TOURISM SITUATION IN THAILAND - As of November 29, 2008 / 19.00 hrs. (Bangkok Time)

TOURISM SITUATION IN THAILAND
As of November 29, 2008 / 19.00 hrs. (Bangkok Time)

18.00 hrs. THAI announced that it will open its Ticketing Office on Sunday,
30 November 2008, 08.00-17.00 hrs. Passengers can contact THAI’s Ticketing Office as follows:

Head Office: Vipavadee Rangsit Road
Lanluang Office: Lanluang Road
Silom Office: BUI Building, 175-177 Soi Anumanrachthon, 1 Surawong Road

THAI requests all passengers who have made reservations to travel or wish to travel with THAI to check flight movements via public media. For those who wish to make flight reservations or change travel plans, please contact the THAI office at Tel: 02 356 1111 or for more information at Tel: 02 545 4000 or visit THAI’s website www.thaiairways.com.

The Minister of Tourism and Sports announced that at this time the related authorities are trying to solve the problem of the landing / departing schedule of the airlines, as well as try to find a location in the centre of Bangkok for passengers to check in and board their respective airlines conveniently . In the meantime, they should let the hotels facilitate them as best as possible until their time of departure.

The stranded passengers should also keep themselves updated on flight information and contact their respective airlines before leaving for the airport. This will help to ease any confusion and delays.

THAI have organised a special flight for Thai Muslim pilgrims to their annual Haj pilgrimage in Mecca from Hat Yai Airport. ACM Narongsak Sangapong, THAI’s Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretariat Department and Acting President, said that due to the Airports of Thailand (AoT)’s announcement of the closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang International Airports since 21 November, 2008, a number of Thai Muslim pilgrims were stranded at Suvarnabhumi and Hat Yai International Airports.

THAI organised a special flight, TG8534, on the Hat Yai – Jeddah route, utilizing Airbus A300-600 aircraft. Flight TG8534 departed Hat Yai International Airport at 15.35 hrs. and will arrive at Jeddah at 22.14 hrs. (local time).

Jetstar is contacting the passengers who have made reservations on the flights and who were not able to fly due to the airport closure in Bangkok. For further information on flight schedules, reservations and latest updates during this period, passengers may contact Jetstar Asia’s 24-hours call centre, the toll-free numbers are:

	International:		800 611 2957
	Bangkok:		02 267 5125
	Australia:		131 538

Since operations at the airport have not yet been resumed, for more information on other flights, please contact the following numbers:

	U-Tapao International Airport	038-245-595 / 038-245-600

	Don Mueang International Airport	02-535-1669 / 02-535-1616

	Public Relations	02-535-1253

	Bangkok Airways	02-265-5678 www.bangkokairways.com

	Bangkok Airways Hotline	1771

	Nok Air	02 627 2000

	Air Asia	02-515-9999 www.airasia.com

	PB Air	02-261-0220-5 www.pbair.com

	Jetstar	International: 800 611 2957 Bangkok: 02 267 5125 Australia: 131 538 www.jetstar.com

	Tiger Airways	2-649-9688 (Bangkok) +65-6538-4437 (Singapore)

	Suvarnabhumi International Airport	02 132 1888 / 02 132 1882

	Flight Information	02 132 0000 / 02 132 9328-9

	Security Centre	02 132 4310 / 02 132 4000

	Chiang Mai International Airport	053 922 100 / 053 922 444

For other information, please contact:

	Ministry of Foreign Affairs

	Emergency Centre (24 Hours)	02-643-5522

	Fax	02-643-5521

	Tourism Intelligence Unit and Crisis Management Centre (TIC)	02-253-8844 / 02-253-5500

	Ministry of Tourism and Sports	1414

	Tourism Authority of Thailand	1672

	Tourist Police	1155

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and Thai Hotels Association (THA) has transferred the remaining stranded passengers to the following hotels:

Imperial Queen’s Park
Address: 199 Sukhumvit Soi 22, Sukhumvit Road
Khlongtan, Khlongton District, Bangkok 10110
Tel: 02 267 9000, 02 261 9300
Ibis Hotel
Address: 5 Soi Ramkhamhaeng 15, Ramkhamhaeng Rd.,
Bangkok 10240
Tel: 02 308 7888
Eastin Hotel
Address: 1091/343 New Petchburi Road, Makkasan,
Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400
Tel: 02 651 7600
E-mail: info@eastinbangkokhotel.com
Twin Tower Hotel
Address: 88 Rong Muang, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel: 02 216 9555
E-mail: info@thetwintowershotel.com
Regent Hotel (Suvarnabhumi)
Address: 30/1-32/1 Soi Ladkrabang 22, Ladkrabang
Bangkok 10520
Tel: 02 326 7138-43
E-mail: info@regentsuvarnabhumi.com
Prince Palace
Address: 488/800 Bo Bae Tower, Damrongrak Road,
Klong Mahanak, Pomprab, Bangkok 10100
Tel: 02 628 1111
Siam City Hotel
Address: 477 Si Ayuthaya Road, Phayathai, Bangkok 10400
Tel: 02 247 0123
E-mail: siamcity@siamhotels.com

List of Other Authorized Hotels
Please click to view

And for others, please contact the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) Tel: +66 2 237-6046-8, + 66 2 632-7400-2), Thai Hotels Association (THA) (Tel: 02 281 9496 or Hotline Number : 1552), and TCT (Tel: 02-250-5500 ext. 1646).

Conditions of Accommodation

Tourists cannot reimburse the accommodation and meals for cash.
Tourists can stay in the accommodation under the condition that their costs do not exceed 2,000 Baht per day. For any excess, tourists must be responsible and pay themselves.
Tourists can only change the place of accommodation that has been arranged by THA and ATTA.

List of Other Authorized Hotels
Please click to view

Re: Visa
For any tourist whose visa has expired since 26 November, 2008, till the airport reopens, there will be no penalty or charge for overstay from the Immigration Bureau. However, tourists must show their original tickets, so they are not charged.

Contact information:
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org