Aussies heading to Thailand have been issued an urgent travel warning after a bomb was found near Phuket International Airport this week.
‘There’s an ongoing risk of terrorism in Thailand,’ Australia’s official travel advice service, Smartraveller, said in a statement on Saturday morning.
‘Popular tourist areas may be the target of terrorist attacks anywhere across Thailand, including Bangkok and Phuket.
‘This follows discovery of an explosive device near the airport this week.
‘Thai authorities defused devices in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga this week and have made related arrests in recent days.’
The service added that Phuket International Airport has increased security measures and that passengers flying out of the airport should arrive well ahead of their flights.
‘The security situation in Thailand can be unpredictable,’ the advice continued.
‘Large protests have occurred in Bangkok and other areas. In previous years, large political protests and government crowd control operations have resulted in violence.’
The government has issued a warning for Aussies heading to Thailand after a bomb was found near Phuket International Airport this week (Pattaya is pictured)
Thailand is a major destination for Australian tourists and businesspeople, with about 800,000 Aussies visiting the country each year before Covid (Sydney Airport is pictured)
The service also urged Aussies in Thailand to be alert to risks around drink spiking, and to never leave food or drinks unattended.
Holidaymakers should stay with people they trust at bars, nightclubs and in taxis.
Travellers were told to exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand overall due to security and safety risks, while they should ‘reconsider the need to travel’ to Yala province, Pattani province, and Narathiwat province due to ongoing risks of insurgent activity, including terrorism.
Thailand is a major destination for Australians, with about 800,000 Aussies visiting the country each year before Covid.
