Normality returned to the areas of the city most popular with tourists thanks to an increased security and police presence in all areas popular with tourists. Visitors have been reassured by the stepped up security and understand that everything possible is being done to ensure their safety while they are visiting Bangkok or travelling further afield.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to report that in the wake of Monday’s incident at Ratchaprasong’s Erawan Shrine, tourist events and activities are continuing as normal in the city with Bangkok’s most popular attractions and shopping districts still thronging with visitors enjoying the wide range of attractions on offer.
Normality returned to the areas of the city most popular with tourists thanks to an increased security and police presence in all areas popular with tourists. Visitors have been reassured by the stepped up security and understand that everything possible is being done to ensure their safety while they are visiting Bangkok or travelling further afield.
Bangkok’s premier tourist attraction, The Grand Palace, has reported that numbers of tourists visiting have remained steady with high numbers of visitors, local and international coming through the gates to see the Royal Palace and the temple complex of Wat Phra Kaew. Other tourist attractions in old Bangkok such as the stunning riverside temple of Wat Arun, and Wat Pho, famous for its reclining Buddha are also recording high numbers of tourists visiting. Many of these visitors are coming via the city’s Chao Phraya River Boats which are operating as normal. All the city’s other piers are also recording usual numbers of commuters and tourists.
In Bangkok’s backpacker district of Khao San Road in Bang Lam Phu, travellers are still able to enjoy the restaurants and shops in the area which are as busy as always and the confidence of tourists in the area has been boosted by the increased police patrols.
In Bangkok’s shopping districts of Sukhumvit, Siam, Silom and Ratchaprasong, as well as the popular Chatuchak Weekend Market, shops and restaurants have remained open and a number of tourists and local shoppers have continued coming to the big malls and stores in the downtown Bangkok. The weekend has seen large numbers of people visiting central Bangkok’s entertainment districts and cinemas.
Worshipers and tourists have also started coming back to the Erawan Shrine to pay their respects to the Four-Faced Brahma God, and the people who lost their lives following the five-faith religious ceremony that was held at CentralWorld on Friday. Many said they came to offer moral support and to show their faith to the Erawan Shrine.
Looking ahead, TAT is still on track with the 2015 global marketing activities with several travel trade events and road shows in the pipeline between now and December to maintain tourist confidence and strengthen the image of Thailand as a top tourist destination. For more information: please click here.
The Tourism Monitoring and Communication Centre of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), with 27 overseas offices and 35 domestic offices, is closely monitoring as well as assessing the situation, and will be providing regular updates.
Useful contact for tourists:
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports +66 (0) 2134 4077
TAT Call Centre 1672
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hotline +66 (0) 2644 7245 / 2643 5522 / 85 065 9927
Tourist Police Hotline 1155
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
