Thailand update: travel providers report minimal impact

According to the

Pacific Asia Travel Association's

(PATA) Thailand Chapter, "the impact of the military coup on Thailand's tourism sector has so far been minimal," and advises travelers to continue with plans to visit. It reports general calm and no violence in the capital.

Airports and airline services are operating normally. Hotels are open for business, as are most shops and restaurants. Some tour operators adjusted itineraries to bypass government office areas as a temporary measure, but planned to resume regular tour itineraries yesterday.

Both the U.S.

Department of State

and Britain's

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

advise travelers to monitor the situation and avoid large public gatherings. The Department of State also suggests that visitors to Thailand

register

with the U.S. Embassy.

Tourists should also be aware that a series of bombings in the Southern Thailand city of

Hat Yai

killed four people last Saturday.