BANGKOK, Jan 3 – Safety measures for tourists will be enhanced and highlighted as a national agenda, the Tourism and Sports Ministry announced today.
Ministry spokesman Vachara Kannikar, referring to the latest case involving two Russian women who were assaulted and raped in the beach resort of Pattaya, said such incidents tarnish Thailand’s reputation, even while the public sector was trying hard to invite more tourists to the country.
In addition to wooing more tourists to come to Thailand, the ministry will strengthen safety measures for visitors, he said.
He said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, in raising the issue as a national agenda item, has instructed state agencies concerned to work closely in protecting tourists from assault, robbery and other criminal acts.
The government has tried hard to attract more tourists to Thailand, but such undesirable cases against tourists have negatively impacted the tourism industry, he said.
Thailand set a target for 21 million tourists last year but the figure reached nearly 23 million visitors, said Mr Vachara, forecasting further growth in the numbers of inbound tourists this year.
He said 1.6 million Russian tourists visited Thailand last year, generating a Bt60 billion revenue. They were ranked fourth after China, Malaysia and Japan.
The ministry reported that 12 Russian tourists were killed and 10 others injured while staying in Thailand in 2012. The incidents were mostly from accidents and self-inflicted violence, but some were crime-related cases.
