Is It Safe To Travel To Thailand?

Thailand is among the top tourist-friendly countries in South East Asia, with more than thirty million visitors visiting the country annually due to the beautiful beaches, culture, and warm-hearted people. Nevertheless, the recent political instabilities and occasional acts of violence have prompted some tourists to wonder whether the country is safe for tourism. In a nutshell, the answer to the question is yes – Thailand is still quite safe for the majority of tourists as long as they take basic caution measures. Here is a more detailed insight of safety in Thailand.

Political Climate

The country has witnessed political instability over the last 15 years with military coups in 2006 and 2014 and mass protests in Bangkok as well as other parts of the country in 2013-2014. However Thailand has had democratic elections recently and the new government looks fairly stable. Although such demonstrations are evident in Bangkok to this date, they are not very frequent and are not typically characterized by violence. If one keeps away from protest zones, the strikes and marches do not pose a threat to travel, save for causing traffic congestion.

Crime and Violence

Violent crime and theft remain relatively low in Thailand compared to most of the Western countries. Crime is not very common, particularly the violent type targeted at foreigners, but acts of terrorism have been witnessed. Don’t be so adventurous during politically instable periods stay away from areas where there is civil strife, and do not travel alone at night or with valuables. When visiting such a city, one should exercise the same level of care as one would while in any other big city in the world. It is recommended to monitor the governments’ travel advisories for unsafe areas, especially in the border areas where there have been cases of unrest between separatists and the Thai authorities.

Scams and Fraud

Despite the fact that violent crime is not prevalent in Thailand, there are a number of scams that are directed towards tourists. Beware of cash exchange frauds, jet ski rental frauds, ride sharing and transport frauds, freelance hustlers who approach you and take you to overpriced tourist traps, and common pickpocketing. Be wise and do not become a target for scammers.

Health and Medical Risks

Medical care is a well-developed sector in Thailand and can meet the needs of foreign tourists. However, the risk factors do exist and, therefore, one should have to act prudently. Because of the tropical environment in Thailand, it is advisable to take protective measures against mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, zika viruses especially in the rural areas and to get vaccinated as recommended by current medical advice. Currently, the CDC and British government both do not recommend nonessential travel to Thailand’s southern provinces close to Malaysia because the area has little infrastructure and has a history of insurgent attacks making it less safe. Some of them also have environmental hazards; for instance, air pollution and excessive movement of motorbikes. When more tourists start visiting Thailand after the pandemic, make sure to check your health status and follow the guidelines of Thailand.

In conclusion, Thailand continues to be one of the safer and more welcoming countries in Southeast Asia. In general, there are adequate protective measures that a tourist would be able to take to ensure that he or she would not fall victim to the existing dangerous zones prevalent at the time of the trip. This is because risks can evolve over time, so it is advantageous to update through tools like government travel warnings and local media. Just be smart, do not let fear to keep you from the grand opportunities of seeing the immense beauty of Thailand and welcoming from the people who are known as ‘The Land of Smiles’. Like any other place in the world, one needs to be cautious and be ready to safeguard oneself and that should not discourage anyone.

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