Go on, great idea...it is 10.00am here and i had 3 clients that changed from vaccation in thailand to cambodia and vietnam allready

Great and creative idea!

BUT is the idea of removing corruption and mafia not a better idea? And would it not be a better idea, to solve the murders on Koh Tao and now also on Koh Samet, before starting to come up with STUPID ideas like this?

Or what about this idea... JUST KEEP YOUR MOUTHS SHUT, so that Thailand does not look more and more stupid as days go by!

Are adults running Thailand?

Next some moron is gonna suggest giving the tourists a permanent tatooed ID number in case the wrist band gets cut off by the killers. Man o man this place gets dumber and dumber by the minute. Time to change the moniker from LOS to LON. Think about it.

My guess is Toshiba already has the contract for the tracking devices. The Minister is former CEO at Toshiba Thailand.

I thought these sort of loony ideas you only get in Australia. I hope Tony Abbott doesn't find out. Wristbands for Muslims?

Well now that does it. If they do this they will seal the proverbial nail on the coffin for tourism. Now let's see where did we see something similar? Oh yes, in Nazi Germany when all the Jews were "invited" to wear the Star of David. Wonder how long it will take these superior, incredibly intelligent authorities to protect the expat community and embed some tracking device under our skin.

Can we get a bell as well?

i love this country and wont live anywhere else but government officials here must be most stupid brainless politicians and beurocrats ever or anywhere on this planet

You have to laugh or you'd cry

These are not government officials, they are hand-selected ministers making these sorts of statements as often as not.

Weren't all Yingluck's ministers always hand picked selected based on knowledge, skill and ability to do the best job - and she had 6 different cabinets in less than 3 years!

Hope there's not going to be a repeat performance. It was announced very publicly that non performing ministers would be removed. Does that mean the ones who perform badly too or just those the do nowt?

I thought the local minders was a brilliant idea killing two birds with one stone - added security for tourists and jobs for all those out of work beach sellers and taxi/tuktuk drivers in Phuket who will soon be able to go to the airport and be supplied with their own personal 'mark'.

I suggest that they get ID numbers or barcodes tattooed on the wrists, and give us all a coloured armband based on our nationality. Perhaps put us in a barbed wire fenced off area for our own protection as well.

Perhaps an insignia on the armband to signify our religious choice. Star of David, Cross, etc, etc, etc...

Hummmm. This sounds so familiar. Where have I heard this story before.....

Knee jerk reactions don't help any situation. There needs to be more security in all tourist areas, and tourist need to avoid drugs and other things that only lead to trouble.

Makes ZERO Sense.

As if - if tags were worn no tourist will be murdered or raped? And about the Electronic device, arent these used to monitor criminals on bail??? Correct me if Im wrong, shouldn't they create awareness rather than coming up will funny ideas? Most of the Murders, rapes were done by the locals to the foreigners, so instead of profiling the foreigners, they should watch the criminals and tag them to monitor.

And add to this the fact she wants to implement a curfew as well for all the tourists with their wristbands. If you are caught out after curfew will you be arrested and fined as well? 'Surreal Thailand' should be the new TAT slogan.

Phuket Wan (which we're not allowed to quote here) has a report titled "Minister Earns Slap on the Wrist for ID Idea for Tourists".

It doesn't say who gave the "slap", but it looks more like an editorial comment.

Has anyone seen any other report besides a copy of the Reuters article?

astounding how few people carry even a copy of their passport with them, though of course this often goes into a wallet, so if you're knocked out/killed and mugged, not much use. many of our guest scoff when i remind them to carry id and our address. they say " oh i've never been stopped by the police" and we tell them that it's not for that reason but incase they are hurt, sick or dead, and we need to be contacted. selfish really i know.

I'm all in support of the 'Buddy' system! ;o)

what? serious... how does this increase safety....

I would rather suggest to distribute these ID Wristbands to criminals and mafiosi. They are well known. Then the tourists are capable to avoid the scumbags.

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

Don't they do this in North Korea?

How about enforcing the laws that are already there and teach everyone to respect the rule of law. This should include those who are expected to enforce same said laws.

Nah... that'll never work.

distrubing to be shown how insane those that seek to rule over ordinary people actually are.

first should be a police force that can do there job ,

What t.f, seriously?

In my opinion the Thai males should be wearing wristbands, we are not the ones who running around and raping tourists.

It would be a far nicer idea just to globally advertise that foreign tourists are not wanted in Thailand and are no longer welcome in the country and could be tagged and monitored if found loose in the country, that should be a big boost for the hotel numbers, high and low season.

cloudhopper, on 30 Sept 2014 - 13:31, said:

Mull harder.

I think that's the problem, someone is using too much "mull."

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Next some moron is gonna suggest giving the tourists a permanent tatooed ID number in case the wrist band gets cut off by the killers. Man o man this place gets dumber and dumber by the minute. Time to change the moniker from LOS to LON. Think about it.

Land Of Nuts

This idea will have tourists flocking to Thailand in droves. [sarc] Who doesn't want to vacation in a totalitarian country that requires them to wear a wristband, electronic tracking device, and observe a curfew? Yeah, I'll open up my wallet for some of that. 555

Herding tourist into designated areas for their safety...requiring them to wear wristbands so they can easily be identified...after a crime has been committed...what kind of perception does this create for the average tourist?

Is this a safe country or what?

Un-Fing-Beliveable!

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