Thailand’s Foreign Minister Surapong
Tovichakchaikul has urged countries not to alarm potential visitors to
Thailand, and to make sure their travel warnings are factually correct.
The ministry’s survey of 68 countries
revealed
that, so far, 28 have warned their citizens about Thailand’s political unrest. The Tourism Authority of
Thailand (TAT) continues to reassure the public that their projected target of
26.1 million visitors in 2013 will still be met, and that Thailand can still
expect a projected revenue of 1.17 trillion baht.
Thai
Foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul
China and Australia have expressed concerns
over the political situation in Thailand, questioning whether the
demonstrations are becoming more unpredictable. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry
is quick to retort, by stating that the countries’ travel warnings have not
prohibited their citizens from visiting the Kingdom.
The Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul
said that the ministry has already sent letters describing the current
political situation in Thailand to the United Nations and Human Rights Watch.
He also said he is prepared to send letters to the United States, the United
Kingdom, France, China and Russia, if the need arises.
So far, the countries that have issued travel
warnings to their citizens are: USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Finland, Denmark,
Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Italy, France, Austria, Sweden,
Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Israel,
Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, and Russia.
(chiangraitimes.com)