Bangkok Library Digital library and information center for Bangkok, Thailand

The FCO has lifted its travel warning against all travel to Thailand (May 6, 2010) after the threat of political violence has eased this week. The Foreign Office had previously ignored criticism from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TOT) who claimed the blanket warning was an overreaction to isolated problem areas in the country which have seen around 28 people killed and several hundred injured. By issuing the travel warning, many Britons were unable to obtain travel insurance to visit Thailand and thus had no option but to cancel their holidays.

The Foreign Office still advises against travel to Bangkok due to the continued political unrest in the city, and in particular to avoid using transport services that pass protest sites including Ratchaprasong Intersection, next to Central World and Gaysorn Plaza.

Many anti-government protesters who formerly wore red shirts have switched to other colors in a bid to outmaneuver a widely expected crackdown by government security forces. The protesters, who refer to themselves as the “red shirts”, have now occupied the Ratchaprasong Intersection and its nearby shopping district for several weeks.