Thailand Enters a Year of Mourning After the Death of Its Queen Mother—Here’s What Travelers Should Know, According to an Expert

The country of Thailand has entered a year-long period of mourning across the country following the recent death of the country’s Queen Mother, Her Majesty Queen Serreket.

According to Reuters, the Queen Mother died last week at the age of 93 after battling illnesses. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), after his death, flags at government offices, state enterprises, and educational institutions will be flown at half-mast for 30 days, and government officials have been asked to wear mourning clothes for a year.

Tourism in Thailand was expected to continue as normal, but even members of the public were “encouraged to dress in black or subdued colors for 90 days as a sign of remembrance and respect.” Similarly, visitors have been asked to “dress and behave respectfully”, especially when visiting a temple, royal site or official site.

“During this period of national mourning, Thailand remains open and fully operational. All tourist attractions, transportation services, restaurants, shops and events continue as normal,” TAT said in a statement. “However, public activities, entertainment programs and business functions are encouraged to exercise discretion and adjust their formats appropriately to reflect the national environment of mourning.”

Passengers will have to make some itineraries adjustments in the coming days. According to the site, the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok will be closed until November 8 during the state’s royal lying-in ceremony. Candlelight ceremonies are also planned across the country.

Grant Eklund, expert at INSIDEASIA TORS and a Travel + Leisure A member of A-List Travel Advisors, told T+L that there are still plenty of activities and historical sites to see. He said that one of the notable temples in Bangkok, Wat Phu, is still open to visitors.

“The biggest thing to know is that Thailand is open and is still an amazing place to visit right now,” Ackland said. “Anyone who is thinking about rescheduling or visiting doesn’t need to worry about that.”

Eklund echoed the need to dress respectfully.

“People in central Bangkok are appreciated for dressing in modest and muted colors when visiting temples or near any event,” he said.

Recognized as T+L’s Destination of the Year for 2025, Thailand is home to a number of new flights, including United Airlines, which recently launched flights from San Francisco and Los Angeles to Bangkok with stops in Hong Kong.