Thailand Political Situation - TCEB Update 27 May 2014 at 10:00 hrs. (GMT+7)

Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, leader of the coup makers (National Council for Peace and Order – NCPO), explained that the council had taken over the authority of the House and the Senate for the time being in case any actions required parliamentary approval. The council’s key objectives are to ensure a reform of political, economic and social institutions in order to bring out peace and order to the kingdom.

With a nationwide curfew (from 22.00 – 05.00 hours) currently being the only implication on people’s everyday lives, life goes on as per normal in Bangkok and throughout Thailand.

Businesses, including banks, petrol and gas stations, hotels, spas, restaurants, entertainment venues, cinemas, convention centres, shopping malls, superstores and convenient stores are adjusting their operating hours to comply with the situation. The BTS Skytrain and MRT Subway systems in Bangkok are now operating from 06.00 – 21.00 hours while inter-provincial passenger bus services will not be operating during curfew. Hospitals are open and operating as per normal. However, telephone – landline and mobile – and Internet services continue to be available 24/7 as per normal.

All airports in Thailand remain open, and air passengers with arrival and departure flights scheduled during the situation can travel to and from the airports at any time as usual. However, Business travellers with arrival and departure flights are advised to prepare all travel documents when travelling to and from the airports.

A. Procedures for travelling to/from Suvarnabhumi Airport during 22:00 to 05.00 hrs.

Passengers and airport officials travelling to/from Suvarnabhumi Airport during 22:00 to 05:00 hrs.may do so, as follow:

   - Departure and Arrival Passengers must show his/her passport and ticket at road check-points;

   - Pick-up and drop-off vehicles must obtain a document from the Suvarnabhumi Airport Information Counters, located at Entrance 3 and 5 of the Departure Hall (4th Floor) or Entrance 3 of the Arrival Hall (2nd Floor) to verify that you have visited the airport;

   - Passengers leaving the airport using public taxis from the airport’s official taxi counters (paying a 50 baht fee) must show the taxi ticket at check-points;

   - Suvarnabhumi Airport car park members must show his/her member card at check-points;

B. Airport Facilitation

   - Suvarnabhumi Airport has set up a Passenger Assistance Center, located near Entrance 7 of the Arrival Hall (2nd floor), to assist passengers with travelling enquiries during this situation. The Center is opened 24-hours. Tel: +662 132 9996-7, Fax: +662 132 9998;

   - Passengers, who cannot find a mean of transport out of Suvarnabhumi Airport during the situation, may use the facilities available at CIP Lounges 1-4, located on the 3rd floor of the Passenger Terminal.

C. Public Transportation Available at Suvarnabhumi Airport

   - Airport limousine and public taxi service are available as normal;

   - Shuttle Bus service between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang International Airport is operating as usual :

      o From 05:00 to 24:00, leaving the airport every 30 minutes.

      o From 08:12-11:00 and 16:12-19:00 (rush hours), leaving the airport every 12 minutes

   - The shuttle bus leaves the Passenger Terminal from Entrance 2, 2nd floor.

To ensure the safety and convenience for all business travelers to Thailand, TCEB coordinates with Ministry of Tourism and Sports to provide The Tourist’s Friend Centre (TFC) – operated by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MoTS) – remains open 24 hours a day to offer assistance for business travelers. There are two TFC branches located at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang International Airport and four TFC Help Desks located at the following BTS Skytrain stations: Siam, Phaya Thai, Ekkamai and Sala Daeng.

Should you require any further information and assistance, please call TCEB office: +66 (0) 2694 6000, TCEB call center at 1105 (within Thailand only), visit www.tceb.or.th or contact info@tceb.or.th.

Useful contact numbers:

Tourism Authority of Thailand Call Centre 1672

Thai Traffic Police Call Centre 1197

Thai Tourist Police Call Centre 1155

Bangkok Tourism Division Call Centre +66 (0) 2225 7612-4

Ministry of Foreign Affairs +66 (0) 2203 4381-2

Department of Consular Affairs +66 (0) 23833402-4

Airports of Thailand Plc call center +66 (0) 2132 9996-7

Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (city bus service) Call Centre 1348

State Railway of Thailand Call Centre 1690

Transport Co., Ltd., (inter-provincial bus service) Call Centre 1490

Thai Airways International (THAI) Call Centre +66 (0) 2356 1111

Bangkok Airways Reservation Centre 1771

MRT Customer Relations Center +66 (0) 2624 5200

Emergency Call 1646, 1669