Police prepare to ensure visitor safety and security at major destinations during Songkran festiviti
TOURIST Police are preparing measures at all major visitor destinations to ensure the safety and security of local and foreign revellers during the Songkran Festival next month.
Pol Maj General Apichai Ti-Amataya said last week that local and foreign visitors can be confident in joining activities for Songkran, which runs nationwide from April 13-15 this year.
The same safeguards would be employed for later festivities in areas such as Pattaya and Samut Prakan.
Each of the major attractions would be crowded by two to six times the normal number of local and foreign travellers.
Chiang Mai and Pattaya are expected to welcome more than two million visitors, while Bangkok should see up to four million, both local and foreign.
“Tourist police expect to see more tourists this year especially from neighbouring countries, so we will be tightening up security more,” he said.
Police would be working longer hours in 36 areas across the country, such as Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang Airport, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui and Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong, Silom and Khao San roads.
About 800-1,000 volunteers would be asked to prepare to be on duty and alert for safety-related incidents during the three-day carnival.
In Bangkok alone, about 20 volunteers with full language skills in English, Chinese, Russian and Japanese will soon be advised to be on standby.
Tourist Police recently launched their 115 call centre to assist tourists who have problems and need help.
Before, tourists who had problems while in the country were advised to call the government’s 1111 hotline, but now they can use both channels.
Each day, both lines receive about 20 complaints and requests for assistance, mostly for lost belongings, disputes and fighting, and accidents.
Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul today is leading a training course on safety and security for operators and tourism organisations ahead of Songkran.
The ministry is also set to provide knowledge about the tourism industry as well as on how to prevent theft during the festival.
According to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, it planned to announce Songkran Festival as a world event that aims to promote Thai culture and to market it overseas.
