Ministry to open more help centres

BANGKOK  Ministry of Tourism and Sports aims to open more tourist assistance centres  as a part of a strategy to improve safety and security for international visitors.

The ministry’s permanent secretary, Pongpanu Svetarundra, said at a meeting, Tuesday, that more tourist assistance centres were needed to improve the security environment.

With close to 30 million tourists visiting the country last year, and the prospect of 32 to 33 million, this year, safety is an urgent issue. Crimes against tourists are on the rise and there are literally hundreds of accidents involving tourists every month.

Every month there are around 2.5 million tourists in the country and support infrastructure and policing of safety regulations requires an overhaul.

“Currently, there are 16 tourist assistance centres  at major tourist destinations such as Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Ubon Ratchathani, Sukhothai, Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi and Krabi, mostly at airports,” he explained at the meeting.

“This year, we plan to open centres  in Udon Thani, Ayutthaya, Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phang Nga,” he said.

The centres at provincial airports appear to be overstaffed and under used by visitors. They are not well sign posted in the arrival halls and the ministry does not provide updates on how many visitors are offered assistance.

The centres are supposed to work closely with provincial tourism offices and related organisations to look after travellers both Thais and foreigners, the permanent secretary added.

“Today, tourism plays a significant economic role so we need to strengthen safety.”

This year, tourist arrivals should reach 32 million and generate THB2.41 trillion in revenue. Of that, THB1.56 trillion will come from international markets and THB0.85 trillion from the domestic market.

Last year, the kingdom attracted 29.8 million international visits up 20.44% from 24.8 million visits in 2014. Arrivals generated THB1.44 trillion in revenue, up 23.39% from THB1.17 trillion in 2014, according to Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ data.