A late-night curfew has been lifted in three of Thailand’s main tourist areas.
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the military junta who currently are governing the kingdom after last month’s coup d'état, called time on the curfew, which has been in effect since May 22.
Residents and tourists were initially asked to return home between 10pm and 5am, but the seven-hour period was reduced by three hours on May 28 when the curfew was adjusted to 12am - 4am.
The curfew was imposed nationwide ensure the safety of everyone during the current political transition period for the kingdom, and the uncertainly it entailed, according to a statement distributed via the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Patong Beach, Phuket
“Now with the situation in the country remaining calm, and everyday life continuing as normal, the decision has been made to lift the curfew on a case-by-case basis. This means that in Ko Samui, Pattaya and Phuket, the daily four-hour (00.00-04.00 hrs.) curfew has been lifted entirely, so that tourists can continue to enjoy the fine-dining, nightlife and day-long excursions for which the kingdom is famous,” the statement read.
The curfew remains in place from midnight to 4am in the rest of the country, but most local businesses and nightlife facilities have adjusted their opening hours to offer services earlier in the evening.
Tourists are still able to transfer to and from airports when necessary and airports remain open, with flights operating as normal.
TAT Governor added, “The recent political situation only affected a few small areas of Bangkok, while in the rest of the country daily life was not disrupted at all. There is no military presence in popular tourist areas and of course no danger to travellers going out of their hotels and guesthouses in the evening.”
The TAT is providing helpful daily updates for tourists on its website: www.tatnews.org.