This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7590409.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Thai chaos hits holiday Britons Britons resume Thailand travels
(about 2 hours later)
Many British tourists still face travel chaos in Thailand after political protests blockaded airports there. Many British tourists are hoping to resume travel plans after the reopening of three airports in Thailand that were closed by anti-government protests.
Phuket airport, Thailand's second busiest after Bangkok, opened again on Sunday, allowing foreign tourists to get to and from the island. The Foreign Office said it did not know how many Britons had been affected, but Independent newspaper travel editor Simon Calder estimated many thousands.
Up to 15,000 people have been stuck in the southern island resort. Up to 15,000 people were stuck in the island resort of Phuket, where one of the three airports was shut on Friday.
Airports in Phuket, Krabi and Hat Yai were forced to close on Friday, although reports in Thailand said the latter two had also reopened by Sunday. The Thai parliament is to meet later to discuss the demos, in their sixth day.
Thousands of demonstrators have occupied government offices, with the protests also disrupting railways and airports.
The Foreign Office website said rail services in north, north-east and southern Thailand were suspended.
Phuket airport, Thailand's second busiest after Bangkok, and those in Krabi and Hat Yai were forced to close on Friday.
Hat Yai reopened the following day, with Phuket and Krabi resuming operations on Sunday.
Emergency debateEmergency debate
The Foreign Office said people were not being told to stay away altogether but to regularly check their travel advice. "There will be many thousands of British passengers trying to get back from this beautiful island [Phuket]," said Mr Calder.
Britons in Thailand should avoid large gatherings and stay away from airports hit by demonstrations there, the Foreign Office advised.
The parliament in Thailand is due to meet later on Sunday to discuss how to end anti-government demonstrations, now in their sixth day.
The emergency debate has been ordered by prime minister Samak Sundaravej, who condemned the closure of Phuket airport, the main international gateway to Thailand's southern beach resorts.
"They [airport authorities] have been trained to handle terrorists but what happens? How have they allowed these people to encroach on the runway?" he said.
Mr Sundaravej said the protests threatened the country's tourist industry, which accounts for 6% of gross domestic product.
'Out of position'
The protesters are demanding his resignation, have occupied his office, and had forced the closure of the airport in Phuket, leaving foreign tourists stranded.
We are lucky we have a good travel agent here who has been trying to get things sorted out for us Honeymooner Carrie Bassett
Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent newspaper, said: "There will be many thousands of British passengers trying to get back from this beautiful island.
"They would normally fly straight up to Bangkok and transfer to their flights."They would normally fly straight up to Bangkok and transfer to their flights.
"The airport at Phuket has been closed for the past two days. I understand the airport is now open and they expect people to start going through."The airport at Phuket has been closed for the past two days. I understand the airport is now open and they expect people to start going through.
"Although that means we have thousands of people trying to get back to Europe who are simply out of position." Map of key protest areas in Bangkok "Although that means we have thousands of people trying to get back to Europe who are simply out of position." Map of key protest areas in BangkokThe parliament in Thailand is due to meet later on Sunday to discuss how to end the demonstrations, led by a conservative group called the People's Alliance for Democracy.
Mr Calder also said that although Thailand could be politically volatile it was unusual for unrest to disrupt travellers' plans. The group says the the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is a front for the exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Foreign Office said it did not know how many Britons could be affected. Mr Sundaravej has refused to resign and has called the special session of parliament.
Britons planning to travel to or from the affected airports were advised to contact their travel operator. He condemned the closure of Phuket airport, the main international gateway to Thailand's southern beach resorts.
We are lucky we have a good travel agent here who has been trying to get things sorted out for us Honeymooner Carrie Bassett "They [airport authorities] have been trained to handle terrorists, but what happens? How have they allowed these people to encroach on the runway?" he said.
Mr Sundaravej said the protests threatened the country's tourist industry, which accounts for 6% of gross domestic product.
The Foreign Office said tourists were not being told to stay away from Thailand, but to regularly check their travel advice.
Britons should also avoid large gatherings in the country, the department advised.
Mr Calder said that although Thailand could be politically volatile it was unusual for unrest to disrupt travellers' plans.
'Business as usual''Business as usual'
Advertising account co-ordinator Carrie Bassett has been stuck in capital Bangkok, as she endeavours to fly to Phuket with her husband for their honeymoon.Advertising account co-ordinator Carrie Bassett has been stuck in capital Bangkok, as she endeavours to fly to Phuket with her husband for their honeymoon.
The 23-year-old from London said she had been told to wait at her hotel in the capital in preparation for the reopening of Phuket airport.The 23-year-old from London said she had been told to wait at her hotel in the capital in preparation for the reopening of Phuket airport.
"The situation here seems very calm and normal, very much business as usual, but in Phuket there were people on the runway on Saturday," she said. KEY EVENTS Sept 2006: Bloodless coup by military sees PM Thaksin Shinawatra removed from officeApril 2007: New military-drafted constitution approvedDec 2007: General election won by People Power Party (PPP), seen as reincarnation of Thaksin's now banned Thai Rak Thai party Jan 2008: Samak Sundaravej chosen as PM Feb 2008: Thaksin returns from exileMay 2008: PAD protests against Samak beginJuly 2008: Thaksin goes on trial for corruption; his wife is found guilty of fraud. By mid-August the family has fled to the UKAugust 2008: PAD protests escalate "The situation here seems very calm and normal, very much business as usual, but in Phuket there were people on the runway on Saturday," she said.
"We are lucky we have a good travel agent here who has been trying to get things sorted out for us."We are lucky we have a good travel agent here who has been trying to get things sorted out for us.
"We have now been told that we will be able to fly to Phuket early on Monday morning and that the airport there is reopening.""We have now been told that we will be able to fly to Phuket early on Monday morning and that the airport there is reopening."
In 2007, some 860,000 Britons travelled to ThailandIn 2007, some 860,000 Britons travelled to Thailand
A spokesman from the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said the majority of British holidaymakers travelling to Thailand flew into Bangkok airport, which has stayed open.A spokesman from the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said the majority of British holidaymakers travelling to Thailand flew into Bangkok airport, which has stayed open.
Pressure
He said tour operators had been organising alternative travel arrangements - such as charter buses - to take people to and from the areas where the airports had been closed.He said tour operators had been organising alternative travel arrangements - such as charter buses - to take people to and from the areas where the airports had been closed.
KEY EVENTS Sept 2006: Bloodless coup by military sees PM Thaksin Shinawatra removed from officeApril 2007: New military-drafted constitution approvedDec 2007: General election won by People Power Party (PPP), seen as reincarnation of Thaksin's now banned Thai Rak Thai party Jan 2008: Samak Sundaravej chosen as PM Feb 2008: Thaksin returns from exileMay 2008: PAD protests against Samak beginJuly 2008: Thaksin goes on trial for corruption; his wife is found guilty of fraud. By mid-August the family has fled to the UKAugust 2008: PAD protests escalate The Abta spokesman added that it would be the responsibility of the airline to put anyone who had missed their plane through no fault of their own onto a later flight. name="map">
The Foreign Office website said rail services in north, north-east and southern Thailand were suspended.
The Abta spokesman added that it would be the responsibility of the airline to put anyone who had missed their plane through no fault of their own onto a later flight.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has come under intense pressure to resign by protesters who accuse his government of being a front for the exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
But despite the mounting pressure, Mr Samak has refused to step down from office.
Click to returnClick to return
Are you in Thailand? Have you seen any protests? Send us your comments using the form below:Are you in Thailand? Have you seen any protests? Send us your comments using the form below:
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions Read the terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name
 Name