US State Department says Thailand safe for tourists, warns of risks in south

The US State Department has updated its travel advisory for Thailand, indicating that the country is generally safe for tourists, said Sasikarn Watthanachan, deputy government spokesperson has said.

There are some areas, however, where extra caution is advised, particularly in the southern provinces due to ongoing civil unrest.

The US State Department has placed most of Thailand on its “Level 1” advisory, meaning “exercise normal precautions.” This is an endorsement of Thailand’s safety, similar to countries like Iceland and New Zealand, the spokesperson said.

For travellers, this means they can safely explore Thailand’s top tourist destinations with the usual precautions in place. “In most of Thailand, you can enjoy your trip without concern. Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai and other key hotspots are all green-lit for travel,” says a US State Department spokesperson.

The US State Department has issued a “Level 2” advisory for the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla, due to periodic violence linked to insurgent activities.

These areas remain under a state of emergency and there is a higher risk of civil unrest, according to the US State Department and the Travel off Path website, and “The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services in these regions.”