Thailand has been facing the worst flooding it’s seen in half a century; thus, if you are traveling or planning a trip to Thailand at this time, you are advised to stay well-informed. There are many places you can travel very safely to, and have a normal, wonderful Thai holiday. There are also some things that you should stay tuned in to, in order to avoid any unexpected developments. This FAQ is provided to answer some important questions, and to give you the information you need to keep up with the developing situation.
Destinations
1. What tourist destinations in Thailand are not affected by the floods and are okay to visit?
While several major tourist attractions in a few central provinces have been temporarily closed due to the floods, they represent a very small portion of the many thousands of tourist attractions throughout Thailand. All other tourist attractions in central Bangkok, as well as elsewhere in Thailand, such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Hua-Hin, Pattaya, Rayong, Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Samui, and all provinces in the south, have not been affected by the flooding.
2. Bangkok seems to have been seriously affected by flooding. Should tourists avoid travelling to the city for now?
- • Flooding in the 1,568 square km Bangkok Metropolitan Area is taking place in suburbs in the east and west, the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and districts in the northern part of the city.
- • In central Bangkok, businesses, hotels, shops and tourist attractions currently remain open in areas including:
- o Khao San Road
- o Phetchaburi Road
- o Ploenchit/ Chidlom
- o Pratunam
- o Rama 1 Road
- o Rama 4 Road
- o Ratchaprasong (Central World area)
- o Sathorn
- o Siam Square/ MBK/
- Siam Paragon
- o Silom/ Surawongse
- o Sukhumvit Road/ The Emporium
- o Yaowarat (Chinatown)
- • Given the rapidly-changing situation in Bangkok, the TAT advises travelers to obtain the latest information about visiting tourist attractions in areas affected by flooding, which could limit access.
- • Visitors should also check multiple sources of information to make an informed decision about whether they should visit central Bangkok at the present time.
- • The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are operating normally at this time. Some MRT stations have closed certain entrances as a precaution. Visitors are advised to check with the BTS and MRT regarding the current status of their operations.
- • Taxis and tuk tuks are available although the number in service is reduced. Many BMTA bus routes have been rerouted or suspended due to the flooding. Express boat services on the Chao Phraya River have also been suspended, as have most water-related tourist activities.
3. I have seen reports in the news that the government says all of Bangkok may end up getting flooded? Is this true – and doesn’t it mean I should avoid Bangkok until the flooding is completely gone?
- • The Bangkok government is working hard to manage the flow of water to try to prevent it from entering the central business district of inner Bangkok.
- • Given the rapidly-changing situation in Bangkok, the TAT advises travelers to obtain the latest information about visiting tourist attractions in areas affected by flooding, which could limit access.
- • Visitors should also check multiple sources of information to make an informed decision about whether they should visit central Bangkok at the present time.
4. I have read that flood waters continue to move into Bangkok from the northern districts including Chatuchak, where the famous weekend market is. How far is this from the central business district of Bangkok? When will the central business district be flooded?
- • The Chatuchak district is about 9 Km north of Bangkok’s central business district (reference point for CBD: corner of Rama 4 Road and Silom Road).
- • While there is some flooding in the Chatuchak district, the Chatuchak Weekend Market, located in the south end of the district, was open this past weekend. The MRT and BTS to Chatuchak Station are still operating as per usual.
- • There is a lot of speculation about if and when inner Bangkok will actually get flooded, but nobody can say for sure what will happen over the next several days.
5. Is there any chance inner Bangkok could get cut off from the airport due to flooding?
- • The Airport Rail Link that runs from Phaya Thai Station and Makkasan Station in inner Bangkok is fully elevated all the way to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
- • There is a network of elevated expressways from inner Bangkok leading to the airport. A short length of the expressway serving the airport is at ground level but well protected, and the rest is elevated.
- • The chances of inner Bangkok being cut off from the airport via Airport Rail Link or road is very remote.
6. What about Suvarnabhumi Airport – is there a chance it may be closed down by flooding?
- • Suvarnabhumi Airport is unaffected by the floods and continues to operate as per normal.
- • The airport has considerable flood protection measures in place.
- • Other airports in Thailand that serve tourist destinations such as Phuket, Krabi, Ko Samui, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Sukhothai, are also operating as per normal.
7. I have seen photos of attractions in Ayutthaya affected by the floods. How has the flooding situation affected tourism in Ayutthaya?
- • In Ayutthaya, the flood water is subsiding and the restoration program for tourist attractions including the World Heritage Site is about to begin.
Transportation
8. What is the transportation system like now? How well is everything functioning?
Some roads to the north of Bangkok are closed at present. Thailand’s main airport, Suvarnabhumi, is opened, and you can fly to anywhere else in Thailand from there with no problems. Thailand’s secondary airport, Don Muang, is closed at present, with Nok and Orient Air moving their services to Suvarnabhumi.
9. Is the MRT subway still operating?
- • Yes, as it is designed specifically for the wet soil conditions of Bangkok.
- • Some MRT stations have closed certain entrances as a precaution.
10. Can the BTS Skytrain continue to operate if the area below it is flooded?
- • The BTS Skytrain is a fully-elevated system so will not be affected by flooding in the streets below as long as the station entrances and exits remain accessible.
11. Are the trains still running north? Just wondering if we should skip the north and go south?
Tourist destinations in the north, such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Sukhothai, can now be accessed by air and railways but trains would re-route via the east to avoid flooded areas. Provinces in southern and eastern Thailand remain fully accessible by road and train.
12. What measures are in place to assist tourists who might be affected by the floods?
- • Regular transportation to Suvarnabhumi Airport including taxis, airport limousines, and hotel vans are still operating and the motorway from inner Bangkok to the airport is open as per normal. The elevated Airport Rail Link is also fully operating from Phaya Thai Station and Makkasan Station in central Bangkok to the airport.
- • Bangkok is a large and flat city, so the flood waters are moving from the northern districts towards the inner city very slowly. This gives tourists who chose to visit inner Bangkok considerable time to evaluate the flood conditions and make their own travel arrangements.
- • To facilitate tourists’ transport from hotels in central Bangkok to the airport, a “Tourist Assistance Center” has been set up on the 3rd Floor of Airport Rail Link’s Makkasan Station, open between 06:00-18:00 hours. The TAT and Thai Hotels Association (THA) provide transportation from the hotels to the Makkasan Station of the Airport Rail Link. The Tourist Police will assist tourists at Makkasan Station and at the airport. Tourists in Thailand can contact the Tourist Assistance Center via the TAT Call Center at 1672, or through the Tourist Police at 1155.
13. Just how many tourists are coming to Bangkok right now?
- • The TAT does not have access to the most recent data about Bangkok, so cannot provide specific numbers regarding visitors to the city until we can compile summary reports.
- • While the number of visitors to Bangkok has certainly dropped, TAT representatives who tour the inner city daily still see many tourists doing engaging in regular activities.
- • The only data we can provide to you at this time relates to overall arrivals.
- • International tourist arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport for October 2011 reached 958,000, an increase of 6.7% over the previous year. Arrivals at Phuket International Airport during October were up 28.5% compared to last year.
- • From November 1st to 9th, the number of arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport was 224,000, a decrease of 25.5% compared to the same period last year.
- • Phuket International Airport had 40,500 arrivals from November 1st to 6th, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year.
Food and Health
14. What about the shortages of food and water? Will this affect tourists?
- • In some areas, tourists may find that there are occasional shortages of consumer products that are in high demand such as local brands of water and locally-bottled beer. These products are replenished periodically. Imported products including beer and bottled water are widely available.
- • Most hotels maintain a large inventory of supplies, so tourists will be able to get food and bottled water as per usual.
15. I have heard there are some health problems caused by the flood. Can I get sick if I come to Thailand?
- • The health problems apply to those who have experienced the effects of being in standing water in flooded areas for prolonged periods.
- • Tourists who are not in these areas should not experience any such health problems.
Sources
16. Where can I view maps of flooded areas and highways?
See this Thailand Flood Map (http://g.co/maps/c3c66); or view the Department of Highways site showing affected roads throughout Thailand: http://maintenance.doh.go.th/flood54.html (in Thai, but with maps).
17. What websites provide the most up-to-date information that I can check day to day?
The TAT is communicating these facts to potential visitors worldwide through regular updates to our 24 international offices, media worldwide, online and via direct communications with tour operators. The situation can be monitored through www.thailandtourismupdate.com. You can also check the following sites for additional information:
- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (English) - www.bangkok.go.th/th/main/index.php?&l=en
- Thai Meteorological Department (in English) - www.tmd.go.th/en/
- Flood Relief Operation Centre (in Thai) - www.floodthailand.net
18. What useful numbers you can tell me to get more information?
USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS
TAT Call Center: 1672
Thai Airways: 02-356-1111
Bangkok Airways: 02-265-8777
Air Asia: 02-515-9999
Nok Air: 1318 or 02-900-9955
Orient Thai Airlines: 1126
Tourist Police 1155
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Call Center: 1690
Transport Co., Ltd. Hotline: 1490
(Inter-provincial bus service)
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Hotline: 1555
BMA's flood response centre: 02-2485115
Highway Hotline: 1586
Highway Police: 1193
Animal rescue: 1362
Please remember to stay well-informed until the flooding subsides. There is much information available, and you should print out or make note of these websites and phone numbers. There are people everywhere willing to help and assist you, should you need it. If you do find yourself in need of official assistance, the Thai Tourist Police are well-trained and able to assist you; they can be reached by calling 1155. Chances are that you will not need any of these emergency numbers, but it is best to be prepared and not caught unawares. That way, you’ll get the most out of your time in Thailand, and be able to fully enjoy your time here.
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