Operators sound the alarm on possible coup

Call for confidence to be maintained

- MOLPASORN SHOOWONG

Tourism operators insist a coup must be avoided at all costs as the nation struggles with political instability, as businesses prefer a democratic system.

The industry has already been hampered by external economic and geopolitical factors, said the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT).

The leaked phone call between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen over the border dispute prompted opposition parties to call for the House dissolution, while concerns over a possible coup were raised on social media.

"Political turmoil should be solved by democratic mechanisms, not a coup, as occurred in 2014," said Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, vice-president of the TCT.