Tour operators are continuing their Thailand itineraries without disruption following an earthquake in Myanmar over the weekend that rocked Bangkok.
The 7.7-magnitude quake on Friday hit Myanmar and killed more than 1,700 people in Myanmar and at least 18 in Thailand, reported the Associated Press. Several tour operators told Travel Weekly that current and upcoming trips have not been impacted.
G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, Collette, Kensington and EF World Journeys all reported no disruption to Thailand itineraries but continue to monitor developments. None of the operators are currently offering Myanmar itineraries.
“Our local team in Thailand has confirmed that things are essentially back to normal in the country,” said Jennifer Gardner, the product manager of the bespoke tour operator Kensington. “The overall impact has been minimal — the public transit is operating normally, airports remain open, and aside from a few temporary disruptions, services have fully resumed.”
The Tourism Authority of Thailand said that although Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared Bangkok an emergency zone, airports, roadways and trains are operating normally. All tourism-related services in Bangkok are operating as usual, and all events and festivals remain as scheduled.
“Regarding the tourism sector, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports indicated that the situation has now returned to normal, allowing both domestic and international travelers to confidently resume all planned activities,” the Bank of Thailand said in a statement. “Thailand remains a safe tourism destination, with government officials maintaining vigilant monitoring of conditions, conducting comprehensive building safety inspections, and providing support to those affected by the earthquake.”
EF World Journeys currently has several tour groups currently in Thailand across its brands, as does Collette and Intrepid. An Intrepid spokesperson said the company’s Thailand office was evacuated but all staff are safe.
Intrepid launched an online fundraiser through its nonprofit arm, Intrepid Foundation, after the Myanmar earthquake, raising close to $53,000 over the weekend. The company said it would match donations up to 100,000 Australian dollars.
