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A string of deadly bombings in Thailand has prompted Ottawa to issue a travel advisory warning against travel to Bangkok.
"Similar explosions may occur in the following days,'' says the advisory posted on the website of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.
The warning advises Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to the capital of Thailand.
 "Canadians currently in Bangkok should maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times and avoid unnecessary travel," says the updated travel advisory.
"They should avoid crowds and highly congested areas where demonstrations or violent disturbances could occur, monitor local news reports and follow the advice of local authorities."
The advisory also urges Canadians requiring consular assistance to contact embassy officials in Bangkok.
Australia, Britain, New Zealand and the U.S. have issued similar warnings to their citizens.
"There is a possibility of further attacks in coming days," said a travel advisory from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The nine bombs that exploded across Bangkok on New Year's Eve and early Monday killed three and wounded 38, including nine foreigners.
The injured foreigners included four Hungarians, three Serbians and two British citizens. Two remained hospitalized.
Security had been ramped up at 6,000 different locations across the city, Deputy national police chief Ajirawit Suphanaphesat said. However, journalists in Bangkok reported the presence of security forces was not evident.
Still, tourists were undeterred and packed popular sites on New Year's Day.
Anne-Marie Barrette of Quebec City told The Associated Press the bombings wouldn't make her think twice about returning.
"I like the nightlife here,'' said Barrette, a 29-year-old psychologist."They don't sleep. You can eat anytime, you can party anytime.''
But travel industry insiders and analysts are concerned the blasts will keep away tourists, who are the crucial driver behind the Thai economy.
"What happened will most certainly hurt tourism, and will likely hurt consumer confidence, as well as consumer spending,'' analyst Aekpittaya Iemkongaek at brokerage BFIT Securities told AP.
Sunathee Ihvarphornchai, vice president for corporate communications at the national airline Thai Airways International, said the carrier has not been getting cancellations.
However, she said that "if more foreign countries issue more travel warnings, we might get cancellations in the future and the tourism industry may be hurt in the long term.''
Typically, one million tourists visit Thailand every month. In November 2006, there were 1.14 million visitors who arrived -- up 2.4 per cent from the same month in 2005, according to the Bank of Thailand.
With files from The Associated Press.
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