More than 71% of Thai public toilets have passed the HAS standard after 13 years of government efforts trying to ensure enough restrooms have an acceptable hygiene quality.
HAS, which is used by the Public Health Ministry to assess toilets, stands for health, emphasised by cleanliness, accessibility, as well as safety; hence HAS.
Public toilets have become increasingly important because Thais tend to spend large parts of their day outdoors, resulting in the need for quick and convenient access to such facilities, assistant to Public Health Minister Thawat Suntharachan said on Monday, which was World Toilet Day.
Since 2005, the ministry has worked with various organisations to improve both the quantity and quality of public toilets.
The 71% achievement is a result of more than a decade of work which has seen an continual increase in the number of HAS-labelled toilets, Health Department chief Phanphimon Wipalakon said.
Last year, her department also led a search for the most outstanding public toilets in the country and found 17 that deserved the accolade, he said.
They included Korat Terminal 21 shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima's Muang district, Phetchabun hospital in Phetchabun's Muang district, Ek Ayothaya School in Ayutthaya's Bang Pa-in district and Phuket International Airport in Phuket's Thalang district.
Authorities are also keen on developing public toilets in tourist spots to help the country promote the tourism industry and better serve travellers whose numbers usually surge during major festivals, notably Songkran in mid-April and New Year celebrations.
"Our aim is to give users a good impression," Dr Thawat said.
On Monday the assistant minister also presided over an event to promote hygienic toilets with the theme "When Nature Calls".
The theme comes comes from a UN slogan: "When nature calls, we need a toilet".
UN officials are worried billions of people around the world do not have proper toilets. A Health Department survey found 20.3 million households (about 99.8%) in Thailand have hygienic toilets.