Tourists advised to stay out of Bangkok

British tourists are being warned not to travel to Bangkok unless their trip is “absolutely essential”.

The Foreign Office has also advised travellers to review their plans for travel to other parts of Thailand after violent clashes between police and anti-government protests began in the capital yesterday.

British residents in Bangkok and other affected cities should stay indoors and await further travel advice, the Foreign Office said.

The main railway station in the city is closed but the travel through the international airport is continuing unaffected and the main access road is open. The border crossing between Lao and Thailand in Nong Chai is closed and there are reports of road blocks in Chiang Mai and Lampang in northern Thailand.

The red-shirt leaders have threatened major protests in 50 cities across the country over the next few days.

There are no reports of British citizens being caught up directly in the violence and foreigners have not been targeted by protestors.

The political instability and recent violence has raised fears for Thailand’s tourist industry, which accounts for 6.7 per cent of the economy and provides 2 million jobs.

There were 80 per cent fewer people at the Bangkok water festival yesterday than last year. It is likely that worried tourists will cancel or delay their holiday plans in light of the increasing violence.