Going unnoticed: a new Minister of Tourism for Thailand

BANGKOK- At best unnoticed, at worst indifferent. Thailand travel industry seems to have given little attention to the nomination by the Yingluck Shinawatra government of a new Minister of Tourism. Somsak Pureesrisak is a newcomer in the tourism arena and is completely unknown from a large majority in the Kingdom.

Born 15 November 1951, Mr. Pureesrisak is an electrical engineer by training and also holds a Master's degree in Development Administration. He began his professional life in 1993 in the Department of Town and Country Planning, and has risen up the ranks since then. Prior to his appointment, he used to serve as a deputy governor of Suphan Buri and Ang Thong provinces from 2002 to 2006 and then became Governor of Suphan Buri from 2006 to 2012. He officially became Minister of Tourism and Sports on April 9.

Mr. Pureesrisak paid already a first “orientation” visit to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports on 5 April 2013 after his appointment was confirmed by His Majesty the King. The visit was followed by Thai media who asked him about his priorities as a Minister. The Minister then replied that he would make visitor safety and security a primary focus of attention.

“If Thailand is not a safe destination in the eyes of foreign tourists, it is useless to invest hundreds of billions of baht to promote Thai tourism," he declared to a group of reporters as he marked his first official day on the job on Friday. "So I will seriously focus on this point. This will bring sustainable tourism growth to Thailand and drive tourism revenue to meet the 2-trillion-baht target by 2015,” reported the Bangkok Post.

The Minister expressed confidence that he could work smoothly with related agencies including the Royal Thai Police. "The state should increase punishment against those who commit crimes like robbery and assault against tourists," he indicated to media. Mr. Pureesrisak targets a similar safety level to the ones existing in Japan, one “of the safest countries for travellers”, he underlined.

His predecessor Chumpol Silpa-Archa has been heavily criticized in tourism circles for his lack of will or action to counter the rise in petty criminality but also in the case of violent crimes involving the killing of travellers. Mr. Silpa-Archa generated even an outcry in Europe when he tried to justify the behaviour of a guide who raped a Dutch young female traveller. Newspapers reported him declaring that “the incident could not be considered a rape as the girl seemed to know the man…”

Mr. Pureesrisak priority to raise safety will be considered as a welcome move. The new policy emphasis is totally supported by TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni. "Safety and security for visitors is becoming an over-arching area of importance all through the global travel & tourism industry. We constantly get questions about this matter at international trade shows, and are very pleased that the minister has taken up this issue as a matter of priority.

"The TAT looks forward to implementing initiatives from the minister in further advancing the role of travel and tourism as the country's largest service industry and contributor to national socio-economic development”, indicated TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews