Blogs

Possible Terrorist Attack At Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport

Secret sources report that a group of muslim militants from Thai southern provinces have infiltrated Bangkok and plan to carry out a major attack in the capital and at Suvarnabhumi airport in March.

Bangkok Post newspaper said that the attack could be held for the anniversary of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Pattani (BRN), one of the muslim underground groups, the 13rd of March and that terrorists want to put explosives in strategic places in Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi airport.

It seems that a large shipment of explosive materials bas been transported to Thailand for terrorism use and that these explosives have been spread to strategic locations as Suvarnabhumi airport.

At the same time when officials got these informations several foreign embassies in Bangkok warned their citizens of a possible terrorist attack following the statement by Thai Defense Minister last week that Muslim insurgents in the south could extend their attacks to the capital.

Last time Bangkok was attacked was in December 2007, during the New Year's eve, when several bombs that exploded killed 3 people and injured 38 others. Until March 2007 nobody has been arrested for this terrorist action.

The Thai government and AOT said that all measures have already been taken to prevent any attack in Bangkok and its airport. Read more »

TAT announced having reached its target for 2006, but beware of thieves at Suvarnabhumi airport

The Tourism Authority of Thailand just announced that the target of 14 millions visitors in 2006 has been reached.

Indeed, following statistics, based on Immigration bureau 13821802 international tourists arrived in 2006 in Thailand, even though the tsunami was still in memories and even when the previous Prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been deposed by the military coup.
Compared with 2005 the growth is about 20% and as always Malaysian is the most represented citizenship among people who visit Thailand, with 1591328 Malay tourists in 2006.

Asian are always the biggest crowd to visit Thailand, and number two on the list are Japanese, with 1,3 million of tourists, then Koreans with just over 1 million, and Chinese with about 950000.
Among farangs (the way white people are called in Thailand) British have been 850000 to visit Thailand, ahead of Americans, Australians, and Germans.
Less Singaporeans than Americans visited Thailand, but more than German.
All other nationalities were less than 500000 arrivals. The nationalities with the highest growths were Saudi Arabians at 99%, Russians at 83%, East Europeans at 54% and Egyptians at 51%. Other nationalities growths were less than 50%.

And just when TAT announce these good results, the police yesterday warned passengers at Suvarnabhumi new Bangkok Airport not to leave their baggage unattended as foreign thieves have been targeting travelers in the airport facilities.
It seems that these thieves comes either from Philippines, Indonesia, China, Laos and Peru, because some people from all these countries have been caught stealing at the airport.
The tourist police stationed at the airport received 415 theft reports from tourists since the airport began full commercial services in late September with 114 reported thefts in January alone.
So TAT and Tourist police advice people to always keep an eye on their belongings and to rather keep money and credit cards in their pockets than in their bags.

A Laotian has been caught lately and when the police visited his Bangkok apartment, they found many travelers' belongings, among which digital cameras and laptop computers.
Thieves usually target Japanese and western tourists because they often carry a lot of cash and expensive items.
Foreign thieves caught stealing in Thailand and especially at Suvarnabhumi airport will be blacklisted and won't be allowed to travel to the country again.
It's important for Thailand so secure its airport facilities to give tourist the feeling that Thailand is a safe country, because Suvarnabhumi airport is the first place they see when they arrive in the country.

Airport official said that more security cameras will be installed and more security guards with civil clothes will patrol the airport. Read more »

Only three airlines flying to re-opened Don Muang Bangkok’s former international airport

Because of the cost of moving again, most airlines denied to go back to Don Muang Bangkok’s former international airport and until now only three companies have started to organize their services to use Don Muang airport again.

These companies are Thai Airways that will use it for some domestic flights, low cost airline Nok Air and low cost airline Orient Thai. But these 3 airlines only operate less than 20% of the total domestic flights to Bangkok.

Don Muang Bangkok old airport might become Thailand capital city second airport, but nothing is done yet.

After being closed in September Don Muang airport will open again at the end of March or beginning of April 2007, but the decision has not been taken to know if it is temporarily or definitively.

If in the future other airlines agree to fly there as the government and AOT (Airport Of Thailand) expect, then it will remain open as Bangkok second airport, but if no more airline move to Don Muang, it won't be possible to keep it opened for 3 airlines only. Because running a second airport will cost a lot to AOT organization, and even if they raised the Thai airport departure tax to 700 THB (now included in the ticket price since the 1st of February), the loss would be too important if just few airlines fly there.

Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongchaum already announced that at the beginning, when it will just have reopened, the former airport will operate at loss, but that this situation won't last long, because when they will see that everything run smooth at the newly reopened airport, other airlines will want to use it because of the reduced cost.

But whatever happen with DonMuang airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport will remain the Bangkok and Thailand primary international airport and Don Muang, if maintained opened, would only be a second airport as Luton is for London Heathrow or LaGuardia Airport (LGA) for New York.

Because one's must remind that most of the capital city in the world as Paris, London, or New York have two or three airports, so it's difficult to understand how could Bangkok, with the expected rise of tourism, be the Asian hub as the Thai government always claim with only one airport which is already too small.

Suvarnabhumi airport will be partly closed when Don Muang will open to facilitate repairs at the new Bangkok international Airport. Read more »

Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport Novotel hotel not voted best hotel in 2007

Bangkok airport Novotel hotel has not been chosen as one of the best hotel in the world by Asia's luxury travel, but it might be because the new airport hotel has just opened its door.

But Bangkok has been once more voted the world’s best city destination for leisure and this is The Oriental Hotel that got the best hotel award.

This is not surprising as Thailand popularity as a perfect travel destination is spreading and Suvarnabhumi Bangkok airport being the hub for the whole region, with cheap flights available to go anywhere in Asia from this center point.

Usually people going to Thailand enjoy the weather, the food, the cheap shopping, the nightlife, and the peaceful and friendly Thai people and Bangkok is one of the best value for money destination worldwide, even if you could find better beaches in Maldives as an example, but for a minimum of ten times the price in Thailand.

But when they go to Bangkok and the rest of Thailand foreigners also enjoy the great hotels available there, and once more The Oriental Hotel in BKK has been chosen as the best hotel for its outstanding services and location, and also its excellent catering.

For people heading to the beach The Banyan Tree Phuket is the best hotel in the resort category for the same reasons plus its luxurious spa facilities.

You can get all results to this vote in the DestinAsian magazine which is a bimonthly publication published in Indonesia, not voted best destination, as well as the Novotel hotel. Read more »

Danger in case of fire at Suvarnabhumi airport

Suvarnabhumi Airport passenger terminal that will soon be fixed for many other problems is also a firetrap supposedly because of construction changes, operational mismanagement, and the previous Thai government corruption.

The problem is that emergency exits are blocked and many can only be opened with security key cards that few people own, so in case of problems people can get caught and be unable to evacuate.
The ones that are blocked are full of retail stock, baggage trolleys and cleaning carts, and some exits are even permanently locked, but anyway, fewer emergency exists than required have been built.

Also, and has it happened before during the MRT Bangkok Subway accident, it seems that staff and security companies at Suvarnabhumi airport have not been trained enough for emergency evacuations.

Experts sent by the actual government have inspected the airport and have found many faults with some of them due to Murphy Jahn TAMS ACT architect design consortium.

Administration is also responsible and maybe guilty because changes in the construction project have been ordered too often for that kind of construction and Thaksin Shinawatra government broke the Building Control Act about some security points as fire exits and convenient point as lavatories. The previous government wanted to change the regulation and adapt it to the unsafe airport. Read more »