Thailand Lifts Curfew in Pattaya, Phuket and Samui

Thailand's National Council for Peace and Order issued a statement on Tuesday (3 June), effectively ending the curfew that was in place on the popular tourist islands of Phuket and Samui, as well as Pattaya city to the south of Bangkok.

The curfew remains in effect from 00:01 until 04:00 for the rest of the country, including other popular tourist destinations such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Krabi, Hua Hin and the capital city, Bangkok.

It is still not immediately obvious what the curfew is supposed to achieve. It has caused a certain amount of confusion not just among tourists, but with Thais as well, many of whom are unsure of whether they can travel to pick up friends and family arriving at bus stops and airports in the middle of the night, and if they do, what kind of obstacles - and how many - they may face.

Despite that, this latest development will give those that rely on tourism in those three cities, a much needed boost, and help build a degree of optimism in other areas of the country - most likely elsewhere in the south for now - that the curfew there may soon be lifted too.