BRIT holidaymakers travelling to a holiday hotspot have been urged by the government to follow new guidelines in order to avoid jail.
The Foreign Office issued the warning as thousands of sun-seekers prepare to travel to the popular vacation destination this summer.
GettyHolidaymakers planning to travel to Thailand have been issued an urgent warning (stock)[/caption]
AlamyThe Foreign Office issued the urgent warning to Brit tourists planning to visit Thailand (stock)[/caption]
AlamyIt comes as scores of Brit tourists plan to head to Thailand for summer[/caption]
Some of the new rules Brits visiting Thailand need to check cover flying, gambling, drinking and public behaviour.
The new laws come after a recent increase in misbehaving visitors, who have been caught inebriated in public and causing disturbances at local venues.
Several areas of Thailand also have different regulations – so tourists must check each region to understand what the new rules are.
One warning from the new guidelines is a zero-tolerance approach to illegal gambling.
Thailand does not have any legal casinos, and it is strongly against any underground gambling rings.
Taking part in such activities could result in detention or imprisonment.
The government website also warned that it is illegal to carry more than 120 playing cards.
They strongly suggested that visitors simply avoid gambling in the country altogether.
The Foreign Office also noted differences in rules related to drinking, smoking and even dressing.
The new laws advised tourists that smoking in public in Thailand is illegal and can land you with a fine of up to 5,000 baht (£114).
E-cigarettes and vapes have been made illegal – and just having them in pockets could get tourists fined or thrown behind bars.
The Foreign Office has also warned Brit tourists to not carry cannabis out of Thailand.
Their website said: “British nationals have been caught carrying cannabis out of Thailand.
“There have been arrests of British nationals caught transiting through airports in other countries.”
They continued: “Many international airports have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items, which may be used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.”
The new rules even described Thai prison conditions, saying: “Conditions in prisons and other detention facilities in Thailand are harsh, with limited access to healthcare.
“Detainees have died in custody.”
The new rules also prompted visitors to be mindful of their drinks and stated that sexual assault can easily happen in dense tourist areas.
Thailand urged: “Do not leave your drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers.”
The Foreign Office’s website shows a map of all the regions in Thailand they have given travel advice on.
Four regions in the south are highlighted orange, meaning the government advises against all but essential travel there.
One of the other updated laws regulates drone flying, and states that users must register their drones before using them or face consequences.
They new rules stated it must be flagged to Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) within 30 days of entering Thailand.
Visitors must also do this if they purchase a drone in Thailand even they do not intend to fly it.
Not doing so could land holidaymakers with a 100,000 baht (£2,281) fine, five years in prison or both.
Just earlier this month, a Brit was jailed for 21 years in Thailand for human trafficking and prostitution offences.
William Reece Bilton, 33, was the manager of a night spot in notorious resort Pattaya called the Flirt bar.
In April, a Brit tourist shot himself in the head during a game of Russian Roulette while high on a cocktail of drugs, it was claimed.
The 30-year-old man started playing the game after getting high at a hotel in one of Thailand‘s most notorious party hotspots, cops said.
And last December, a Brit tourist died after a suffering a severe reaction to magic mushrooms while on holiday in Thailand.
The 25-year-old holidaymaker was on a Christmas break with his girlfriend when he bought the hallucinogenic drug from a shop in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand.
AlamyThe new rules highlight illegal gambling and give advice for those drinking alcohol[/caption]
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