The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck at noon on March 28, with its epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, has had a serious impact on the country’s tourism industry. Mandalay, a city famous for its UNESCO-recognized temples and cultural relics, has suffered significant damage, affecting local tourism activities. Not only Myanmar, neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Laos, have also been affected by the earthquake, with the number of international tourists showing signs of decline due to safety concerns.
In light of this situation, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued travel advice for UK nationals planning to or currently residing in Thailand and Myanmar. The FCDO advises UK nationals not to travel to a number of provinces in southern Thailand, including Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla, unless absolutely necessary.
Myanmar is now on the "do not travel" warning list of countries around the world after the earthquake.
For travellers currently in Thailand, the FCDO advises that they should monitor the news regularly, follow the instructions of local authorities and stay away from high-rise buildings until it is safe to do so. This is to ensure maximum safety in the event of aftershocks or other emergencies.
The aftershocks of this earthquake have caused many countries to advise their citizens when traveling to this country.
UK travel agencies have been quick to offer support to their customers. Customers who are currently travelling to Thailand or Myanmar, or who have booked tours to these two countries in the near future, have been notified that they are allowed to change their itinerary or cancel their trip without penalty. This demonstrates the concern and responsibility of travel agencies for the safety and interests of their customers.
In addition, travel insurance companies have also recorded a significant increase in the number of insurance claims from tourists. These claims are mainly related to travel disruptions due to the impact of the earthquake. This shows tourists' concerns about the safety situation in the area and their desire to ensure their rights in case of an incident.
The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has just issued travel advice for British citizens in Thailand and Myanmar.
According to TTW, the travel advisory issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) could lead to similar advice from other European countries. This will directly affect flight bookings for April and May, the peak tourist season in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The decline in tourist arrivals could have a negative impact on the region's tourism industry, which is in the process of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Latest announcement from Tourism Authority of Thailand
The Canadian government has also issued travel warnings for Laos, another country in the region affected by the earthquake. In particular, Canadian tourists are advised not to travel to Xaisomboun and Bokeo provinces and the Golden Triangle, which borders Myanmar and Thailand. These warnings reflect the international community's concern for the safety of tourists in Laos, especially in popular tourist destinations such as Luang Prabang and Vientiane.
In light of the complex security situation following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) of Hong Kong (China) has promptly issued a Level 1 travel warning for Myanmar. This warning is aimed at raising awareness and ensuring the safety of Macao residents who are planning to visit or are staying in Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. MGTO advises everyone to be highly vigilant, closely monitor the situation and regularly update information from official sources.
Tours to Myanmar are likely to be postponed for many reasons but the most important is the safety of tourists.
To support Macao residents in emergency situations, telecommunications service providers in Macao have proactively deployed emergency communication support measures. Up to now, 1,475 Macao mobile users roaming in Myanmar, Thailand and Laos have received necessary assistance. This shows the concern and responsibility of telecommunications service providers in ensuring the safety of their citizens.
As the regional security situation may evolve, many countries with large numbers of visitors to Thailand, such as Australia, India, China and Singapore, are expected to continue to issue their own updated advisories, which will provide details on the security situation, precautions and emergency communication channels.
Information on recovery and tours will be announced later by Myanmar.
Similarly, embassies in Myanmar and Thailand have set up hotlines to support their citizens at this time. These hotlines operate 24/7, ready to provide information, support and answer citizens' questions in case of emergency.
While no airlines have issued mass cancellations so far, airlines are advising travelers flying to Mandalay, Bangkok or Chiang Mai to check their flight information regularly for updates. Travel experts expect disruptions to ripple across other parts of Myanmar and northern Thailand in the coming days.
