Pratueng Sornkham, Director of Airports of Thailand, Phuket, told The Phuket News today (May 9), “Smoking areas in domestic departure terminals across Thailand will all be closed.”
He explained that the closures follow the enforcement of a new no-smoking law by the Ministry of Health, adding, “But for international departure lounges there will still be smoking areas.
“In Phuket we plan anyway to renovate the area [which contains the smoking room] as soon as the contract of the restaurant to which it is attached expires. This is all part of the overall expansion and reconstruction plan for Phuket International Airport.
“When we have finished the renovation, if you are in the domestic lounge and you want to smoke, then you’ll have to go out of the terminal,” Mr Pratueng said.
“I think tourists will understand because in most foreign countries smoking in airport terminals is prohibited. So I don’t think it will cause a problem.”