Thailand presses ahead with plans to turn prisons into tourist attractions

[webfact]

Thailand presses ahead with plans to turn prisons into tourist attractions

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Justice minister Somsak Thepsuthin is pressing ahead with his new initiative - to promote Thailand's prisons as tourist destinations. 

 

Now when tourists are let out of their own detention - the quarantine and sealed off islands for foreigners - they will be able to see how the other half lives rubbing shoulders with the country's huge number of convicts. 

 

The convicts have been busy polishing up their skills in foreign languages waiting for the imminent arrival of the tourists.

 

Somsak was in Rayong yesterday visiting two prisons that have joined those in other provinces for a pilot project entitled: "Happy Tours - Opportunities for those who have erred to reenter society".

 

Thai Rath termed it "Happy Tours - Iron Bars Chef" - a play on the popular Iron Chef TV show. 

 

Somsak is deadly serious about opening up prisons for tourism. 

 

Working with the corrections department he sees it as a great use of facilities that are often in tourist areas like Rayong. He wants prisoners to learn new skills and showcase their talents with tourists as a precursor for their release and rehabilitation back into society.

 

First off yesterday he went to Khai Mai Kaew remand center where he observed prisoners learning foreign languages. 

 

Then with his entourage he inspected Huay Pong open prison where he donned a chef's hat and witnessed a "cookoff" between two prison teams. 

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Others were learning horse riding and accounting though the justice supremo was quick to play down this had getaway and 'cooking the books' potential.

 

He said that he had always believed in rehabilitation and that by giving convicts the right tools they won't reoffend. 

 

He wants to transform prisons from their perception as places of darkness into places of opportunity. 

 

Tourists will be the guinea pigs for this with pilot schemes at five prisons in Korat, Trat, Ratchaburi as well as Rayong. But his plans are set to be expanded.

 

Indeed it looks like Thailand can become the hub of prison tourism with 67 other jails joining the scheme over the next three years.

 

Though he said that not all the 143 prisons would join the tourism scheme - some were deemed not suitable. 

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

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[Thaiwrath]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

Then with his entourage he inspected Huay Pong open prison where he donned a chef's hat and witnessed a "cookoff" between two prison teams. 

 

I think the hat is merely hiding an embarrassing growth growing out of his head in he shape of a male organ !  

[YetAnother]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

Somsak is deadly serious about opening up prisons for tourism. 

then he is deadly stupid

[darksidedog]

Disgraceful. Thai prisons are places of terrible hardship and suffering. Anyone wanting to go visit is just sick, and promoting visits is disgraceful. The only thing I am sure about is that it will be a revenue raiser, as if the jails didn't fleece its inmates enough already.

[trucking]

First ' tourist visitors ' will be over stayers transferred from the overflowing IDC.  Their visits will be long and memorable.

 

Chinese tourists in tour groups will be given long sticks to poke through the bars at the happy inmates. Fun for all the family.

 

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by trucking

[steven100]

I can see alot of birthday cakes being passed on to prisoners ......    lol 

[trucking]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

The convicts have been busy polishing up their skills in foreign languages waiting for the imminent arrival of the tourists.

 

Yea right.

 

" Got any snouts guv ? "

 

" Get you t**s out for the boys luv "

 

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by trucking

[SteveK]

Is April Fool's day celebrated everyday in Thailand?

[sungod]

Sounds great, cant wait. The only thing that will hold me back visiting one with the kids is if they introduce double pricing for foreigners......????

[ThailandRyan]

Time they started a scared straight program with teens. Fieldtrip time to visit and see where they can end up. However, it might just end up being a reunion trip to see friends and family already incarcerated.

[RotBenz8888]

After being locked up for 14d in ASQ, the first thing I'd wish to do is to visit a prison... 

 

[Paiman]

Another outstanding idea.

 

After 2 weeks in quarantine ( confined space ) their only thoughts will be to visit a Thai prison? 

 

If it fails?       I am sure the Bangkok Sewage system could attract hordes.

[nikmar]

Lonely Planet won't kno where to begin. 

 

This is a P**s take, surely to God!!

[Dmaxdan]

27 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Disgraceful. Thai prisons are places of terrible hardship and suffering. Anyone wanting to go visit is just sick, and promoting visits is disgraceful. The only thing I am sure about is that it will be a revenue raiser, as if the jails didn't fleece its inmates enough already.

It does make you wonder that any revenue generated from this would be used to make the inmates lives more bearable or to line someone else's pocket.... 

[Tropicalevo]

42 minutes ago, webfact said:

polishing up their skills in foreign languages waiting for the imminent arrival of the tourists.

But the only tourists this year are Thai.

So many holes in this little 'earner'.

[owl sees all]

Interesting idea.

 

I'm not particularly interested in visiting prisons; but others will be. I've not felt good about prisons since I was captured and put in a bamboo hut prison in the desert some years ago. I escaped; but I was one of the lucky ones.

 

It has already been pointed out that a two tier pricing system might be on the cards. I'm dead against this double standard stuff.

[kidneyw]

Maybe they could also use the prisons for the 14 days quarantine. Kill two birds with one stone.

[Stocky]

I guess this ties in with the 'Phuket Alcatraz' plan for holidaymakers. 

[ChipButty]

Cooking classes, Fish head soup everyday

[worgeordie]

It will be an eye opener to see 40 inmates laying on the floor,

and will the guests be served prison meal's, I think those things

won't be on the tour.

regards worgeordie

 

 

 

[meechai]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thailand presses ahead with plans to turn prisons into tourist attractions

Ah yes ...this must be part if that attract wealthier visitors plan

Because nothing goes with a 5 star hotel better than a jail visit ????

[KhunKenAP]

Cream rises to the top. Not sure what rises to the top in his head.

 

In this case the Minister' turd soup as a few rat turds floating.

[rvaviator]

Well ... why make tourist attractions from empty prisons 

 

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/prison-tours-a-taste-of-life-behind-bars

 

If you can visit the real deal ...

[sapson]

Comedy gold from the nutters every week, billions of baht on obsolete submarines, cops to visit the parents of a kindergarten toddler and now prisons as a tourist attraction.

 

They must sit around with their crack pipes totally stoned to come up with this lunacy.

 

 

[AbeNormal]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thailand presses ahead with plans to turn prisons into tourist attractions

seems like a reasonable step since they are turning hotels into prisons

[Phuketshrew]

Turning prisons into human zoo's. The lunatics truly are running the asylum.

[Misterwhisper]

What a wonderful idea that truly will save Thai tourism!

 

Will tourists be able to see the torture chamber, too?

Or partake in a yummy bowl of fish head soup?

Or perhaps share the hole in the concrete floor with the convicts?

Taking a few rounds in the courtyard in heavy shackles? (Great for impressive selfies!)

Joining in the daily rat, cockroach and bedbug hunt?

Getting a crew cut for free at the prison barber's?

Stocking up on souvenirs from the prison shop? You know, things like Mama noodles, bars of soap, toothpaste and such. 

 

There also should be warning signs on the walls, just to establish the rules:

"No feeding the convicts!"

"Keep your distance. Prisoners might be dangerous!"

"No flirting with death row inmates!"

 

And for an extra fee they'll have the opportunity to get a glimpse of the foreigner wing, too. Very exotic animals to observe there (though they're all a little dirty). 

 

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by Misterwhisper

[PatOngo]

The only thing attractive about visiting a Thai prison would be to see all the corrupt, crooked grubs who ever put their filthy hands in the national and local coffers and stole from the common people lined up behind bars like the common criminals they really are! That would attract me!

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Justice minister Somsak Thepsuthin is pressing ahead with his new initiative - to promote Thailand's prisons as tourist destinations. 

As he's so keen to get tourists into prisons, perhaps instead of 'presses' it should say 'press-gang'.

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

I can see alot of birthday cakes being passed on to prisoners ......    lol 

I 'saw' through that one.  We'll keep your name on 'file'.