Wristbands to debut on Tao

BANGKOK Tourists on Tao Island will be the first to receive wristbands to help police beef up security following the murder of two British tourists on the island, last month.
If the project works and is accepted by travellers, it will be extended to other destinations.
Authorities in Thailand are struggling with a growing crime rate involving tourists that prompted the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to announce that it would introduce wristbands for all tourists visiting resorts.
Koh Tao island, ThailandHowever, the project has been scaled down due to criticism and fears that it would highlight Thailand’s security problems rather than alleviate them.
Tourist Police Division Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Aphichai Thi-amat, who supervises the project, told TTR Weekly that the wristbands policy would help tourists who get lost or are in trouble.
“We are collecting opinions from tourists and related sectors on the project to evaluate the positive and negative impact. If it is positive we will launch the project later this month on Tao Island.”
“The information embedded on the wristbands will be limited to the Tourist Police call centre number 1155 and details of the hotel such as localtion and contacts. We will not put any personal information such as ID or passport number for the sake of safety and security.”
He added: “If anything happens to a tourist we will know where they stay and can take them back to their hotel.”
“Wristbands are like a souvenir that hotels will give to tourists…it is up to them to wear them or not,” he told.
Hotels on Tao Island, Surat Thani, will be the first place to get wristbands.
“The project should start 24 October…if the plan gains good feedback, it will expand to other tourist destinations such as Pha Ngan, Samui and Chang islands.”
The Tourist Police Division will initially allocate THB100,000 to fund the project. If it gains good feedback then the Tourist Police will ask the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ Department of Tourism for a larger budget.
“On Tao Island, there are three tourist police officers and 50 volunteers to help us take care tourists.”
The island also will install more CCTV (video surveillance) and street and beach lighting to increase safety for tourists, he said.

sourced:ttrweekly.com