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Published on January 1, 2008

All 38 locations were guarded with a company of soldiers in addition to local police. Half of the venues, including CentralWorld shopping plaza, were designated for extra security measures.

A police spokesman said Air Force personnel were responsible for patrols and security in northern Bangkok while the Army was in charge of the central area of the capital and the Navy patrolled areas on the Thon Buri side of the Chao Phya River.

Policemen and municipal police provided extra security in overall metropolitan areas.

In northern Thailand, more than 1,000 soldiers with combat units under the Third Army Area were on alert, while police and military officers, both in uniform and plain-clothes, were mobilised in crowded areas.

In Chiang Mai, two full battalions of soldiers under the 7th Infantry Regiment set up road checkpoints along two routes connecting urban areas with outside districts and Mae Hong Son.

In Phuket, a large number of Thai and foreign tourists packed various venues for celebrations and New Year countdown parties. All famous beaches, including Patong, Kata, Karon and Phrome Thep Peninsula, were busy with tourists and locals.

A Tourism Authority of Thailand official said beachfront hotels had been fully reserved and that around Bt2 billion had been spent. Suwalai Pinpradab said all chartered flights to the island directly from Europe had been booked from now till the end of April.

More than 17,000 campers and tourists flocked to Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima for a holiday break starting on Saturday. Rangers said there had not been any parking space available since Sunday because the park was fully occupied by campers.

In Surat Thani, most major roads have been clogged by traffic due to around 30,000 visitors heading for the southern province. Ferries shuttling from mainland Surat Thani and neighbouring Chumphon province to Koh Samui and Koh Pha-ngan have been operating non-stop.

Around Bt200 million is estimated to have been spent in Surat Thani. All hotel rooms and other accommodation were fully booked long before the four-day holiday break.

The Nation