Copyright belfastlive
Those planning a trip to Thailand in the coming months need to be aware of new travel and tourism regulations following the death of the country's Queen Mother , Sirikit. The former queen passed away on Friday, October 24, at the age of 93, nine years after her husband and Thailand's longest-serving monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, died in 2016. Sirikit was the mother of Thailand's current king, King Vajiralongkorn. Following her passing, the nation has entered a state of national mourning. The Thai government will observe a full year of mourning, and the public is expected to observe a 90-day mourning period, which will affect anyone travelling to the country between now and January 2026. A travel expert based in Thailand posted a video on TikTok advising that you may need to rethink the attractions you want to visit and the clothes you pack in your suitcase ahead of your trip. The woman, named Tia, explained that attractions related to Thailand's Royal family, such as the Grand Palace and some temples, may be closed to the public during the mourning period, particularly for funeral rites. Tia also noted that during this period, Thai people will predominantly be wearing black and white clothing. This means that if you're planning on visiting the country soon, you should plan your wardrobe accordingly, as wearing bright clothing could be seen as a sign of disrespect. She stated: "As a tourist, it is not expected for you to wear black and white for your entire trip. But it is expected for you to tone down your dress and wear muted colours." However, if you're heading to Thailand for business rather than leisure, Tia strongly recommends adhering to the black-and-white dress code as a mark of respect. Moreover, any large-scale entertainment events like festivals and concerts scheduled in Thailand between now and January might be postponed or cancelled. If they do proceed, they may be "generally toned down" to create a more subdued atmosphere that might not meet your expectations. Tia further added: "Please remember that you are visiting a country that has experienced a great loss, and that everybody will be in mourning. Please be kind and respectful to all the Thai people during your interactions." People responding to the post expressed their gratitude to Tia for the information. Many admitted they were unaware that the country would be observing a mourning period that would coincide with their visit. One individual commented: "Thank you for the information. I will be visiting in November, so it's good to know about this." Another said: "I'll be heading to Bangkok tomorrow. It's going to be quite an experience. That aside, wearing black or muted, earth tones is normal for me, and yeah, I heard that toned down dressing is strongly advised." A third person wrote: "Flying to Thailand on Tuesday, thank you for this information." A statement from the Thai Royal Household Bureau confirmed Queen Sirikit died "peacefully", and that she had "suffered several illnesses" since being admitted to hospital in 2019, including a blood infection this month. The statement also confirmed that King Vajiralongkorn has ordered a Royal funeral for his mother, and that her body will lie in state at the Grand Palace's Dusit Thorne Hall in Bangkok.
