OPERATORS are
reassuring holidaymakers they can still travel to Thailand despite Foreign and
Commonwealth Office advice that singles out Phuket as potentially unsafe.
The FCO updated
Thailand travel advice last week to describe Phuket as an area where UK
nationals should “exercise extreme caution”.
The update is
believed to have followed new intelligence from Danish authorities, according
to the Tourist Authority of Thailand.
Operators and ABTA
held emergency talks following the FCO warnings. They decided people wanting to
change Phuket bookings before the end
of the month would be charged a minimal amendment fee with no administration costs.
Normal cancellation fees apply elsewhere in Thailand.
ABTA said there
were currently 6,000 UK tourists in Thailand and they would receive the FCO
warning.
TUI UK said it had
28 Thomson Holidays customers in Phuket. A spokeswoman said: “We’re contacting
all customers due to travel and those in resort to give them the FCO advice.”
MyTravel said it
had a small number of people in Phuket with Tradewinds and would be following
FCO advice. Its Airtours Holidays Thailand programme is still due to start in
two weeks’ time.
Luxury tour operator
ITC Classics said it had 50 customers in the region and had received a number
of cancellations for future bookings, with enquiries for late bookings to
Thailand down 30%.
Chief executive
Steve Byrne said: “Clients are following FCO advice and this is having a major
impact on decisions.”
Thailand expects
560,000 UK visitors this year, up 8% on 2001. TAT head of marketing Chris Lee
said: “The FCO is only advising people to be extra vigilant. Nobody is saying
don’t go to Thailand.”