The Phuket Provincial Court will reopen its tourist section to help visitors to the province settle court cases following a recent surge in litigation linked to tourists.

Phuket Provincial Court's Kriangsak Rodpunshoo said the large number of Thai and foreign tourists in Phuket has caused a surge in criminal and civil cases in which tourists are involved.

The rise in cases is affecting tourists' confidence in their personal safety and the potential risks to their property, and is also having an effect on tourism in general across the nation, said Mr Kriangsak.

"Proceedings in the tourist case section will help ensure justice for tourists when a criminal or civil dispute, or a dispute with a state agency, arises so they can receive legal protection," he said "This will build tourists' confidence and create a good image of Phuket province and tourism in Thailand as a whole."

The section first opened on Sept 24, 2017, but closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of its functions include assisting tourists in filing complaints, arranging negotiations and tracking down witnesses who are also tourists.