Phuket must ramp up safety measures for marine tourism, says Minister of Tourism
The Phuket News


Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul seen here during her visit to Vachira Hospital yesterday (June 13). Photo: PR Dept

PHUKET: -- Officials must take the recent boat collision incident as a hard lesson and find ways of preventing such incidents from happening again said Thailand’s Minister of Tourism during a visit to the remaining injured victims at Vachira Hospital last night (June 13).

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul and TAT Phuket Director Anoma Vongyai led a team of officials to check upon the five Chinese victims who remain in Vachira Hospital while recovering from the injuries they sustained during the recent speedboat collision off Phuket.

The incident, which happened on June 8, left two Chinese tourists dead and more than 30 injured when the speedboats they were travelling on during a day trip collided between Phuket and Koh Phi Phi.

Ms Kobkarn said, “I am here on behalf of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha who has expressed great concern for tourists’ safety.

“First and foremost, we must take care of the tourists who were injured as a result of this tragic incident and wish them a speedy recovery. As of today there are now only five victims still in hospital and they are being monitored closely by doctors and nurses,” she said.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-must-ramp-up-safety-measures-for-marine-tourism-says-minister-of-tourism-57863.php

-- Phuket News 2016-06-14

It is pleasing to see they have already initiated measures to improve the safety of tourists. From a report yesterday:

Both the minister and TAT President suggested to the Deputy Prime Minister that certain tourism laws be amended to facilitate tourist data collection and ensure tourist safety.

Data collection will overcome all safety issues and tourists can now feel relaxed.

Everyone feel better now?

"Ms Kobkarn said, “I am here on behalf of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha who has expressed great concern for tourists’ safety."

Naa, she was there on behalf of the Un-Elected PM and Junta Leader in a desperate attempt to salvage the tourist buck.

"Trust me. We are Thai."

My wife would say "Phuket only?"

I wouldn't collect tourist data, stick with plucking the figures out your re end method as it gives better returns. Actual data may effect the expected 250 million arrivals this year.

in word only yet no real changes apart from the rhetoric.

Utter waste of space. But there will be a budget...

I have long commented on the budget aspect of all government - this one and previous - 'initiatives' for the simple reason that after the pony and trap show and photo ops. have ended, nothing changes.

Budget is allocated but is also always misused, the numbers buried deep and disguised in spurious expenses, substandard vendor supplies and poor quality services with a kickback added in, which is then returned to an under the radar bank account as an electronic brown envelope.

“We must take care of the tourists who were injured as a result of this tragic incident"

The only way that tourists in Thailand can avoid "being injured in tragic incidents" is to NOT VISIT Thailand in the first place.

Quote from a PG article - http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Safety-regulations-reviewed-fatal-Phi-Phi-boat/64062

'The speed of the boats should be the boat drivers priority, especially with unclear visibility during rainstorms, Chief Surachai said. Operators should know that they must reduce their speed to lower the impact load during a collision. They should also steer clear of other boats.'

Is a regulation required to mandate that 'helmsman' should steer clear of other boats. Seems like plain common sense to me.

Let's just ignore the lady and focus on the guy on her right. A model citizen, sporting all the right rubber wristbands to show off his allegiances; King, Country, Buddhism...

Horse, barn door come to mind here. Safety should have been instrumental from the get go.

Does Thailand lead the world in the creation of hot air?

"Ramping up" safety measures implies there are already some measures to "ramp up". Perhaps "Initiate safety measures" would be better wording?

Why just Phuket and why just boats?

Accidents happen all over the country due to lack of safety!

Funny thing here in Pattaya they regulate dive boats which are probably the safest on the water and generally carry passengers that understand the sea and safety etc. however the ferries and speedboats not regulated, at least not effectively and these are the boats that have all the accidents. Of course the quality dive boats are generally foreign owned and 95% well staffed and self regulating.

Strange or not?

Sure! Funny, they can only focus on one small part of Thailand for a week. Make more laws, and then don't enforce them...