Phuket Opinion: Set a sea safety standard for all to follow

The Phuket News



Not a week goes by when The Phuket News doesn’t have to report about a tourist drowning, a boat capsizing or colliding into another.

PHUKET: In virtually every statement made by government officials about making Phuket more tourist friendly, safety and security is emphasized as a key priority.

It is clear that much has been done by government officials in tightening security across the country, by installing more CCTVs in Phuket, or ramping up inspections at the airport, for example.

However, there is one area where safety and security appears to be severely lacking, and this is in one area that Phuket and Thailand is particularly famous for: the water.

Yes, it is true that CCTV at all Phuket piers can monitor those arriving and departing the island. However, what is being done to ensure tourists' safety when they go out on a boat for what is supposed to be a fun excursion?

Not a week goes by when The Phuket News doesn’t have to report about a tourist drowning, a boat capsizing or colliding into another. Where is the safety and security here, and who is responsible?

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-opinion-set-a-sea-safety-standard-for-all-to-follow-56047.php

-- Phuket News 2016-01-07

Laws, rules, regulations and standards etc are for other people to obey and enforcement of them is an entirely different story.

"PHUKET: In virtually every statement made by government officials about making Phuket more tourist friendly, safety and security is emphasized as a key priority."

Exactly, they only talk about it. Nothing is enforced. Money talks and tourists die ...

Wasn't a man recently promoted for his failure to tackle these issues ?

Hard for Phuket to set rules when many of these incidents happen in Krabi province.

Wasn't a man recently promoted for his failure to tackle these issues ?

Marine Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut. Was promoted to control all the southern tourist provinces including Krabi.

''We have to protect Thai people more than foreigners because sometimes our people do their best, and the foreigners still ask for more,''

Khun Phuripat said.

That about sums it up.