The British embassy in Bangkok has urged Brits to keep a close watch on their passports when traveling to Thailand, as millions of pounds are spent each year on emergency travel documents.
British travelers reporting lost, stolen or damaged passports have come up with excuses like using their passport as a beer mat, notebook or accidentally chucking it in the laundry, the embassy said.
More than 20,000 British passports were reported lost or stolen last year, with nearly 40,000 Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) issued – a 22% increase on the year before.
Lost and stolen passports in South East Asia accounted for 44% of all ETDs issued to Brits, and the British embassy in Bangkok said it issued the highest number of ETDs in south east Asia.
It’s urged Brits traveling to Thailand to look after their passports on holiday so they can avoid the time and money spent on getting an ETD.
Costs of getting an emergency travel document can spiral as Brits have to file a police report, get new passport photos, travel to the embassy, replace visas and rearrange travel plans, the embassy said.
“Our staff deal with people every day who need ETDs for a range of reasons. Some are victims of crime, but we also hear of passports being damaged carelessly, or lost while traveling,” said Layla Slatter MBE, HM Consul for Thailand.
“Many of these situations could have been avoided and end up costing travelers valuable time and money. We strongly advise people to look after their passport, keep it safe and check its validity well in advance of travel.
“Simple steps such as locking your passport in a safe if you have access to one and carrying a photocopy with you can help prevent problems later on.”
Get more advice on traveling to Thailand on the FCO website.
