Ten countries revoke travel alert against Thailand

BANGKOK, Feb 3 (TNA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs have convinced 10 more nations to call off their travel advisories against Thailand over feared terror threats and it is trying to convince 12 other countries which have maintained their warnings against the Kingdom. Jesda Katavetin , Deputy Director-General of the ministry's Department of Information, told journalists that Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and the permanent secretary for foreign affairs met European ambassadors in Bangkok at noon on Friday to brief them on Thailand's updated situation. The European top envoys are among 12 economies which have maintained their travel advisories against Thailand, including Iceland, Sweden, Greece, Italy, England, Romania, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, which have affected the Thai tourism. Jesda said the foreign ambassadors were satisfied with the updated situation in Thailand and, in a latest development, Britain, Sweden and Germany have revoked their warnings against the Kingdom, as the United States and Israel's recent waivers of the same warning were positive signs and have relieved concerns of other countries. The travel advisories against Thailand, first issued by the US Embassy in Bangkok and followed by other economies, emerged approximately when Thai authorities arrested a Lebanese terrorist suspect for allegedly involving in the Hezbollah militant group in the Middle East. Thai police then seized a number of explosive precursors, but an official investigation so far has not confirmed whether the suspect was planning a terrorist act. Meanwhile, the permanent secretary for foreign affairs also briefed the foreign ambassadors on Thai Prime Minister’s recent visit to India and attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (TNA)