More help on way for tourists

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SPECIAL REPORT: Police plan to create 'safety zones' around the country to boost visitors' confidence

Published: 24 Oct 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

More help for tourists is on the way as police prepare to roll out measures, including the creation of "safety zones", to mark the advent of the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

Tourists and shoppers throng Khao San Road at night. The popular entertainment strip is among several key tourist attractions which will have security beefed up and be declared safety zones. PAWAT LAOPAISARNTAKSIN

Pol Gen Wuthi Liptapallop, adviser to the Royal Thai Police, has been assigned to oversee the initiative. He says police will play a critical role in building up foreign tourists' confidence in Thailand.

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banmebkk
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Discussion 30 : 25 Oct 2012 at 11.4930
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"If the police officers cannot deal with the situation, no matter where they are, they must leave."

Leave to where? an "inactive" post? Why not discipline and fire them. Why can't they deal with the situation? because they are in on the jet ski scam too?
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soltair
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Discussion 29 : 24 Oct 2012 at 18.1729
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Hahahahaha what a joke. Recently I was at the main Pattaya Police Station on beach road. There were two colourful brochures on a counter for the tourists, one called Safe Zone, unfortunately that were the only two English words, the WHOLE brochure (A4 size) was in Thai. And that besides the very rude elderly mustached policeman behind window 1 who never heard of courtesy when spoken to I guess. The Police Chief there needs to come downstairs sometimes to check for himself I humbly suggest.
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pogi
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Discussion 28 : 24 Oct 2012 at 17.4128
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Is soi nana a safety zone???my answer is yes...those black prostitutes are all tourist and they are safe to do business...amazing Thailand...
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bluebottle
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Discussion 27 : 24 Oct 2012 at 14.2627
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If you did a survey and asked tourists in Thailand do you feel threatened they would say no.All our friends who visit are perfectly happy going into Bangkok on there own.My only complaint is the taxis and they need taking to task.
What message dose this give to would be tourists,that Thailand must have a problem.What a load of nonsense ill thought up by someone trying to justify his job and not thinking of the big picture.
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sunnyjim
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Discussion 26 : 24 Oct 2012 at 13.2026
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"Hotel operators will be urged to strictly check travellers' passports, he said."

And this will help tourists?? How so? Is it some sort of free immigration service being offered by hotels?

The cynic in me thinks this is more to do with Thailand's mistrust of foreigners than safety of foreigners.
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AusWilson
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Discussion 25 : 24 Oct 2012 at 12.4425
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Never really had a problem in Thailand with traditional types of crime. Double pricing system doesn't worry me, as long as prices are clear.

Biggest problem in my opinion is scams. At the end of the day Westerners can afford it, however they leave feeling ripped off, and don't want to return. My parents visited Bangkok and thought it was a bit of a dump after a) being told the palace is closed because it's a public holiday, b) getting taken to gem shop after gem shop by Tuk Tuks, c) paying an exorbitant price for seafood that didn't have the price listed on the menu, all in one day. It's a shame, as I know how good BKK can be.
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bikeme
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Discussion 24 : 24 Oct 2012 at 12.0524
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Obviously who ever thought this plan up knows nothing about marketing to tourists. To the tourist unfamiliar with Thailand, seeing that some areas are "tourist safety zones" indicates that the rest of the country is unsafe for tourists. And they will travel elsewhere.

Rather than wasting time (and money) on useless ideas, spend time being policemen and arrest the scam artists, get rid of the jet ski scams, the tuk tuk mafia, the gem store and tailor shop touts, etc. And I don't mean the little guy on the street, I mean the ones who pay him his meager salary and reap the profits for themselves.
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bkkguy1970
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Discussion 23 : 24 Oct 2012 at 12.0223
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the Tourist Police sit in their van on the Silom corner of Patpong every night and totally ignore the taxi mafia ripping off tourists and if pressed advise the tourists to walk up to Rama 4 to get a taxi. The local police set up road blocks at Soi 6 turning away vacant taxis to "fix" the taxi rip-off problem

declaring Patpong a "safety zone" and having police "play a critical role" will change what exactly?
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samut
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Discussion 22 : 24 Oct 2012 at 11.1122
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These people are always good in having ideas but totally lack enforcement. It’s like making a business plan for a business which doesn’t work. Amazing!
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mrajg2u
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Discussion 21 : 24 Oct 2012 at 10.1621
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May I suggest the Police name and shame all the 'touts' who frequent the tourist areas and banned them from these so called safety areas with future breaches facing arrest. It's a combination of these criminals and the inaction by the Police that is the problem. Take a look at the way the French Police their tourist areas and protect ALL decent people going about their business. AS long as the incompetent Police in Thailand receive $$$ from these 'touts' the above story is nothing but a day dream!
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More help on way for tourists | Bangkok Post: news