PBTA President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn lets
the Tourism and Culture Committee know he still believes there is a lot of
work left to ensure public safety in Pattaya Bay.
Warunya Thongrod
The head of the Pattaya Business & Tourism Association continued his
assault on city hall over marine safety, saying that despite all the talk
that followed last year’s string of deadly accidents, the city still has
done little to improve.
Speaking at the city council’s Dec. 24 Tourism and Culture Committee
meeting, Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn said the city still “has unclear
measures to promote tourists confidence” in Pattaya’s marine safety,
particularly swimming on the beach.
The initiative to hire lifeguards to work in Pattaya and Koh Larn “has not
been successful, even though, we have lifeguard stations,” he said. “We also
have been a favorite on the news in relation to tourist deaths. We have to
push to bring back the confidence tourists had in us.”
Sinchai’s comments came six weeks after he presented Deputy Mayor Ronakit
Ekasingh with a list of seven reforms he believes need to be made to prevent
future accidents. So far, no progress has been made on any of them.
The PBTA president has been the most outspoken critic of city and
marine-safety officials, publicly rebuking Pattaya’s politicians and top
regulators to their faces at a Nov. 4 hearing called after seven tourists
were killed in the latest in a string of marine accidents. In 2013 alone, 11
tourists were killed and dozens injured in more than a half-dozen
boat-related mishaps.
This time, however, Sinchai found support among city council members and
others at the December meeting.
“Currently, there are not enough life vests for tourists and buoys for
demarking swimming areas at Tawaen Beach,” pointed out Councilman Banjong
Banthoonprayuk. “This must be solved immediately as the number of tourists
is at an all-time high. I fear that tourists may injured by jet-skis around
that area.”
“Since Pattaya has recently been the talk of the news on water accidents,
particularly with Chinese tourists as victims, the Chinese ambassador has
inquired as to the safety measures,” said Councilwoman Yuwida Jidapa. “It is
quite worrisome, as this affects the confidence and trust for tours to come
to Pattaya. We have to create an understanding with the Chinese ambassador
as soon as possible.”
