the current political demonstrations.
Tourist attractions and activities in Bangkok are open and operating as per normal. To avoid getting caught in heavy road traffic while travelling within the Thai capital, tourists are advised to use other means of transportation, such as, BTS skytrain, MRT subway, Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link’s express and city lines, and water-transport (ferries, boats, long-tailed boats and hotels’ converted rice barge cruises).
International and domestic airlines are operating flights between Bangkok and Thai cities, as well as destinations around the world, as per normal. All city transportation – bus, taxi, skytrain, subway and boat – are operating as per normal.
Air travellers with departure flights out of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang International Airports are advised to allocate more time before flights depart or at least four hours, especially those using road transports. Suvarnabhumi Airport provides a 24-hour passenger assistant centre at the CIP 5 room on the 3rd floor of the passenger terminal with a hot line at Tel: +66 (0) 2132 1999 and Fax: +66 (0) 2132 8999. To check flight schedule, contact Tel: +66 (0) 2132 1888.
Useful contact numbers:
Tourism Authority of Thailand Call Centre 1672
Thai Traffic Police Call Centre 1197
Thai Tourist Police Call Centre 1155
Bangkok Tourism Division Call Centre +66 (0) 2225 7612-4
Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (city bus service) Call Centre 1348
State Railway of Thailand Call Centre 1690
Transport Co., Ltd., (inter-provincial bus service) Call Centre 1490
Airports of Thailand Call Centre 1722
Thai Airways International (THAI) Call Centre +66 (0) 2356 1111
Bangkok Airways Reservation Centre 1771
Nok Air Call Centre 1318
Thai AirAsia Call Centre +66 (0) 2515 9999
Source: www.tatnews.org
