- State of emergency declared in Bangkok
- Potential curfews and no-go areas may affect tourists
- Travelers advised to avoid rally sites, leave for airport four hours before scheduled international flights
- 28 injured in two explosions at anti-government rally on Sunday, say officials
Are you there? Send us your images and experiences but please stay safe.
Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- The Thai government has declared a state of emergency for the capital, Bangkok, with a possible curfew and no-go areas affecting tourists in the city.
The decree, called in response to anti-government protests in which at least nine people have died since November, will come into effect Wednesday and last 60 days.
Under a state of emergency in Thailand, authorities can impose curfews, declare parts of the capital off-limits, censor the media and detain suspects without court permission.
The decree followed government predictions that "[the] situation might get more violent" before new elections are held on February 2, Thailand's national security chief, Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathubut, told CNN.
"We are witnessing more gun shootings and bomb incidents on the streets of Bangkok," he said.
Foreign government travel advisories may change in light of the state of emergency.
Warning over protest sites
With two explosions at an opposition rally in Bangkok on Sunday leaving at least 28 injured, visitors to the Thai capital were reminded to stay away from all protest sites.
"Tourists are advised to be vigilant and avoid the rally locations as well as areas where large crowds of demonstrators may gather, including routings of the anti-government demonstrators' daily marches," said the Tourism Authority of Thailand's latest update on the situation.
The Sunday blasts came just two days after another pair of explosions wounded more than two dozen people at an anti-government rally on Friday. One man wounded at the protest Friday died Saturday, emergency officials said.
"[O]ngoing demonstration activity, primarily in the greater Bangkok area and occasionally elsewhere in Thailand, is expected to continue," said the U.S. State Department's latest advisory, issued Sunday.
MORE: State of emergency declared for Bangkok
Tourists' mobility restricted
Currently the biggest issue facing visitors is mobility, as protesters have closed off multiple major Bangkok intersections and conduct regular marches to government buildings throughout the city.
Several of the rallies, aimed at forcing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office, have been in popular tourism areas, including Silom, Asok and the Ratchprasong intersection -- the latter a popular shopping area near major hotels such as the Four Seasons Bangkok, Grand Hyatt Erawan and InterContinental Bangkok.
Currently, all hotels and malls in Bangkok remain open, though opening hours of shopping complexes near protest sites are subject to change. Major tourist attractions, including museums and temples, have also remained open until the declaration of a state of emergency.
"We are working hard to make sure there is as little impact on our guests as possible and we have full contingency procedures in place," said Nicola Chilton, Four Seasons Hotels' senior director of public relations, Asia Pacific.
Transportation
In the runup to the planned mass Bangkok protests that kicked off January 13, the protest group stated it would not close Bangkok's two major airports, Suvarnabhumi -- the main international airport -- and Don Muang, which primarily serves low-cost carriers like AirAsia and Nok Air.
The group also said it would allow ambulances to pass along any roads it blocked, and that it would not block access to public transportation.
Tourists flying out of Bangkok are advised to leave for the airport four hours before their scheduled flight.
All expressways currently remain open. The BTS Skytrain, MRT subway, public ferries and trains have also all been operating as normal up until the government's latest decree.
According to state media, over 6,000 taxis at Suvarnabhumi Airport were to provide 24-hour service to passengers in Bangkok during the protest movement's "shutdown" attempt.
"The PDRC has announced that it would allow taxis with Thai flags to run into occupied areas during the Bangkok shutdown which focuses on seven major intersections in the heart of the capital," says the report.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) advises tourists flying in and out of Bangkok to connect to their destinations using the BTS Skytrain, MRT subway and Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link services.
Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link services to and from the Makkasan City Air Terminal were planned to increase to 78 Express and 161 City Line trains per day, the TAT said. The Express Line takes 15 minutes and the City Line30 minutes.
Trains were to run every 12 minutes during rush hours (6-9 a.m. and 5-8 p.m.) and every 15 minutes during normal hours.
The TAT said the State Railway will also increase train services from Don Mueang Airport to downtown Bangkok, ending at Hua Lamphong Station.
Popular tourist destinations outside of Bangkok, including Phuket, Chiang Mai and Krabi, are so far unaffected by the protests.
Where to stay
Travelers in Thailand wishing to avoid the protests should note that as of January 20, government rallies are no longer being held near Khao San Road, a popular tourist area filled with guesthouses and bars.
Luxury riverside hotels, such as The Oriental, The Peninsula, Royal Orchid Sheraton, Shangri-La, Millennium Hilton and The Siam are also well away from protest sites.
Further restrictions on protests are likely to be announced with the imposition of a state of emergency.
Government advisories
Thailand's Foreign Ministry says more than 45 countries have issued warnings related to the Bangkok protests.
Many have so far advised their citizens to avoid Bangkok completely during the shutdown attempt and that advice may strengthen with the state of emergency.
Others suggest they stay away from the protest sites, despite the peaceful atmosphere that's prevailed at most daytime rallies.
"Even demonstrations that are meant to be peaceful can turn confrontational, and escalate into violence without warning," warns the U.S. Embassy.
The UK government has updated its foreign travel advice for citizens as follows: "Political demonstrations continue in and around Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand. Some of these have been violent, including the use of firearms, and there have been casualties.
"The situation is unpredictable, and further protests are expected. There have been calls for an increase in protest action from 13 January, which may cause major disruption to travel on main roads in and around Bangkok. You should take extra care and avoid all protests, political gatherings and demonstrations."
Tourist assistance
Thailand's Ministry of Tourism has reportedly set up tourism assistance centers at both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, where they'll coordinate with all concerned public and private agencies, including the Tourist Police, the Immigration Bureau, Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Thai Hotels Association.
Help desks will also be set up at the Siam, Phaya Thai, Ekkamai and Wong Wian Yai BTS Skytrain stations as well as the Hua Lamphong MRT subway station.
"Each location will be manned by four Tourist Police officers," said the TAT.
Tourists can seek assistance by calling the following hotlines.
Tourism Authority of Thailand: 1672
Thai Tourist Police: 1155
Suvarnabhumi Airport Operation Center: +66 (0)2 134 4077
Don Mueang Airport Operation Center +66 (0)2 535 3431
Tourist Assistance Center (temporary): +66 (0)2 401 1111
Alternatively, visitors can email Touristcenter13@gmail.com or TSC@mots.go.th.
Who to follow
Twitter is one of the best ways to get real-time information on the Bangkok protests.
Many English-language Twitter users are posting updates/observations with the hashtags: #BKKShutdown #Bangkokshutdown.
Richard Barrow, a full-time travel blogger based in Bangkok, is a top source for those seeking news about the protests as well as travel advice for tourists. He can be followed at http://ift.tt/KCruaZ
Local English-language media on Twitter include the Bangkok Post: http://ift.tt/WQA0Tg; The Nation: http://ift.tt/LwQdbG; and MCOT: Twitter.com/MCOT_Eng.
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