Thailand's main dangers for vacationers

Thailand is considered to be the least dangerous country in Southeast Asia. As the tourism industry generates vast amounts of revenue for the state, the government takes great pains to ensure the safety of its guests. Nevertheless, tourists should always be on their guard, as petty crime is a frequent occurrence. You can expect danger in Thailand and from the representatives of nature and fauna (similar material on the topic, what not to do in Thailand).

Crime in Thailand

Fraudsters are everywhere, even in the sunny and hospitable “Land of Smiles”. Of course, you should not worry seriously about your health when you travel, but you need to be on guard, because of the high crime rate in large cities, including Russian mafia in Thailand. The danger is that the careless tourists risk to fall into the net of crooks and robbers. Read more about the types of theft in Thailand, ways to avoid it and actions in case of theft.

Banking cards. You can also come across fraud in Thailand related to bank accounts and cards. If you find your credit card missing, immediately contact your bank and have it blocked. The best thing to do during shopping in Thailand is not to use a plastic card at all. We’ve already gone over how not to lose money while traveling.

Random acquaintances. Also, you should not trust random acquaintances who try to buy you alcoholic beverages. This is another method of robbery, when the perpetrator slips into Thai alcohol a potent agent, drupes his victim with it, and then leaves him without money and jewelry. Also, never try to buy Thai dope from local vendors. Sometimes irresponsible tourists buying illegal drugs don’t even realize that they can be sentenced to death for breaking the law, thus putting themselves in serious danger.

Pyramid. MMM in Thailand, if it has already faded – can easily revive again. Never contact with scammers, the time when you could make money on this has passed.

Compulsion services

This is a major source of income for many locals across the country. For example, if the driver of a taxi in Thailand is willing to swear to you that the temple you wish to visit is closed and then suggests you go to another place, then resolutely decline. He is just trying to impose unnecessary services on you, because all the temples in Thailand are open every day.

How tourists are divorced in Thailand

As a rule, the most common scams related to diverting in Thailand are carried out by local merchants. The tourist is offered a good discount on the purchase of several items, but in the end they are sold for the original price, and sometimes even overpriced. In addition, there is a danger of buying fake jewelry from silver in Bangkok, pearls in Phuket and other precious stones. If the price of such a piece is too low, then you are faced with a clear fake.

Frequently, visitors to Tylan’s Phuket will see pearls and other gems.

Often the visitors of Thailand are tricked in restaurants and cafes, where cheeky waiters deliberately increase the amount of the bill or bring portions of almost twice as much as stated. And it works, because many tourists simply do not pay attention to such little things.

You should also be careful when dealing with the staff at hotels in Thailand, because in this business, too, there is a risk to be cheated when paying for the room, read more in the article “How to cheat in Thai hotels”.

Dangers of swimming

If tourists are coming to the rainy season in Thailand, they need to be especially careful. They should not swim during the storm, when the water has high waves. In addition, on the beaches there are areas where it is forbidden to swim. A red flag placed on the beach indicates the danger, a green flag – allows swimming. In areas with coral reefs you must be particularly careful, because the reefs have sharp edges, on which it is very easy to hurt.

You should also be aware of the back current which occurs in the Thai sea, and what dangers it poses while swimming. Read more about this in the article “How not to drown on vacation in Thailand”.

Dangers of the underwater world

The underwater world, which is of great interest to vacationers, can also pose serious dangers to tourists in Thailand. The depths of the sea are full of poisonous jellyfish and fish which are not to be touched.

Snails. There is one very dangerous mollusk that lives in Thailand and can be found almost anywhere. This is a small cone family snail with an attractive shell and a poisonous trunk that can sting a person. Its venom, without timely assistance, can kill a person in as little as half an hour. So if you tourism in Thailand, you should learn the basic rule – stay away from animals and do not touch them with your hands.

Conus geographus

Conus textile

Medusas. A fairly common danger for tourists, these poisonous jellyfish in Thailand are common in Thai waters. Fortunately, they appear mostly only in season, but occasionally you can see single jellyfish. The venom in the tentacles of jellyfish can paralyze a person, but mostly they leave burns like from nettles.

Sea urchins. Stepping on the thorns of such a hedgehog can severely injure your foot. But since they are very fragile, it takes a lot of time and nerves to remove these needles from the foot. Read about all this in the article “What to do if you stepped on a sea urchin?

Sharks. These predators most often attack only after they smell blood in the water or see a floundering human on its surface, which they perceive as wounded and weakened prey. Fortunately, most species of sharks in Thailand are not dangerous, because humans are simply not part of their diet. In addition, on almost all popular beaches in Thailand, where it is possible to meet these fish, there is usually a protective metal mesh in the water.

Dangers of the terrestrial world

Jungle. If tourists decide to go to the lush jungle of Thailand, they will definitely need tight shoes that completely cover the foot. After all, it is home to leeches and parasitic worms, often attacking humans. The jungle is swarming with blood-sucking insects, so make sure you are equipped with reliable products against stings. You can also see wild boar and even tiger, so you should be very careful not to expose yourself to danger.

Beasts. In Thailand, a popular tour where vacationers have the opportunity to meet monkeys. But many of these animals are very aggressive and can pounce on the tourist, especially if he is holding a fruit or any bright object. It is never recommended to provoke and anger the monkeys, especially the males, who pose the greatest danger.

Wild elephants. Walking in the wilds of the Thai jungle and along country roads, you may come across a herd of wild elephants. Don’t get close to them, if they see you, try not to move, but if they want to attack you, run!!!

Snakes. A certain danger is posed by poisonous snakes in Thailand. If not treated in time, their bite can be fatal. Therefore it is important to know how to behave when encountering these reptiles and what to do in case of bite.

This is why it is important to know how to behave when meeting these reptiles and what to do in case of bite.

Mosquitoes. For tourists traveling to Thailand for 1-2 weeks, Thai mosquitoes provide more trouble than danger. Yes, some of them carry serious diseases like Dengue fever and malaria, but the risk of catching them during a two-week vacation is negligible. However, this does not mean that you should neglect vaccinations and methods of protection against cockroaches in Thailand.

Risk of getting sick

Today there are no epidemiological diseases in Thailand. However, it is a country with a hot climate and high humidity, where it is easy to suffer from a virus or infection. Also in the tropics can take a long time to heal cuts and wounds. So take care in advance about what medicines to take to Thailand, and even better, what to do immunizations in Thailand.

Risk of poisoning

Do not consume tap water water in Thailand: always drink only bottled water. Ice from unfiltered water can also cause poisoning. Because of the hot climate the food here spoils incredibly quickly, so tourists should not consume perishable and fermented foods.

At the same time you should be careful with the meat and fish dishes. They should be freshly cooked, not reheated in the microwave. If you find that the food is not first-fresh, always ask for a replacement or a refund.

Don’t insult the king and his family

The people of Thailand revere their religion and their monarch, so inappropriate comments and neglect on these matters can lead to unpleasant consequences. They should not forget that insults to Buddhism in Thailand are considered an unforgivable crime.