Bt50m fund to aid tourists to be set up

A Bt50-million insurance fund will be set up on February 1, aimed at aiding foreign visitors in distress as the government strives to restore international confidence in tourism in Thailand.

After a meeting yesterday of the fund-preparation committee, Tanittha Sawetsila Maneechot, deputy permanent secretary for the Tourism Ministry, told reporters that the working group would ask the Finance Ministry for a Bt50-million budget, which would be used to help foreigners injured or killed in accidents while visiting here.

Pol General Vudh Liptapanlop from the National Police Office discussed with other agencies, including the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), Consumer Protection Board and Tourist Police about measures to protect foreign tourists from scams as part of preparations for the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

Police and other authorities would enforce laws against tourist swindlers, whose unscrupulous activities had long tainted Thailand's image, he said.

Because such crimes fell within the scope of public fraud, AMLO could seize their assets.

The past week saw a drop |in crime against tourists and many wanted suspects nabbed, |he said.

Police would continue to patrol and arrest con artists at prime tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai, he added.

Thailand's Road Safety Centre, in response to a UK-based foundation's report that Thailand's road fatalities of tourists were high, has proposed the following measures:

nCooperation with Royal Thai Police, Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies, related tourism associations and the Professional Tourist Guide Association of Thailand to reassess the death toll statistics and arrive at a more accurate cause of death;

nEnforcing rules monitoring tour buses, drivers, security equipment and safety systems;

nProviding a road safety handbook to tourists offering tips on staying safe when travelling overland, and encouragement for tourist destinations to improve road safety management through training course and setting up consultancy units.