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.
Increasing drug use spurs worries about tourist assaults
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.
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.
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.
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.
Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho (left) and PBTA President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn (right) preside over the monthly meeting of the PBTA.
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.
