Intrepid cancels Bangkok tours

Intrepid cancels Bangkok tours

19 May, 2010: Small group adventure company, Intrepid Travel has cancelled all of its trips departing Bangkok between 19 and 23 May amidst concern that protests in Bangkok may spread beyond the current contained protest area.

Its decision comes following advice from its Bangkok-based office that protests could extend beyond the CBD and start threatening passenger safety and movement around the city, impacting the company's ability to operate its trips.

The company currently has two trips that are due to depart Bangkok today. A total of nine passengers are on these trips, three of whom are from New Zealand. It does not have any concerns for the safety of these passengers and is confident it will be able to take them out of Bangkok tomorrow to continue on their planned journey.

The decision to cancel trips departing Bangkok over the coming days impacts 57 passengers (or 11 trips), eight of whom are from New Zealand. Passengers are being notified of the decision and offered a full refund on their travel.

Trips that are due to end in Bangkok over the coming days will be diverted with the company making necessary travel arrangements for passengers.

"We have decided to cancel trips because passenger safety is our number one concern and our office on the ground in Bangkok is worried that violence may spread beyond the main protest area over the coming days," said Eliza Anderson, spokesperson for Intrepid Travel.

It's surreal because daily life goes on in Bangkok but our office is worried that the situation might escalate, making passenger safety a concern and it logistically difficult to operate trips."

To date, we haven't had any passengers caught up in the violence and our Bangkok office has been advising passengers what areas they should avoid over the last couple of weeks."

Intrepid Travel's Bangkok office is providing regular updates via http://intrepidbbk.blogspot.com/

ENDS

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