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Tourism-related businesses and services in Thailand continue to open and are operating as normal, despite last week’s military coup in the country.
Business operating hours have been adjusted to comply with a nationwide 10 pm to 5am curfew, according to the latest update from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), issued yesterday (Monday).
However, airports in Bangkok and throughout the country continue to function under normal operating hours and passengers are being allowed to travel to and from the airports at any time as usual.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised British travellers to Thailand to check that their travel insurance will continue to cover claims arising from the current situation.
“Some travel insurance policies exclude cover during a coup d’etat and your insurance may be invalid,” it warned.
“The chief of the Royal Thai Army has said that he intends to assure the safety of all foreigners in Thailand. A number of media outlets have been taken off air and there is a risk that this could extend to the internet.”
The curfew will be in place until further notice, according to the military, operating as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha was formally appointed to run the nation at the army headquarters. The council’s objectives are to ensure a reform of political, economic and social institutions in order to bring out peace and order to the country.
Other modes of transport in Thailand – road, rail and waterway – are also operating, including at key tourist destinations such as Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Ko Samui, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai. But operating hours have been adjusted to comply with the curfew, according to TAT.
The curfew is also affecting hotels, resorts, spas, restaurants, entertainment venues, cinemas, convention centres, shopping malls, superstores, convenienec stores, banks and petrol stations. Hospitals and medical personnel have been permitted to carry on with their normal operating hours.
Tourism-related businesses and services in popular Thai beach destinations including Ko Samui, Phuket, Pattya, Hua Hin and Krabi are operating normally during the day, and the curfew has been observed at night.
TAT, which is providing daily updates via its website, added: “Tourists are advised to be vigilant and check travel routing before travelling to avoid being inconvenienced by movements of security officers and the anti-coup groups.
“However, as reported widely in local and international media, Thai military troops were seen exercising restraint when confronting with the anti-coup demonstrators.
“TAT is closely monitoring the situation, and would like to inform tourists and the tourism industry that all concerned public and private agencies will exercise utmost efforts to ensure tourists’ convenience.”
Small anti-coup protests took place in Bangkok over the weekend, despite a military ban on gatherings of more than five people.