What are four likely risks for tourists when in Thailand?

What is the biggest concern in Thailand?

Thailand's dramatic economic growth has caused numerous environmental issues. The country faces problems with air, declining wildlife populations, deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity, and waste issues.

Do and don'ts in Thailand for tourists?

Never point the soles of your feet towards any Buddhist image or monk, and don't touch Buddha statues on the head. Give way to monks when walking on footpaths, and don't sit next to them on public transport. It is also taboo for a woman to touch a monk or their belongings.

What are the main issues of tourism in Thailand?

However, the Thai tourism industry faces a significant challenge: overtourism. This phenomenon, where the number of visitors overwhelms the destination, has led to environmental degradation, cultural dilution, and infrastructure strain, prompting a critical reassessment of tourism practices.

What is the biggest threat to Thailand?

10 Essential Thailand Tips in 5 Minutes

Why is Thailand high risk?

Exercise increased caution due to civil unrest associated with ongoing insurgent activities in the Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat provinces. Periodic violence between Thai security services and armed insurgents has been known to occur in Thailand's three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat.

What are the natural hazards in Thailand?

The country is vulnerable to many natural and human-induced hazards: floods, tsunamis, storms, droughts, landslides, forest fires and epidemics.

Why is travel to Thailand not advised?

Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Thailand. There are regular terrorist attacks in the 4 provinces in the southern tip of Thailand by the border with Malaysia. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) advises against all but essential travel to these provinces.

Why are tourists turning away from Thailand?

In the first five months of this year, tourist arrivals from China fell by about one-third, from 2.9 million in 2024 to 1.9 million. The reasons for this include the economic slowdown in China and rising costs of travel to Thailand, as the currency, the baht, has strengthened.

What are 5 facts about Thailand tourism?

What happens at 6pm in Thailand?

The monarchy is very important in Thailand and insulting the monarchy can lead to very high prison sentences. Twice a day Thailand comes to a halt. At 8am and at 6pm the national anthem is played and a tribute is paid to the Monarchy. This is also expected of tourists in Thailand.

What are the unspoken rules in Thailand?

What should I be careful of when visiting Thailand?

Scams, credit card fraud and ATM fraud are common. Sexual assault, assault, robbery and drink spiking can happen to tourists. Be alert to the potential risks around drink spiking and methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks. Don't leave food or drinks unattended.

What happened in Thailand in 2025?

In May 2025, the country was described as "inching" towards a political crisis amidst the 2024 Thai Senate election scandal linked to vote buying and systemic fraud, along with tensions linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's hospital detention.

What is the food problem in Thailand?

Hunger and food insecurity are serious issues in Thailand, with many low-income households and vulnerable communities unable to afford to feed their families. A lack of reliable access to food has exacerbated food insecurity amongst the poor and the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened it.

What is the most famous thing about Thailand?

Thailand is a Southeast Asian country famous for its beaches, mountain ranges near Chiang Mai, Buddhist temples, and cultural icons like Siamese cats, Pad Thai and Muay Thai.

Why are Chinese tourists not visiting Thailand?

Why are fewer Chinese tourists coming to Thailand? . China's economic downturn, rising costs and competition from other countries are contributing to the decline in Chinese tourists visiting Thailand. In 2025, Chinese tourist numbers dropped by over 30% compared to last year.

What is the White Lotus effect?

The White Lotus Effect refers to the phenomenon where destinations featured in HBO's hit series The White Lotus experience a significant surge in tourism, with increased visitor interest and hotel bookings.

Where to avoid in Thailand?

Southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla and Yala - Avoid all travel. Avoid all travel to and through the following southern provinces, due to the unpredictable security situation. Separatist insurgents periodically perpetrate violent attacks.

What are the negatives of tourism in Thailand?

Factories, traffic and clogged, polluted highways as well as a quickly vanishing rural way of life have removed some of the attractions which bring tourists to Thailand. Nature-based tourism is quickly disappearing, as once pristine beaches and forest areas become heavily polluted or destroyed.

What injections do you need for Thailand?

Courses or boosters usually advised: none. Other vaccines to consider: Diphtheria; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Rabies; Tetanus; Typhoid. Selectively advised vaccines - only for those individuals at highest risk: Japanese Encephalitis.

What is the disease in the water in Thailand?

Amoebic dysentery ranks third as the most prevalent food and waterborne diseases in Thailand and is responsible for 5-15% of all diarrheal deaths annually. Children and infants are more vulnerable for this fecal-oral transmitted disease. In prior years, this disease received less public health attention.

How often do tsunamis happen in Thailand?

In the area you have selected (Thailand) tsunami hazard is classified as medium according to the information that is currently available. This means that there is more than a 10% chance of a potentially-damaging tsunami occurring in the next 50 years.

What is the natural disaster in Thailand 2025?

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar (Burma), near Sagaing, on March 28, 2025 (12:50 local time). Several strong earthquakes followed, as well as multiple aftershocks. This was the most catastrophic earthquake in Myanmar since the Maymyo earthquake of 1912.