PHUKET: Phuket International Airport is to become the first place where Thailand's Tourist Police are to be used to protect passengers more fully, Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak says.
The plan has yet to win Cabinet support but Minister Somsak is confident of gaining a thumbs-up and that Tourist Police will gain more authority to deal with crime.
The minister first revealed his intentions in an exclusive interview with Phuketwan at the opening of the Tourist Protection Section at Phuket Provincial Court on September 24.
Now the innovative plan includes Thailand's six major airports - and it will begin with a pioneer venture at Phuket International Airport in December.
''The plan aims to use the tourist police to clamp down on fraud including illegal taxi service as well as emergency assistance for crime victims,'' the minister is quoted as saying in Bangkok.
Tourist Police mostly act as liaison officers and refer complaints to regular police for action. Tourist Police cannot as yet make arrests.
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport already has a ''court room'' where people involved in crime as culprits or victims can be linked up if necessary by video with judges.
Two Crime Crisis Centres have already opened on Phuket as part of an anti-corruption drive initiated by Minister Somsak.
It's intended to create a ''Phuket model'' for scam-free tourism, and the model will be transported to other tourist destinations.
So far the innovative Tourist Protection Section, opened at Phuket's Provincial Court on September 24 to fast-track cases involving tourists, has yet to have a case referred to it.
The plan has yet to win Cabinet support but Minister Somsak is confident of gaining a thumbs-up and that Tourist Police will gain more authority to deal with crime.
The minister first revealed his intentions in an exclusive interview with Phuketwan at the opening of the Tourist Protection Section at Phuket Provincial Court on September 24.
Now the innovative plan includes Thailand's six major airports - and it will begin with a pioneer venture at Phuket International Airport in December.
''The plan aims to use the tourist police to clamp down on fraud including illegal taxi service as well as emergency assistance for crime victims,'' the minister is quoted as saying in Bangkok.
Tourist Police mostly act as liaison officers and refer complaints to regular police for action. Tourist Police cannot as yet make arrests.
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport already has a ''court room'' where people involved in crime as culprits or victims can be linked up if necessary by video with judges.
Two Crime Crisis Centres have already opened on Phuket as part of an anti-corruption drive initiated by Minister Somsak.
It's intended to create a ''Phuket model'' for scam-free tourism, and the model will be transported to other tourist destinations.
So far the innovative Tourist Protection Section, opened at Phuket's Provincial Court on September 24 to fast-track cases involving tourists, has yet to have a case referred to it.
Sat and waited for the misses to arrive and was listening to the taxi people. The big blue sign on the left when you're coming and got the prices on ot to different places on Phuket. The touts said it would take them 4 hours to get them to Patong , but if you ride with me. No more than an hour but the price was 3000 baht.
Put some real police officers and get rid of the pack ASAP.
Posted by Nicky on October 8, 2013 16:07