Increasing drug use spurs worries about tourist assaults
With tourism levels at
dramatic lows, the district government is focusing on cleaning up a
perceived drug problem in the tourism sector, along with cleaning up
Pattaya Beach, governing prices of various products and putting an end
to extortion incidents by jet ski operators.
Jetsada Homklin
Banglamung District’s chief administrator fears that drug use is
increasing in the Pattaya area and may be contributing to problems
involving foreign tourists.
At the June meeting of the Pattaya Business & Tourism Association June
11 at the Grand Sole Hotel, District Chief Sakchai Taengho said
urine-based drug tests run at police checkpoints increasingly are coming
back positive among people of all ages. With so many local employed at
entertainment venues catering to foreigners, that means that tourists
increasingly are involved with staff addicted to drugs.
Assaults by bar bouncers and other staff also is a growing concern, the
district chief said. Officials, Sakchai said, are considering new
measures and punishments so venue owners take better care of their
foreign guests.
Banglamung District Chief
Sakchai Taengho (left) and PBTA President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn
(right) preside over the monthly meeting of the PBTA.
He said that if a fight among tourists and Thai staff breaks out, one
recourse might be to revoke the venue’s operating license. However,
Sakchai added, punishment would be weighed against the serious of the
offense.
Sakchai’s comments came two days after a bouncer at Pattaya’s Lucifer
disco was arrested for allegedly assaulting an Israeli customer who
belligerently refused to buy a drink.
With tourism levels at dramatic lows, the district chief said other
issues the government is focusing on include the cleanliness of Pattaya
Beach, prices of various products and continuing extortion incidents by
jet ski operators.
