Thailand Back in Business

After a week of protests shut down Bangkok’s two airports, incoming and outgoing commercial flights have resumed after the peaceful resolution of protests there last week. The main airport, which has been closed along with Bangkok’s secondary Don Muang Airport since November 26, resumed normal operations on Friday, December 5, when the first flight arrived from Phuket, in Southern Thailand.

Protesters from the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) ended their seven-day siege of Bangkok’s airports after successfully pressuring for the removal of  Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who they accused of serving as a frontman for the scandal-plagued government of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in 2006.  Nearly a quarter-million foreign tourists had been left stranded in the kingdom when airports closed.

“The demonstrations that temporarily stalled flights to Thailand for the past week have come to an end, and we eagerly anticipate a return to normal tourist traffic over the coming weeks,” said Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, Director, Eastern USA and Canada, for the Tourism Authority of Thailand.  “We are headed into the peak season in Thailand, when the weather is at its best and the beaches beckon travelers from the world over.” Protesters have warned that if the government tries to reinstate insiders from the discredited opposing party, they will be back. Travelers are advised to check with their individual airlines as to how flight schedules have been affected by the airport closure. For the latest updates on travel to Thailand, visit the Tourism Thailand website.