Thailand tourism industry slips into crisis mode

With 27 countries issuing travel advisories for citizens planning to visit Thailand this weekend, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has its work cut out for it.

According to the Bangkok Post, the TAT will use its crisis management centre to monitor the impact of Friday's court ruling on whether ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's 76 billion baht in frozen assets should be seized.

Though no countries have outright banned travel to Thailand, the advisories reflect different levels of concern. “China, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, and Macau have circulated the lightest advisories, simply asking people to be alert to the situation,” says the Post.