New Year Holiday Celebrations Warning

As the New Year holiday approaches, U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Thailand during the holiday season are reminded that bombings and deadly nightclub fires have occurred in the country, including in Bangkok, on New Year’s Eve in recent years.  Keeping in mind these experiences and the current dynamic political environment in Thailand, you should remain vigilant of your surroundings at all times and exercise caution in areas of large public gatherings (e.g., parks, plazas, shopping malls/bazaars, bars/nightclubs).  You are encouraged to avoid large crowds whenever possible and to remain alert to potentially dangerous conditions (e.g., unattended bags in public venues, confined areas posing a fire/evacuation hazard).   Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn violent.  The Royal Thai Police plan to deploy additional security resources throughout the Bangkok metropolitan area during the holiday weekend.

For the latest security information, you should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website (http://travel.state.gov), where current Worldwide Cautions, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings and health-information resources can be found.   You can also obtain up-to-date information on security by calling 1-888-407-4747 (toll free) in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers in other areas, by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

You are also encouraged to inform the Embassy of your presence in Thailand by enrolling in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), available at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.  The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy is located at 95 Wireless Road in Bangkok, and can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049, or by e-mailing ACSBKK@State.gov.  The Embassy’s after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-2-205-4000.