Thailand mulls ID wristbands, curfews for tourists

[khunpa]

pairing tourists with a local minder at tourist destinations, was also being discussed

Don't they do this in North Korea?

Of course... Did you really think they came up with that idea themselves? ;-)

[cookee68]

Now the only delay with the implementing is that settling on the wristband's colour...red, yellow, or whatever the current flavor is...

and don't forget they will have to work out the price for these pretty wristbands, so when someone looses one it will cost you an arm and a leg literally

[webfact]

Thailand murder: Tourists will be forced to wear identification wristbands, electronic tracking proposed

SYDNEY: -- TOURISTS will be forced to wear identification wristbands and could be electronically tracked on Thailand’s islands after the brutal slaying of two British backpackers.

Thailand’s tourism minister said today that identification wristbands will be given to tourists after Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on the southern island of Koh Tao.

Their murders have sparked debate and concern about how safe Thailand’s islands are for tourists, as police have failed to arrest a suspect — and still have no strong leads in capturing them.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said she had already contacted hotels and discussed the idea of giving out wristbands so tourists could be easily found.

“When tourists check-in to a hotel they will be given a wristband with a serial number that matches their I.D. and shows the contact details of the resort they are staying in so that if they’re out partying late and, for example, get drunk or lost, they can be easily assisted,” Kobkarn said.

But she admitted the idea of tagging tourists with wristbands has not been popular with everyone.

“Most people welcome the idea but some hotels are concerned that tourists may not want to wear the wristbands,” she said.

She also said that tourists could wear an electronic tracking device, but a decision on this would not be made straight away.

Full story: http://www.news.com.au/world/thailand-murder-tourists-will-be-forced-to-wear-identification-wristbands-electronic-tracking-proposed/story-fndir2ev-1227075555762


-- News.com.au 2014-09-30

[retarius]

Helluva job Kobkarnie!

I particularly like the curfew idea....tourists will love that and flock to Thailand in droves.

[kamahele]

How about just cutting down the crime rate. Problem solved. Don't have to buy tracking devices for the tens of millions of tourists that arrive every year.

[Cheops]

I guess I missed the news about the tourism minister falling down and hitting her head quite badly!

[dominique355]

The next step is giving all tourist a jump suite (Orange or black and white stripes) and an electronic ankle band for easy tracking when they get mugged or murdered. I addition the 90 days report will be shortened to a 24 hours report with mandatory blood test.

Gee, time to kick out of the he military thinking of this government. People are not soldiers, especially not tourist.

[outsider]

Another case of punishing the victim for having cash, instead of punishing the robber for robbing. Stupid doesn't even begin to describe these bozos. Is there really no intelligence left in this country?

[FredNL]

Kim Young-un just announced North Korea's first "Full moon" party....

His words: "We have nice beaches, good diskjockeys, no curfews, no wristbands for tourists..."

Edited September 30, 2014 by FredNL

[toybits]

I have a better IDEA. Insert RFIDs into each tourist that enters the country! Oh! Wait a minute. It is not the Victim we are looking for. They are already dead. It is the perpetrators that need to be found. Could we also tag them?

Edited September 30, 2014 by toybits

[MediaWatcher]

Basil B, on 30 Sept 2014 - 13:50, said:

There is a saying, "put brain in gear before opening mouth"

What if the "brain" doesn't exist.

[bigjules007]

I can see the advertisements now:

Come to Thailand, the land of ASBO'S.

[Suffinator]

Is this merely not testament from the Thai Government as to the level of violence now occurring on an hourly basis across Thailand. Has it really come down to having to issue and even consider tracking tourists due to the levels of danger.

Seriously you would need your head testing if you were considering a holiday in Thailand - if they don't kill you they certainly will scam you.

It's about time the expat community grew a pair and put Thailand firmly in its place - if you all headed for the border you might see just how quickly the Thai Government changed its policies towards the draconian and degrading visa system plus force them to install law and order.

Ultimately your money fuels their greed and without it they will learn the hard way.

Easier said that done... well I for one packed my bags because I refused to be subjected to their racist and derogatory ways and trust me I now live a completely stress free life. Remember change can only be effected by those with a spine and a will to effect it... sitting on a bar stool pissing and moaning achieves squat diddly.

[Carrerakiss]

The next step would be some sort of electronic tracking device but this has not yet been discussed in detail.

Oh, this will be a paradise for tourists, treated as criminals with electronic devices.

Are these people serious coming up with ideas like that?

I smell snouts in the trough. These devices would have to be manufactured at a cost plus the required percentage mark up.

The detail will be how to spin the cost into being a fair deal.

[powerkick]

More like red concentric circles with a big dot in the middle on our backs.

How about a yellow T on our coats?

[Oziex1]

This is what they come up with when cultural restraints prevent them from saying the truth, a Thai may have murdered people, the police cant solve the crime, we don't really care, etc etc.

Of course a computer network worthy of the NSA to track all tourists will be rolled out soon, or maybe later.

[barryofthailand]

For a minute I thought this was April Fools. Does anyone in their right mind think that people will come to Thailand as Tourists if they thought they had to wear a wrist band or an electronic device.

Someone in the tourist ministry's are off their Rocker.

[Sheryl]

[Fab5BKK]

If I understand, fully, the tourism minister... if a tourist doesn't wear his/her wristband, doesn't stay inside during curfew, doesn't wear his/her tracking device, he /she will be entitled to a number of extra benefits such as: rape, murder, theft, etc.

Adding insult to injury, he/she will be held fully responsible and be prosecuted for not respecting the law.

How nice!

[slipperylobster]

Better they issue us attack drones and a remote control...

[bbbbooboo]

Wouldn't it be simpler(and probably cheaper) to have a police force that does its job

[cloudhopper]

“When tourists check-in to a hotel they will be given a wristband with a serial number that matches their I.D. and shows the contact details of the resort they are staying in so that if they’re out partying late and, for example, get drunk or lost, they can be easily assisted,” Kobkarn said.

or - how the Thai government visualizes the typical tourist.

I love these own goals.

[MediaWatcher]

Thailand is a very safe country. I have been here 2 years and I haven't so much as seen any trouble. The only problems here in Thailand appear to happen in the places most people know to avoid anyway - Pattaya, Phuket and Bangkok. I am sorry for anyone who gets into trouble here or gets hurt but it doesn't take a genius to work out that there is a certain risk to going to Pattaya and getting extremely drunk. The same would apply to a tourist visiting England, don't go to St Annes in Nottingham and get extremely drunk or try to purchase drugs in Moss Side in Manchester. It is of course not ideal but at the same time, getting in trouble in Thailand seems entirely avoidable to me.

I'm not sure who's the dumber, you or the tourism minister. Where do you think tourists go?

[Chicken George]

This one is going to run and run till the next anoucement! But does it mean we won't have to do 90 day reporting!! Lol

[Time Traveller]

"Security" cameras everywhere, curfews, people wearing tracking devices, Thai authorities monitoring social media websites, military governments educating people on democracy - is anyone really surprised at all of this ?

Thailand 2014. ..We love the military for bringing back happiness!

All dissent will be crushed. All unhappiness will be forbidden

Edited September 30, 2014 by Time Traveller

[kevc]

This is ridiculous pairing tourists with minders........ their on holiday why on earth would you come here if you need a minder and have to wear a wristband. Instead of blaming it on the stupid tourist who need a wristband and a babysitter as they think why not clean up the crime instead. Wouldn't its ring alarm bells in potential tourist if they are being supplied with I. D. bracelets especially families thinking of visiting.

[slipperylobster]

Un-Fing-Beliveable!

Why not tag known criminals and low life scums who are living like a parasite over tourists in these areas?

Agreed. However, they are saying, in no uncertain terms, that they cannot or will not put bad guys in jail. So we must be tracked, and call for immediate response.

[sandhurstmolonski]

Wristbands would of course be a Crazy idea , as it would Highlight the Tourist and potentially cause more trouble ,

this point has been made prior .

Microchip everyone , Citizen and Tourist ..Might help with quick ID , but will not achieve much else .

Want to destroy tourism ..completely ..Run with this idea .

[slipperylobster]

The next idea will be tourists shirts with a bullseye on the back....and, of course....Antler hats.

[MW72]

It's nice to read a thread that seems to have united everyone in unanimous agreement. Usually there are two sides with their entrenched views arguing with each other. You will have the "Thai bashers" and the accusers or the Brits and the Yanks or the reds and the yellows etc.

I think it is fair to say that the overwhelming majority think this is completely nuts.

Well done that tourism minister. You have achieved something today. Now transfer that thought of your to the department of justice and start tagging criminals and imposing curfews on them.