Officials are urging caution for Americans traveling to Thailand after a bloodless military coup turned out the country’s prime minister Tuesday night.
Flights to Thailand have not been halted, however, and the U.S. State Department did not issue an advisory for Americans now in Thailand to leave the country.
In a lightning-quick takeover backed by Thailand’s king, Thai Army Commander Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin has announced he will serve as acting prime minister for two weeks until the new government chooses a leader.
While so far nonviolent, the turmoil may have implications for tourism, with at least one travel agency reporting a drop in “non-ethnic” travelers to Thailand. Falls Church-based Airfare.com has seen cancellations of customers with names like “Smith” and “Jones,” but not from those with Thai last names, said Joe Bous, a company executive.
He expected the volume of travel to Thailand to be restored shortly.
“Generally speaking with these things, a couple of days afterwards you get a bunch of cancellations,” Bous said.
U.S. State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez said Americans in Thailand are urged to follow safety and security measures posted at the embassy Web site. The site advises U.S. citizens who are planing to travel to the country to “carefully consider their options before traveling until the situation becomes clear.”
