Is it safe to travel during declared "state of emergency"?

aacodohue

I've been reading a lot about the current protests and incidents of explosive attacks in Bangkok and other parts of the country. I'm a female traveling alone in late may to Bangkok and Phuket, I was wondering if it's safe to make the trip alone? Anyone traveling in Thailand right now that can offer some insights?
Thanks!

Miaireland

This is from the Department of Foreign Affairs Website:

Home / Services to the Public / Travel Advice / Travel Advice by country / Asia and Oceania / Thailand
Last Updated: 12 Apr 2010
THAILAND

Last updated: 12 April 2010
Current at: 12 April 2010

We encourage citizens travelling to this destination to register their contact details here.
POLITICAL UNREST

The Government of Thailand has declared a State of Emergency in Bangkok and some surrounding provinces, with effect from 7 April.
Violent confrontations between security forces and protestors on 10 April has left over twenty people dead and hundreds more injured.
Major anti-Government protests have been taking place in Bangkok since 12 March. Estimates of the number demonstrators vary but there are reports that tens of thousands of people are now taking part in regular protests. The Government of Thailand has invoked the Internal Security Act and has deployed an estimated 50,000 police and other security personnel on the streets. There is an increased security presence throughout the capital and there may be checkpoints and searches of vehicles and/or people. Irish citizens are strongly advised to avoid all protest sites and to carry a photocopy of their passport at all times. There have been several small bomb attacks during February and March in various locations around Bangkok, including outside public buildings, army barracks and banks. The possibility of further bomb or grenade attacks cannot be ruled out. If violence breaks out, Irish citizens are advised to remain indoors and monitor the situation through local media and this and other websites.
The situation in Thailand remains highly volatile and uncertain. There is a possibility of further political unrest and more street violence.
Travellers to Bangkok should avoid all government buildings, state institutions and any demonstrations and marches. Irish citizens should plan their movements carefully and follow local advice closely.
Major political demonstrations have been staged regularly in Bangkok since 2008 with sporadic outbreaks of violence, mostly in areas of central Bangkok. These clashes are generally confined to the streets around the Government House, Parliament Buildings and Police Headquarters. The situation remains highly unpredictable. There have been violent clashes between the police and protestors as well as several bomb attacks. Several people have died and hundreds have been injured.
Irish citizens in Thailand should take note of the following:

• Keep well-informed of the developing situation on the ground in Bangkok and elsewhere via local and international media and updates to this website.
• Visitors should exercise extreme caution at all times in Bangkok and other areas of political unrest, throughout Thailand.
• Avoid all demonstrations, marches and public gatherings.
• Avoid visiting Government buildings, state institutions and Universities throughout the country.

Irish citizens residing in or intending to travel to Thailand are strongly advised to register their details with the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Travel Registration system is available here . If you are unable to register online with us, you can send an email to the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Bangkok (ireland@loxinfo.co.th) Please include your contact details in Thailand and the location where you are staying.
If you require advice or assistance locally, you should make contact with the Consulate of Ireland in Bangkok on (+66) 2 677 7500. Alternatively, you can reach the Consular Assistance Unit at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin on +353 1 408 2000.
Intending travellers are strongly advised to contact their airline, travel agent or tour operator before leaving Ireland to re-confirm travel plans and itinerary.
TRAVEL INSURANCE

The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly recommends that comprehensive travel insurance, including medical insurance, is obtained before travelling to Thailand. Travellers should note that the Irish Government does not provide funds for emergency medical treatment, medical repatriation or for repatriation of remains.
GENERAL INFORMATION

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. It is generally described as having a tropical and humid climate. There are roughly three seasons in the north of the country: Hot (roughly March to May), Cool (roughly November to February) and Rainy (roughly May to October). The southern peninsular region of Thailand has, broadly speaking, two seasons: Wet (April to October on the west coast and September to December on the east coast) and Dry.
Most Irish citizens have trouble-free visits to Thailand. It is estimated that approximately 11 million tourists visit Thailand each year. Many Irish people travel to Thailand on holiday or en route to and/or from Australia. A growing number of Irish citizens have also made Thailand their home. It is important to be aware that English is not widely spoken outside of major tourist destinations.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

For entry requirements for Thailand, please contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate for Thailand.
Please note that there are strict limits on the amount of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, cigars and smoking tobacco which you may bring into Thailand. Duty free personal exemption has been set at 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of cigars or smoking tobacco and 1 litre of liquor (spirits). A number of tourists have been detained and fined for attempting to bring cigarettes into the country and have reported that they were very distressed by their experiences.

The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly advises all travellers to strictly adhere to the set limits for bringing any cigarettes into Thailand. The Customs authorities impose large fines which are within the limits of Thai law and are totally non-refundable.
As with all countries, you are required to have a valid passport to enter Thailand. Your passport is an important document and should be treated carefully. A number of Irish citizens have been deported from Thailand back to Ireland for attempting to enter the country on a damaged passport. The Thai immigration authorities do not accept passports that have missing pages or have been damaged in any way.
The Thai immigration authorities also require that travellers have at least six months validity on their passports in order to enter the country. Please check the period of stay stamped in your passport by the immigration officer. Visitors who overstay their visa will, at the time of their departure, be fined 500 baht (approx. €11) for each excess day. As well as travelling on your original passport it is also advisable to take a number of photocopies of your passport with you and to carry a photocopy of your passport at all times.
An airport tax of 700 Baht per person is now included in the price of airline tickets.
Overstaying is the act of staying in Thailand exceeding the duration of your permit to stay as stated by the stamp or visa in particular.

You can pay your overstay fine at the airport, but if you are caught by Immigration before you reach the airport, you will be jailed and deported until you can pay your fine and show a one way ticket back to your home country. Paying the fine is simple. When going through Immigration, they will notice the overstay and take you to a desk to pay, it should take about 5 minutes in all. Fines can also often be paid in advance at any Immigration bureau. You will not be jailed it you voluntarily clear up your overstay.

Note that overstaying is technically breaking the law and while there is little problem if you 'surrender' yourself to Immigration at the airport, it can be a very different story if you are stopped by the police beforehand for whatever reason and are found to have overstayed - no matter for how long. This may well lead to you being detained in an Immigration Detention Center for a few days while your case is processed. Though the chances of ending up in this situation are very small, you would be advised to not overstay your visa if at all possible.

SAFETY & SECURITY

We continue to advise against all but essential travel to or through the southern Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla. A state of emergency has existed in these provinces since January 2004 as a result of separatist insurgency and related civil unrest. There have been regular attacks including multiple bombings and shootings and over 3,000 people have been killed.
The area surrounding the Preah Vihear temple is the subject of a sovereignty dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. There have been clashes between troops of both countries and violent protests. You are strongly advised to avoid the area.
Particular care should be taken when travelling to remote areas along Thailand’s border with Burma (Myanmar) as there is sporadic conflict between Government forces and opposition on the Burmese side of the border.
CRIME

Visitors passing through Suvarnabhumi Airport, or moving between shops and stalls, should be extremely careful to ensure that they have paid, and have receipts for, all items in their possession before they move away from the vendor. We have received reports that innocent shoppers have been the subject of allegations of suspected theft and threatened that their cases will not be heard for several months unless they plead guilty and pay substantial fines. Understandably, this causes great distress to visitors engaged in normal tourist shopping activities.
You are advised to take the usual sensible precautions with your personal belongings. Do not carry all of your money at once and please ensure that your passport is secure at all times. The theft of passports and credit cards is a significant problem in Thailand.
Gem scam - be aware of being approached by strangers who offer to take you to a gem shop. You may be asked to purchase gems on your credit card and the gems will be sent to your home address. However, the gems are rarely worth what you pay for them and it is very hard to recover your money.
There have been incidents where female foreign nationals have been attacked and raped. Female travellers in particular should maintain a high state of personal awareness during their time in Thailand.
There have also been incidents where a number of tourists have had their drinks drugged (tourist areas and "red light" districts). You should be careful about taking drinks from strangers and be very wary at parties such as the "Full Moon" party on Phangan Island.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS

You should not become involved with drugs of any kind. The possession of even very small quantities can lead to imprisonment. Overall, penalties for the possession, distribution and consumption of drugs in Thailand are severe and include the death penalty. A number of tourists have suffered psychiatric problems as a result drug use in Thailand.
ROAD SAFETY

Riding a motorcycle or scooter in Thailand can be dangerous. An average of 38 people a day die in motorcycle or scooter accidents in Thailand and a number of Irish visitors have been killed involving falls from motorcycles. You should take the same safety precautions as you would in Ireland. The Thai law that safety helmets must be worn is widely ignored, which is a contributing factor in many tourist deaths each year. You should never hand over your passport as security when renting a motorcycle.
HEALTH

It is strongly recommended that you obtain comprehensive travel and personal medical insurance (including medical evacuation insurance) before travelling. You should check any exclusions and ensure that your policy covers you for the activities you plan to undertake.
Extra care should be taken if you intend to engage in adventure sports (such as rafting, rock climbing, etc.). You should thoroughly check the bona fides of the company providing the services. In particular, there should qualified instructors and safety personnel for any activity.
Influenza A (H1N1) "Human Swine 'Flu" Pandemic 2009
There have been thousands of reported cases of Influenza A/H1N1 in Thailand and several deaths. Irish travellers are advised to keep themselves informed of developments through local media and by monitoring the following websites:

• http://www.who.int/en/
• http://eng.moph.go.th/

Avian Influenza
There have been outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in domestic poultry and wild birds in Thailand. This has led to 23 H5N1 cases in Thailand in 2003. These have lead to 15 deaths since then in central Thailand. However, the risk to humans from Avian Influenza is now believed to be low. The most recent human fatality from Bird Flu occurred in July 2006. For additional information you may wish to consult the WHO's website at http://www.who.int/en/
Dengue Fever
Since January 2005, the number of reported cases in Thailand, and in particular Southern Thailand has increased sharply. The rainy season, which is the peak season for dengue fever, is May to October. You are advised to take adequate precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes. Further information and advice about dengue fever is available on the WHO website at http://www.who.int/topics/dengue/en/
EMBASSY OF IRELAND TO THAILAND

The Embassy of Ireland in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is also accredited to Thailand. For contact details, please click here (Opens in new window)