TRAT — Tourism officials in Trat province are calling on Thai security forces to revoke a long-standing Martial Law declaration after British travel advisories citing the measure have triggered mass cancellations, costing the region an estimated $21 million (700 million baht) in lost revenue during peak season.
The crisis came to light when the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s London office forwarded a letter from Jan Robinson, a British citizen and regular Koh Chang visitor, who explained how UK Foreign Office warnings have made it impossible to obtain travel insurance for the popular island destination.
Insurance Companies Refuse Coverage
“We are UK citizens and at the moment our Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the Trat region including Koh Chang,” Robinson wrote in the letter addressed to TAT London and the Royal Thai Embassy in London.
The travel advisory has created a cascade of problems for British tourists with existing bookings. “The problem we have is that our insurance company won’t insure us to go to Koh Chang and we have already booked hotels which we can’t cancel,” Robinson explained. “Really we don’t want to go anywhere else, we visit every year.”
Robinson noted the UK stance is particularly strict: “This is stricter than other European countries which specifically excludes Koh Chang from these restrictions.”
The insurance company offered Robinson a lifeline, stating they would reconsider coverage “if we have local evidence that things are normal on the island.” After receiving no response from the Thai embassy in London, Robinson reached out to local tourism authorities for help.
“The wording does not have to be any guarantee of personal safety just that the situation is normal and without any issues on the island since the start of hostilities,” Robinson clarified.
Martial Law Declaration at Root of Problem
Acting Sub-Lieutenant Korakod Opas, Director of TAT’s Trat office, acknowledged the issue after being contacted by the London office and consulting with superiors.
“The situation at the Trat border is not a combat zone like the incidents occurring in the Northeast; it is simply an area adjacent to Cambodia,” Korakod said. “Furthermore, Koh Chang, Koh Kood, and Koh Mak are not dangerous areas, as large numbers of tourists continue to visit every day, and the travel conditions and weather are safe.”
However, he identified the core problem: “What foreign tourists, especially those from Europe, are still concerned about is the fact that Thai security forces have declared the entire Trat province a Martial Law zone.”
In European understanding, Korakod explained, such declarations signal high risk. “In the understanding of Europeans and insurance providers, this is a case where insurance will not be provided due to the perceived risk to safety. And if an incident occurs, it will result in large insurance payouts.”
The Martial Law declaration has been in effect since 2012—long before current regional tensions—but its presence now poses a major obstacle to tourism.
“If the security sector understands and revokes it in areas that are not involved, it could help tour operators,” Korakod said. “Due to this issue, foreign tourists cancelling their trips for late 2025 has resulted in a massive loss of up to $21 million.”
Industry Calls for Action During Peak Season
Thawisak Wongwilas, Vice President of the Trat Tourism Business Association, confirmed that tourists continue visiting Koh Chang without issues. “There are no issues with fighting, as it is outside the conflict area,” he said.
But the Martial Law designation remains problematic. “The problem of Martial Law being declared by security forces covering the entire province is a concern for foreign tourists, who fear danger. Additionally, insurance companies will not compensate for damages if a problem arises.”
Thawisak urged authorities to act quickly: “If the security sector understands and can revoke the law specifically in areas not directly adjacent to the border, it would be beneficial for the operators, especially since this is Trat province’s high season.”
Governor Reassures Tourists
Trat Governor Natthapong Sanguanjit sought to reassure potential visitors about safety conditions. “Koh Chang and Koh Kood are popular tourist destinations in Trat province, attracting a large number of tourists each year,” he said.
“Even during news of fighting between the two countries, tourists continued to visit Trat. Koh Chang and Koh Kood are safe, and no serious incidents have ever occurred,” the governor added. “I ask tourists to be confident when travelling to Trat province.”
The situation highlights an unintended consequence of security measures: a 13-year-old administrative declaration, designed to provide legal framework for border security, is now being interpreted by Western insurers as a warning signal—devastating tourism revenue during what should be the industry’s most profitable period.
Tourism officials hope that by selectively revoking Martial Law in non-border areas like Koh Chang, they can satisfy insurance companies and foreign governments while maintaining necessary security protocols along the actual frontier with Cambodia.
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