Foreign Tourists Safety 'priority' For New Tourism Minister Somsak

[webfact]

Safety 'priority' for new tourism minister Somsak


Steep learning curve ahead: Somsak Pureesrisak.

BANGKOK: -- Somsak Pureesrisak, the new Tourism and Sports Minister, says tourist safety will take priority under his watch.

“If Thailand is not a safe destination in the eyes of foreign tourists, it is useless to invest hundreds of billions of baht to promote Thai tourism,” he told a group of reporters as he marked his first official day on the job last Friday (April 5).

“So I will seriously focus on this point. This will bring sustainable tourism growth to Thailand and drive tourism revenue to meet the target of B2 trillion by 2015.”

Mr Somsak expressed confidence that he could work smoothly with related agencies including the Royal Thai Police.

“The state should increase punishment against those who commit crimes like robbery and assault against tourists,” he said.

“I will adopt safety measures similar to those used in Japan, a country that rarely has criminal complaints from tourists.”

Mr Somsak was appointed minister on April 2, replacing Chumpol Silpa-archa, who died of heart failure in January.

His appointment came as no surprise; he was a deputy governor of Suphan Buri and Ang Thong provinces from 2002 to 2006 and governor of Suphan Buri from 2006 to 2012.
Suphan Buri is the home of former prime minister Mr Chumphol’s brother Banharn, banned from politics, but the de facto head of the Chartthaipattana Party.

Chartthaipattana, thanks to its agreement to support the Peu Thai Party in the last general election, has dibs on the Tourism Ministry.

Thailand attracted 22 million tourists last year despite some incidents that brought widespread negative publicity. Authorities have faced criticism for failing to deal swiftly and decisively with serious crimes including rape committed against tourists.

The tourism sector will worry that the new minister, like he predecessor, lacks experience in the industry, and may take considerable time to grasp the big picture issues that demand his attention almost immediately, the industry magazine TTR Weekly said.

“He may choose to ignore the voices of experts who are warning the government that a balance must be achieved to ensure tourism is in harmony with culture and heritage.

“As it stands today, tourism is a threat to national heritage and experts are calling on the government to support a sustainable version that would have less negative impact on the country’s social fabric,” the magazine said.

Commenting on political overtures, Tourism Council of Thailand President Piyaman Tejapaibul was neutral. “The Chartthaipattana Party continues to supervise the Ministry of Tourism and Sports as it has done for years.

The new minister comes from that party so we are not expecting any changes in policy.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/safety-%E2%80%98priority%E2%80%99-for-new-tourism-minister-somsak-38873.php


-- Phuket News 2013-04-23

[kurnell]

Next thing you know farangs will be given the right to vote. Yippee!!

[aguy30]

I predict that if we review this topic in six months that there will not be any significant change or improvement. Tourists will still be getting robbed, scammed, killed and assaulted on a regular basis.

[Moruya]

^{"the country’s social fabric"}

^{What's that then?}

^{Prostitution?}

^{Fake goods?}

^{Dodgy police?}

^{Tourist scams?}

^{Bribery of officials to allow massive overbuilding at tourist locations?}

^{Deforrestation?}

^{Destruction of national parks?}

^{Culling protected species for money?}

^{Dangerous roads?}

^Drugs?

[Thai at Heart]

I depserately hope something significant comes out of this.

Just look at the Korean tourists having the boat accident yesterday.

But I won't hold my breath....

[Markaew]

I think government officials make these proclamations believing it will be enough to take care of the problem.

[bender92]

^{"the country’s social fabric"}

^{What's that then?}

^{Prostitution?}

^{Fake goods?}

^{Dodgy police?}

^{Tourist scams?}

^{Bribery of officials to allow massive overbuilding at tourist locations?}

^{Deforrestation?}

^{Destruction of national parks?}

^{Culling protected species for money?}

^{Dangerous roads?}

^Drugs?

Jet Skis

[Pimay1]

The tourism sector will worry that the new minister, like he predecessor, lacks experience in the industry, and may take considerable time to grasp the big picture issues that demand his attention almost immediately, the industry magazine TTR Weekly said.

Not unlike calling a brick layer to install the air conditioning in your house. But when did qualifications matter?

[FarangTalk]

The program recently shown on UK's Channel 4 about the amount of young Britons killed on Thailand's roads won't have helped.

The program confirms yet again, what most of us knew already, that the official numbers of road deaths stand at about 12,000 per annum, but these figures are only deaths at the scene. Those that die later as a result of injuries are not included, unlike statistics gathered from most other countries.

Mothers of the dead in Britain are, quite rightly, rallying together for sterner warnings from the FCO and for tourists travelling to Thailand. The program exposed the terrible safety record of Thailand's bus services, the criminal negligence by the bus companies and the poorly constructed buses which look modern, yet would fail even the most basic of safety tests.

Fixing this problem will be a start, however I doubt they will even get rid of the jet-ski scammers.

They only care about money, and they are too short-sighted to see that fixing all these problems would be in their long-term interests.

[britinthai]

I think government officials make these proclamations believing it will be enough to take care of the problem.

How right you are

[FarangTalk]

The tourism sector will worry that the new minister, like he predecessor, lacks experience in the industry, and may take considerable time to grasp the big picture issues that demand his attention almost immediately, the industry magazine TTR Weekly said.

Not unlike calling a brick layer to install the air conditioning in your house. But when did qualifications matter?

They seem to want a degree on paper for any job in Thailand, no matter how menial.

To be fair, I don't think any Thai politicians are really qualified for any cabinet posts. It's just an opportunity for graft and jobs for the boys.

[rubl]

A slightly misleading topic title. More correct would be "Image of Thailand as 'safe' country a priority for new MoT Somsak"

[DocN]

Another guy, who loves to hear himself talk, but will not change a iota.

[moe666]

You of so little faith

[Arkady]

No need to worry. He is absolutely on the right track already. He issued a request to Thai people to treat tourists nicely after a hillbilly wiped out the British cyclist couple while slewing all over the road without looking in his pick-up. His predecessor also did a great job by pointing out that the teenage Dutch girl who was brutally raped and beaten by The Evil Man from Krabi had actually consented to the rape and beating by having dinner with her attacker in a group of others.

He is ably assisted by the BiB through their cover up of the rape and murder of Kirsty Jones in Chiang Mai, the cover up of the killings of several tourists in the Chiang Mai hotel and the cover up of the poisoning of the two French Canadian sisters in Phi Phi, the cover up of the murder of the Canadian tourist by a policeman in Pai etc, etc, etc, etc.

Edited April 23, 2013 by Arkady

[PhilipCook]

“I will adopt safety measures similar to those used in Japan, a country that rarely has criminal complaints from tourists.” Set a timeline with targets my friend. Lofty statements like this are too plentiful to quantity here. I remember Thaksin saying he would solve the traffic problems in Bangkok in 6 months...

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Talk:Thaksin_Shinawatra

Try a new approach, lets use the Japan model as the goal to start working towards, but show a timeline with modest targets. Aiming for the moon only stirs up wonder and amazement, better try for something achievable for a change. Enforcement of laws would be a start, then increasing the penalties would be the next step. The problem with this is that he has no authority to enforce the laws.

When the article mentions that tourism(excessive) is a threat to the country's national heritage and having a negative impact on the country's social fabric it smacks of xenophobia nicht wahr? As if they prefer to have fewer foreigners coming here and hopefully fewer Thais marrying non-Thais. Wonder where consumerism and greed fit into the mix.

[andygunther]

I predict that if we review this topic in six months that there will not be any significant change or improvement. Tourists will still be getting robbed, scammed, killed and assaulted on a regular basis.

With Thailand's high inflation, comes also increases poverty.

With result more robberies...

Edited April 23, 2013 by andygunther

[nick02]

start to kik ass police first.

when foreigner have problem , them no help, them only make story for take ours monnaie and share with thai.

thailand no law for us, only for thai.

i come here near 20 years and leave here now 5 years, when have problem , the first thing foreign have to do "NOW CALL POLICE IF POSSIBLE ",when them come only be more expensive for us.

clean thailand about this chit police, give us power for can make problem with them if them no make them job correctly.

thailand no police and no safe for tourist.only boyshit.

[julemanden]

The tourism sector will worry that the new minister, like he predecessor, lacks experience in the industry, and may take considerable time to grasp the big picture issues that demand his attention almost immediately, the industry magazine TTR Weekly said.

Not unlike calling a brick layer to install the air conditioning in your house. But when did qualifications matter?

For sure never here

[lookingeast]

I think government officials make these proclamations believing it will be enough to take care of the problem.

Yep - 'making proclamations' at regular intervals is the core of Thai ministers' job description !

[upena]

The new Minister of Tourism and Sports is highly qualified in his position - after all - he has a degree in electrical engineering.

[HeavyDrinker]

Blimey! So many 'experts' coming out if the woodwork! I can hear the barstools wobbling in disgust...

Give the fella a chance at least.

At least he seems to know there ARE problems which need to be addressed...

That alone for me, is a good start....

[theajarn]

"I will wave my magic wand and everything will be A-OK" so said Mr. Tourism Minister Somsak.

...and everything went right. With his pocket.

[theajarn]

Blimey! So many 'experts' coming out if the woodwork! I can hear the barstools wobbling in disgust...

Give the fella a chance at least.

At least he seems to know there ARE problems which need to be addressed...

That alone for me, is a good start....

The word "lip service" comes to mind.

[Angeledge777]

He have good intentions. However, is he going to ensure tourists safety against his own policemen?

[HeavyDrinker]

The phrase 'wait and see' comes to mind...

Oh why do threads like this promote comments which resound with douchebaggery of the highest order....?

Every wobbling barstool seems to 'know better'....they don't....

[mok199]

what a joke...the headline should read ''MORE PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF TOURIST SAFTEY''...qiuck call the media,its time for another ''press conference''....

[DocN]

Blimey! So many 'experts' coming out if the woodwork! I can hear the barstools wobbling in disgust...

Give the fella a chance at least.

At least he seems to know there ARE problems which need to be addressed...

That alone for me, is a good start....

I guess, by your attitude, that everyone criticizing these things sitting drunk in a bar, that are here for quiet a while.

How many times, did you hear things, similar to this, gave it a "fair chance" and in the end were dissapointed?

Let me guess: 99%?

Smile- things might be worse!

So I smiled...and things got worse!

[mok199]

what a joke...the headline should read ''MORE PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF TOURIST SAFTEY''...qiuck call the media,its time for another ''press conference''....

i feel safer already...thanks ''chief''...

[clockman]

Only time will tell!