Tourist courts to be set up in key sights

“Tourists who are the victims of thefts and robberies may have to face a lengthy trial and experience inconvenience because they only stay in the country for a short time,” Tourism Minister Somsak Pureesrisak said yesterday. He had discussed the problem with Court of Justice officials and found that hearings involving tourists could be expedited by setting up a tourism litigation division and extending office hours. The ministry agreed to reimburse overtime pay for judges and legal officials.

The ministry has discussed with all other agencies the plan to set up the division, with the exception of the prosecutors’ office, which the minister would approach soon.

The project to include a tourism litigation division in provincial and district courts in tourism-oriented cities is part of a plan to increase tourism income to Bt2 trillion by 2015 by upgrading facilities and services to attract high-quality travellers.

The country is on track to meet this year’s target of Bt1.1 trillion in income from foreign tourists and Bt500 billion from domestic tourists.

The priority will be on improving safety for tourists and investigating complaints against travel agencies.

Anchalee Wanittheppabut, the Democrat MP for Phuket, said the island needs mass-transit systems to cater to foreign arrivals because rapid urbanisation and development has caused heavy traffic congestion.

Tharat Thanitnont, an adviser to a tourism association in Krabi, said area needs funds to treat garbage and water waste.