BANGKOK, 29 December 2013 The U.S. Embassy Bangkok warns its citizens who now live or travel in Thailand to avoid the areas with political demonstrations. Meanwhile, Hong Kong prohibits travel agencies to sell New Year’s Eve countdown tours in Thailand. More than 300 million baht is expected to be lost.
Former Chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand Kongkrit Hirankit said all Hong Kong tourists who had planned to travel to Thailand with travel agencies had already canceled their trips from this New Year festival until Chinese New Year. Tourist arrivals from Hong Kong might see a drop of more than 40,000 people, he said.
Most travel insurance policies do not cover claims caused by protests.
The U.S. Embassy Bangkok on 26 December 2013 posted an emergency message asking U.S. citizens to “avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.”
