Interior minister calls for crackdown on jet skis, late-night bars

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Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung demanded Chonburi provincial police crack down on Pattaya jet ski operators and enforce legal bar-closing times to help clean up the city’s tawdry international image.

Chalerm, who also serves as deputy prime minister, told Region 2 police leaders at a June 18 meeting at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden to prepare a battle plan against organized crime outfits, unregistered vehicles often used in crimes and others scams by June 22.

Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung meets the press outside a June 18 meeting at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung meets the press outside a June 18 meeting at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden.

Popular resort areas in Thailand need to be made safer, both physically and economically for tourists, if the country hopes to meet its goals of growing tourism revenue to 2 trillion baht a year, he said.

Chalerm also ordered police to enforce the country’s legal closing times on Pattaya’s notoriously late-running bars, saying nightspots must close by 2:30 a.m. and that police need to be more vigilant on checking entertainment venues aren’t allowing minors to enter.