BANGKOK, 23 June 2012 – Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung has given a policy to tourist police to seek manpower support from area police in providing safety to foreign visitors.
Speaking at a recent meeting with Police Major General Adit Ngamchitsuksri, Commander of the Tourist Police Division, and tourism-related officials, Pol Capt Chalerm said integrated operations are necessary, in which area police arrange backup forces to patrol tourist attractions and urban centers to relieve the limited manpower of the tourist police.
The Deputy Prime Minister also entrusted the Department of Land Transport and the Marine Department to help register all the existing tour entrepreneurs to make it easier to regulate them. At the meeting, the Tourist Police Commander reported currently prevailing problems such as illegal taxis, and unscrupulous bus and jet-ski operators conning and taking advantage of tourists. These problems are negatively affecting the image of Thai tourism. There have also been cases of tourists being lured into being robbed or physically assaulted.
