Thai Rath Comment | Bangkok Post: opinion

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International terrorists are using third countries as their theatre of violence, posing a new security threat to neutral countries like Thailand. The Valentine's Day bomb explosions in Bangkok should be a wake-up call for the Thai government that it must take this matter seriously.

Of course, it is impossible for any country to prevent transnational terrorists from entering its territory at all times. As governments relax customs and visa regulations to promote cross-border trade and tourism, they open new opportunities for terrorists to expand their operations and evade arrest. This is a lesson that Thailand must learn.

The tourism industry is a major foreign exchange earner for our country. We welcome foreign tourists, many of whom enjoy visa-free trips to Thailand. The ease with which foreign tourists enter the country may have to be re-examined, in view of the bombing incidents. Tightened immigration checks may draw negative reactions, but no foreign tourists will come here if more terrorist attacks occur in our country.