The FCO said early November: 'Following the terrorist
attacks in Bali… in which Western tourists were deliberately targeted, the
threat to British nationals in Thailand, including popular tourist areas, the
island of Phuket in particular, has increased significantly.'

This statement has enraged not only the Thai and other South
East Asian tourism authorities, but ABTA, that venerable travel industry
association who have asked for greater clarity in the travel advice issued by
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Keith Betton, head of corporate affairs at ABTA, said:
'Surely they should tell us if they have had a specific threat about
Phuket.' He added: 'The advice they have given has scared people and we
have no idea whether it is reasonable. As far as we can tell Thailand is as
dangerous for the 6,000 or so Britons there as London was for Americans when
the IRA was bombing here.'

In response, an FCO spokesperson said: “We would not
mark out Phuket just to be on the safe side. Our advice is drawn from a number
of sources, including intelligence officials”.

Tour operators have been calling customers with bookings to
Thailand, or travellers in Thailand, apprising them of the FCO advice and
allowing them to postpone or alter their holiday plans. Airtours has dropped
Thailand, and Thomson Worldwide says bookings have dipped.

Early November, the FCO updated its advice on 12 countries –
including Honduras, Seychelles, Gibraltar and the Marshall Islands in the
Pacific – advising travellers to be 'aware of the risk of indiscriminate
attacks on civilian targets in public places' although no one at the FCO
could explain what this risk is, and it has promised to discuss the
practicality of its warnings with the Travel Advice Unit.

Foreign and Commonwealth
Travel Advice is available on 020 7008 0232/3.