BANGKOK - THOUGH some tourists have opted not to visit Thailand amid a state of emergency and anti-government protests, the demonstrators' campground has attracted one type of visitor: budget travellers.

Backpacking tourists, curious about emergency rule in the Thai capital, have toured the site in the main government complex, where 5,000 protesters have squatted in tents for nearly two weeks.

Mr Daniel, a 25-year-old from Mexico, tucked into a bowl of free bright pink sugared ice with condensed milk while showing his father around the stalls selling plastic clappers and other souvenirs for 10 baht (S$0.42).

'We just read the news and we thought it was interesting to come see how it was so we took a taxi over,' Mr Daniel, who declined to give his last name, told wire agencies.

'We're not used to this in Mexico because they (protesters) have already taken over the government offices.'

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej imposed emergency rule on the capital last Tuesday, following a night of violence between bands of protesters.

The protesters marched on the complex and set up camp on August 26, demanding Samak's resignation and refusing to budge until he stepped down.

Budget travellers from Bangkok's nearby tourist district have since then mingled in with the protesters, scooping up boxes of free food and casually observing Thai politics in action.

'We're just visiting Bangkok for a couple of days. We were at the palace and we knew there was a rally going on...so we wanted to see what it was,' said Mr Marco, a 35-year-old from Italy, who declined to give his last name.

'It looks calm at the moment. My perception as a European is that even Sunday football seems more aggressive than this,' he said, apparently unaware of the violence that flared last Monday near the site, leaving one man dead and 43 injured.

One visitor, 49-year-old John Jantak from Canada, stopped by the camp during his third visit to the kingdom. His bag was searched by guards for the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which is spearheading the protests.

'I think it's a good thing to have protests, because living in a democracy people have the right to express their feelings, but in terms of demanding the government be overthrown - that goes against my democratic principles,' he said.

The protesters have accused the Thai prime minister of being corrupt and acting as a proxy for deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Despite the interest among some travellers in the protest camp, tourism officials said the number of foreign arrivals at Bangkok's international airport is down 30 per cent on average figures.

'I've noticed crowds (of tourists) have dwindled within the area of the nearby tourist district,' Mr Jantak said.

'So I think it's going to have an effect on tourism.' -- AFP

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