New safety measures for foreign visitors to be established: Thailand

[webfact]

New safety measures for foreign visitors to be established

BANGKOK, 27 Nov 2013 (NNT) - A working group comprising representatives from two key ministries has been set up to design comprehensive safety measures for foreign tourists following an accident that injured 30 Russians.

Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt recently met with Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Phureesrisak to discuss ways to enhance safety for foreign travelers after 30 Russians were wounded in an accident.

The incident prompted Russia's council of tourism industry to issue an ultimatum to the Thai Government to take action in ensuring safety for foreigners, or they would stop encouraging Russians to visit Thailand. The Russian tourism council indicated that it has more than 5,000 travel agencies under its chain which are ready to recommend other tourist destinations to their customers.

Nonetheless, the meeting between the ministers of Transports and Tourism covered tightened safety measures for all travelers, not just Russians, the Transport Minister said.

Mr. Chadchart stated that representatives from the government and private sectors also met at a recent meeting during which they identified a number of problems besetting foreign tourists.

Those problems include, among others, the lack of maturity of public transport drivers, driving licenses of foreigners, and vehicle rentals which were causes of several accidents happened to tourists.

The meeting established a working group to address the issues headed by Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Transport Ministry Teerapong Rodprasert. The committee will employ officials from both Transport and Tourism & Sports Ministries as well as tourism police and tourism related private agencies in formulating appropriate solutions within 2 weeks.


-- NNT 2013-11-27

[Pomthai]

Rinse and repeat. Same hot air as always.

[espinoza]

They forgot the general driving skills in Thailand, but maybe they do not want to do anything about it ?

[laurentbkk]

its not only the safety of tourists which is essential but the safety for everybody using roads , trains or ferry ...... Thats what you expect from your government in any other country.

[E1717007]

Make it mandatory for all to drive/ride a vehicle with a valid driving license

Sent from my ME172V using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Kalbo]

Thailand actually has a good set of traffic regulations. The problem is that they are rarely , if ever, properly enforced.

[Asiantravel]

Make it mandatory for all to drive/ride a vehicle with a valid driving license

Sent from my ME172V using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

" Make it mandatory for all to drive/ride a vehicle with a valid driving license "......

..............that is only obtainable upon successfully passing a meaningful driving test where the examiner is satisfied the candidate can safely manoeuvre the vehicle with due consideration for other road users

[Rob8891]

New safety measures for foreign visitors to be established

[MJP]

The new safety measure takes people from Suvarnabhumi arrivals straight back round to departures on a carousel system specially designed by safety consultants, Somchai Lao Khao and Partners Co. Ltd.

This way TAT gets to keep its arrivals numbers up and no one gets scammed, hurt or killed.

Tourists are warned not to enter the duty free section under threat of false prosecution for theft.

Edited November 27, 2013 by MJP

[thaikahuna]

This message brought your way courtesy of M-150...;-)

[Thai at Heart]

And after reading a press release of half a page, and a couple of hundred words that apparently catalogues all the extensive efforts of the ministry to insure the increased safety from not only Russia and the rest of the world, I notice that......to keep it simple......

They had a meeting............

[Pomthai]

This message brought your way courtesy of M-150...;-)

Yes and most likely typed whilst driving a silver or white minivan full of terrified Chinese tourists at 140km/h up the motorcycle lane. In the rain. At night. No lights.

[zydeco]

How much are they going to charge me for all this new "safety?"

[thailiketoo]

Where do I pick up my yellow Kevlar vest?

[Johnnie99]

Sometimes these articles beggar belief. Who on earth will they blame - anyone but themselves. "Driving licences of foreigners" indeed.

[thailiketoo]

Sometimes these articles beggar belief. Who on earth will they blame - anyone but themselves. "Driving licences of foreigners" indeed.

You do realize that Burmese, Vietnamese and others are also foreigners. Have you ever watched how they drive in other countries besides GB, Australia Europe and North America?

[plachon]

I would have thought improved "security measures" to stop these ministries being taken over by the Suthep mobs, might be a slightly higher priority for the Ministers at this juncture? Or haven't they been told there's a "people's rebellion" going on outside?

[upena]

OK. We formed a committee. We had a meeting. Now, we will establish a Tourist Center where no one speaks English or Russian. Done and dusted

[Pattaya28]

Quote "discuss ways to enhance safety for foreign travelers after 30 Russians were "wounded" in an accident"

Wounded ? supply flack-jackets at the airport would be a good start

[Patanawet]

One measure could be --- drug and alcohol testing all public service vehicle drivers as they come on duty.

Bus, train and van drivers.

[Colabamumbai]

The Russian mafia giving an ultimatim to the Thai Government, and I thought that they only took their orders from Dubai.

[samjaidee]

One measure could be --- drug and alcohol testing all public service vehicle drivers as they come on duty.

Bus, train and van drivers.

... and when they go off duty.

[Equalizer]

Not a big task

LAST PASS

1. L ighting
2. A lcohol
3. S peeding
4. T est system

1. P ot Holes
2. A im
3. S ide walks
4. s ensibility

[thailiketoo]

They forgot the general driving skills in Thailand, but maybe they do not want to do anything about it ?

What country in Asia/India has better driving skills?

[recycler]

A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury! Signifying nothing.

Shakespeare, The tragedy of Macbeth 1606

[Larry001]

Simple solution. Police the laws that are now in place, increase sentencing and throw the book at corrupt police (couple of years in jail) will fix their problems

[JulesMad]

OMB, imagine how empty Thailand would be without the Russians...

I hope the Thai government does not like ultimatums (at least not from Russia) and I also hope that the Russians recommend to their 5000 travel agencies to go to other destinations, and NOT to Thailand

If only........ It is just wishful thinking, and not going to happen

[hempa]

OMB, imagine how empty Thailand would be without the Russians...

I hope the Thai government does not like ultimatums (at least not from Russia) and I also hope that the Russians recommend to their 5000 travel agencies to go to other destinations, and NOT to Thailand

If only........ It is just wishful thinking, and not going to happen

Exactly what i was thinking

[crazydrummerpauly]

They forgot the general driving skills in Thailand, but maybe they do not want to do anything about it ?

What country in Asia/India has better driving skills?

Japan.

[thailiketoo]

They forgot the general driving skills in Thailand, but maybe they do not want to do anything about it ?

What country in Asia/India has better driving skills?

Japan.

51 countries left to go.