Travellers to Thailand told to take note of smoking ban

MUSCAT: The Oman embassy in Bangkok has issued a statement alerting travellers to Thailand of the ban on smoking on the shores of the country starting November and violators could pay up to a $3,000 fine and prison of up to one year. Thailand is imposing a smoking ban on some 20 popular beaches across the country as part of the country’s sustainable tourism drive. Thailand’s move follows a recent survey of litter on Patong beach which found an average of 0.76 cigarette butts per square metre in a sample area, which would amount to 101,058 butts on the 2.5 km-long stretch of sand.