The Tourism Bureau said yesterday that those heading to Bangkok can get a refund for their package tours because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised the travel alert to the Thai capital from “orange” to “red” following this weekend’s clashes.
The bureau said those scheduled to travel to Bangkok can obtain a refund based on the terms stated in Clause 28 of the standardized contract for outbound tours, which says that travel agencies shall refund the balance of payments made by customers after deducting expenditures made on customers’ behalf and expenditures necessarily incurred in executing the contract if they are unable to fulfill the contract because of force majeure or a reason for which neither party can be held responsible.
For travelers heading to other areas under an “orange” alert such as suburban areas near Bangkok, Nonthaburi Province, Samut Prakan Province, Pathum Thani Province, Nakhon Pathom Province or Ayutthata, the bureau said that the contract may be canceled by travelers if there is “real and recognized risk to a traveler’s life, body, health or property at any of the scheduled destinations.”
However, item 1 of Clause 28 indicates the party that cancels the contract shall pay compensation of no more than 5 percent of the tour price to the other party, the bureau added.
Those not scheduled to visit the “red” or “orange” alert destinations listed above, but who would like to cancel trips to other places in Thailand, must reimburse the travel agencies by following clause 27 in the standardized contract, which outlines rules governing the willful cancelation of a contract by the tourist prior to departure.
Tourists are advised to either postpone trips to Thailand or change their travel plans to visit other countries to reduce losses, the bureau said. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) denied yesterday that it had failed to adjust the travel alert for Bangkok in a timely fashion. MOFA Deputy Spokesman James Chang (章計平) said the ministry’s top priority was to ensure the safety of people in the nation.
The ministry issues a red alert for travel to Bangkok yesterday after making evaluations, Chang said, urging people planning to visit the city to postpone their trips.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG
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