RF ambassador recommends tourists refrain from trips to Bangkok.

9/4 Tass 120

BANGKOK, April 9 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's Ambassador to Thailand
Alexander Maryasov recommended tourists "refrain from trips to Bangkok and
go immediately to the resorts of the kingdom," the newly appointed Russian
ambassador told Itar-Tass on Friday.
According to Alexander Maryasov, who assumed the office of ambassador
on March 18, 2010, "in view of continuous mass actions of the opposition
in Bangkok tourists should follow the recommendations of the Russian
Foreign Ministry." "Currently they are the following: Russian citizens who
intend to visit Thailand are recommended not to visit the capital of this
country - Bangkok and upon arrival in Thailand go directly to the sea
resorts in the country," he pointed out. In Pattaya, on the islands
Phuket, Samui, Tau and Chang, as well as in the province Krabi "the
situation is normal."
"If to stay in the capital for some reasons, cautiousness should be
showed and mass rallies, particularly near the buildings of the
government, the parliament, the palace and the monuments Victory Monument
and Monument to Democracy, trading centres in the central part of the city
and night marketplaces should be avoided," Maryasov said.
Alongside, the Russian diplomat noted that in 2009 the total number of
Russian citizens, who visited Thailand, has made about 300,000 people and
it is expected that "the current year, certainly if the Thai authorities
provide political stability and security at the proper level will also be
successful for tourist operators."
Speaking on traditional recommendations to tourists, the ambassador
recalled that "the recommendations for our citizens are standard, the
major of them is to remember that in the oriental country with its laws,
traditions and behaviour rules, which seem quite strange for the
Europeans, but however compulsory for fulfilment for the local population
as well as for foreigners."
"Try to respect the Thais and their customs, and they will give you
the same response. I would like to recall about such characteristic
feature of Thailand, as categorically unacceptable insulting actions and
statements towards the royal family, for which an insulter may be brought
to criminal responsibility," the ambassador said.
Among other recommendations to tourists Maryasov stressed the
processing of an international insurance policy with a sufficient sum of
cover. "Medicine in Thailand is qualitative, but is quite expensive, the
need for medical aid may arise at any moment, even unexpectedly," he
added. "In this respect I would like to warn about extreme kinds of
vacations, which can put at risk the health and even life, particularly in
an unusual Thai climate for the Russians," the diplomat said.
"The security of our citizens in Thailand is provided at a proper
level, and emerging problems used to be solved in close contact with the
country's authorities and with tourist companies working on the Thai
market," the Russian ambassador said.
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