Foreign Office issues warning urging against 'all but essential travel'
People heading abroad this year have been issued a warning by the Foreign Office, advising against travel to some areas. In their latest update just days ago on July 24, they note that there is an increased risk to travellers.
In their Thailand travel advice, they explained: "FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to within 50km of the border from Cambodia in the provinces of Buriram, Si Saket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani." Highlighting changes to their 'warnings and insurance' and 'regional risks' pages, the official GOV.UK website warn travellers they risk insurance issues if they ignore advice.
They caution: "Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)." On their 'warnings and insurance' page, they list the areas affected.
Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the south, near the Thailand-Malaysia border:
Pattani Province
Yala Province
Narathiwat Province
southern Songkhla Province – south of the A43 road between Hat Yai and Sakom, and south of the train line which runs between Hat Yai and Padang Besar
"FCDO also advises against all but essential travel on the Hat Yai to Padang Besar train line that runs through these provinces. This is due to regular attacks in the provinces by the border with Malaysia", they further warn.
FCDO also advises against all but essential travel to border areas with Cambodia. Specifically:
within 50km of the border from Cambodia in the provinces of Buriram, Si Saket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani.
Not all land border crossings into Laos are open to foreign nationals, they warn. However even if the border crossing is open, travellers might still need to have a visa for Laos in advance.
As with all other countries, they urge people to check the entry requirements in their Laos travel advice, urging people to always follow the latest guidance of local authorities and to "be vigilant in the border areas."
Discussing the Thailand- Myanmar border, the Foreign Office tell travellers that the "security situation in Myanmar is unpredictable and liable to change without notice". You should look at the Myanmar travel advice before heading to the airport.
What is happening at the Thailand-Cambodia border?
Fighting broke out on July 24 along several points of the Thailand-Cambodia border, involving rocket and artillery fire. Reports confirm casualties and the evacuation of nearby communities. Because of this, all land border crossings between the two countries have been suspended.
The Foreign Office explained: "Some tourist destinations in border areas such as the Khao Phra Wihan/Preah Vihear temple, the Ta Kwai/Ta Krabey temple and the Ta Muen Thom/Tamone Thom temple are currently closed. There are also unexploded landmines in the border area. We advise against all but essential travel to the affected border areas."
The BBC report: "Thailand and Cambodia have given differing versions of what happened." They further note that the fighting marks an escalation in a long-standing dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbours - a conflict that stretches back over a century.
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