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Military coup in Thailand

Russian travelers start cancelling tours to Thailand over protests in Bangkok

Most flights were cancelled or postponed by people who had planned trips to Pattaya city

© EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

MOSCOW, November 26 (Itar-Tass) - Russian tourists have started cancelling tours to Thailand over mass street protests in Bangkok, Maya Lomidze, the executive director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“Most flights were cancelled or postponed by people who had planned trips to Pattaya city,” she noted. “Those who wish to travel to the island of Phuket and other resorts do not cancel their tours.”

Lomidze said that “since the Russian Foreign Ministry and Rostourism have not commented on the situation in Thailand yet, most tourists prefer to postpone their departure until the situation their calms down.”

On Tuesday , the Russian Embassy in Thailand asked Russian citizens to refrain from trips to Bangkok (except for transfers to Bangkok's airport of Suvarnabhumi) over street unrest reported in the city, the press attach of the Russian Embassy, Aleksander Mrykin, told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“We ask our people to be cautious, fulfill all requirements of the law-enforcement authorities and avoid the meeting places of demonstrators,” he said, adding that the situation in the Thai tourist zone remained calm and did not raise concern.

Read also

Anti-government protests in Bangkok do not repel Russian tourists

The diplomat noted that no Russians had turned to the embassy for assistance over sweeping anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok.

Russia’s Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism) also recommended Russian tourists in Bangkok to exercise caution and avoid crowded areas.

“Rostourism advises those who are in Thailand’s capital at the moment to be careful and certainly avoid crowded places,” Rostourism spokeswoman Irina Shchegolkova told Itar-Tass, noting that Rostourism had received no complaints or phone calls from Russian tourists in Thailand over the demonstrations in Bangkok.

“According to Rostourism, the situation in the country’s resort zones remains absolutely calm. Russian tourists continue holidaying as usual and do not face any problems,” Shchegolkova said. “As for Bangkok, the difficult situation in the city may cause some inconveniences to tourists. But the Thai authorities are doing their best to normalize the situation there.

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