PHUKET: Businesses operating apartment blocks that are housing tourists but remain illegal face a series of investigations unless they register, Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada warned this week.
The Erawan Shrine bombing in Bangkok that killed 20 tourists led to the realisation that criminals could be hiding out in apartments, the governor told a large meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall.
It was the first time that authorities and possible unregistered accommodation businesses had been at the same meeting.
''Thailand attracts many tourists but we don't know how many rooms there are to accommodate them on Phuket,'' he said. ''We don't know for certain who is flying in and out and whether criminals are involved.''
The governor said his aim was to have all security cameras from all accommodation on the island available in one spot, so that movements could be tracked if necessary on a daily basis.
''If something bad happens, who will control it?'' he said. ''We need this information.
He thanked all the resorts that were already registered and thanked in advance those unregistered accommodation places - especially apartments - that were about to sign on.
''We will soon have a list of the legal places and the illegal places,'' he said. ''I am asking all councils on the island to compile both.''
''Then when we have done that, we will bring authorities down from Bangkok to investigate one after another to make sure everyone joins the legal list.''
The Erawan Shrine bombing in Bangkok that killed 20 tourists led to the realisation that criminals could be hiding out in apartments, the governor told a large meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall.
It was the first time that authorities and possible unregistered accommodation businesses had been at the same meeting.
''Thailand attracts many tourists but we don't know how many rooms there are to accommodate them on Phuket,'' he said. ''We don't know for certain who is flying in and out and whether criminals are involved.''
The governor said his aim was to have all security cameras from all accommodation on the island available in one spot, so that movements could be tracked if necessary on a daily basis.
''If something bad happens, who will control it?'' he said. ''We need this information.
He thanked all the resorts that were already registered and thanked in advance those unregistered accommodation places - especially apartments - that were about to sign on.
''We will soon have a list of the legal places and the illegal places,'' he said. ''I am asking all councils on the island to compile both.''
''Then when we have done that, we will bring authorities down from Bangkok to investigate one after another to make sure everyone joins the legal list.''
Oh dear. Metldown already. Keep it simple. This scheme is impossible and impractical. Transport and road safety education, and beach safety are the priorities in Phuket. Common knowledge isn't it?
Posted by gee on October 23, 2015 10:14