British tourists who are planning trips to Thailand are being urged to avoid all but essential travel to parts of southern Thailand and to exercise extreme caution along the Thailand-Cambodia border, following fresh outbreaks of violence and rising tensions in the region.
The Foreign, Commonwealth, Development Office (FCDO) is advising against travel to several southern provinces near the Thailand-Malaysia border due to ongoing security risks and regular attacks in the region. The affected areas have been identified by the British officer.
The affected areas include Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces, as well as southern parts of Songkhla Province – specifically those located south of the A43 road between Hat Yai and Sakom, and south of the train line between Hat Yai and Padang Besar. The Hat Yai to Padang Besar train line is also covered under the travel warning.
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These areas have seen continued unrest linked to insurgent activity, including bombings and armed attacks. The FCDO warns that travelling to these regions against advice may affect the validity of travel insurance policies, and British nationals already in the area are strongly encouraged to follow local authority guidance and register with the British Embassy in Bangkok.
Separately, tensions have escalated along the Thailand-Cambodia border. On July 24, fighting broke out between Thai and Cambodian forces at multiple locations, with reports of rocket and artillery fire. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
Casualties have been reported, and evacuations are taking place in several affected areas. In response, all land border crossings between Thailand and Cambodia have been suspended.
Tourist destinations in the border region have also been closed, including the Khao Phra Wihan/Preah Vihear temple, the Ta Kwai/Ta Krabey temple, and the Ta Muen Thom/Tamone Thom temple.
Travellers are advised to exercise a high level of vigilance in all border areas and to follow instructions issued by local authorities. There is also a known risk of unexploded landmines in some parts of the border region.
The FCDO continues to monitor the situation and urges all British nationals to stay up to date with the latest travel advice, which can be found here.
Further to this, in a separate alert, the FCDO has also warned British nationals to not carry cannabis or cannabis-based products out of Thailand. Despite cannabis being legal for certain use within Thailand, it remains illegal in many other countries.
It has been reported by the FCDO that several British people have been arrested while transiting through international airports, where advanced scanning technology has detected cannabis products in luggage – even during stopovers.
The FCDO reminds travellers that being unaware of local and international drug laws is not a defence and that legal substances in one country can lead to serious criminal charges in another. Additional information can be found here.
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