Unrests tarnishing Thailand's allure

Here in Taiwan, the government has warned people to avoid any unnecessary travel to the Southeast Asian country.

While it appears that most travel agencies and tour groups have ignored this warning, there is a possibility that many people who choose to visit Thailand at this chaotic time may find themselves unable to depart on schedule.

The people of Thailand are world-famous for their kind hospitality to foreign visitors.

For this reason, foreign visitors to the country should not worry too much about getting caught up in any angry or violent clashes.

However, protesters have stormed the country's airports in the past, halting air traffic and causing major headaches for foreign tourists wanting to catch a plane home.

All people who choose to visit Thailand at this time are therefore responsible if they end up unable to return home on time, or if their flights get delayed or even moved to alternative airports.

The latest demonstrations show that once-stable Thailand has become the center of chronic unrest.

It is high time that the people of that wonderful country, through their elected representatives and political parties, work something out so that the clashes can finally end.

The competing parties and groups must reach a settlement with each other to prevent further harm to the country's image and damage to Thailand's crucial tourism sector.

In Taiwan, many people enjoy visiting Thailand because of its good weather, great views, excellent food and kind people.

There are direct daily flights to major Thai resorts and dozens of Taiwanese tourist groups heading to the country on any given day.

There are also many Thai workers employed in Taiwan, including major public construction projects in the island's leading cities.

Taiwan investment in Thailand is also sizable.

In spite of extensive reporting on the Thai controversy in the local news media, it is still hard for people here to understand what the angry commotion is all about.

Most people only vaguely understand that some Thais are angry over the 2006 ouster of their former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has gone into exile and seems to be plotting his return.

The overthrow of Thaksin has sparked chronic instability in the country.

The troubles going on in Thailand remind many people here of the chaos that hit the streets of Taipei during the reign of former President Chen Shui-bian.

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