The Royal Thai Navy has stepped up security on Koh Samet’s Saikaew Beach and at installations under the supervision of the Naval Education Department in Sattahip.
Naval Intelligence Division Rear Adm. Wisan Puntavangoon visited the Chumphol Royal Naval Academy May 29 for an overview on the new procedures from Commandant Capt. Wirat Somjit.
Wirat said the school was responding to a directive to provide better security for VIPs, commanders, facilities, tourist attractions, and accommodations in military areas, as well as the safety of Thai and foreign tourists visiting Saikaew Beach in particular.
The fear, he said, was that transnational criminals could camouflage themselves among tour groups, which could affect national security.
Wisan gave good marks to the new procedures. He suggested they could be split into different levels of strictness, however, to reduce delays for tourists visiting the Koh Samet beach.
