Minister Suvit Yodmani said the fund would fall under his ministry, which also takes care of tourist police and tourist-guide divisions.

Suvit said the ministry would ask AOT to provide financial support to set up the fund. The ministry is asking for one per cent of revenue from AOT's airport tax.

According to Phornsiri Manoharn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), AOT received Bt6 billion from 12 million international tourists last year from its airport tax. The revenue is expected to reach Bt10 billion from more than 14 million visitors this year.

Until last year, each international tourist had to pay Bt500 as an exit tax at the airport. AOT recently increased this to Bt700 per tourist so that it would gain higher income. The initial fund would reach Bt100 million, or one per cent of the airport tax, Phornsiri said.

She said personal accidents were now more frequent because more tourists were travelling individually, instead of coming with a group as in the past, so the TAT was considering their safety.

The TAT said earlier that more free individual tourists could mean better quality travellers, especially in terms of higher spending.

However, Phornsiri is worried that the use of two airports in Bangkok might create inconvenience for tourists, particularly those who need to connect domestic flights with international flights.

The government announced on Tuesday that Don Muang would operate as a domestic airport while Suvarnabhumi would operate as both a domestic and an international airport.

"I will order all TAT offices overseas to explain the operation of dual airports in order to help tourists before they travel," said Phornsiri.

Phornsiri also said the TAT would organise the 5th Bangkok International Film Festival from July 19-29 at CentralWorld Plaza and SF Cinema World.

TAT will downsize the event this year and won't pay for invited celebrities because of budget limitations. Letters of invitation would be mailed to all stars.

Suchat Sritama, The Nation