Trat’s tourism industry is facing a 700-million-baht loss as a United Kingdom travel warning has prompted widespread cancellations from European visitors, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
TAT’s Trat office said a surge of cancellations followed the UK Foreign Office’s advisory against non-essential travel to the province, including Koh Chang.
The advisory, stricter than those from other European nations, has led insurers to refuse coverage, disrupting travel plans.
One British traveller contacted TAT London and the Thai embassy, explaining his insurer declined to cover his trip to Koh Chang despite existing bookings. He requested official confirmation that the island remains safe, hoping it would reverse the insurer’s decision.
The TAT said that Trat is not a conflict zone and remains peaceful. Koh Chang, Koh Kut, and Koh Mak continue to welcome tourists daily.
However, the martial law designation across the entire province — active since 2012 — has raised concerns among European travellers and insurers.
The TAT said local tourism operators are urging security authorities to reconsider the status, especially in non-border areas, to restore confidence during peak season.
