Koh Chang Island in Trat province, Thailand. Thai authorities are considering accomplishing regulatory loopholes in supporting foreign tourists affected by incidents in the country. (Photo: VNA)Bangkok (VNA) – Thai authorities areconsidering accomplishing regulatory loopholes in supporting foreign touristsaffected by incidents in Thailand, especially after the shooting at SiamParagon Shopping Centre on October 3 which killed two people and injuring five.
In the past, the families ofall foreign tourists were eligible for compensation of around 1 million THB(27,000 USD) in the event of death from the Foreign Tourists Assistance Fund. However,that fund was dissolved last year as it was said to be ineffective andthere is no permanent funding source to compensate touritsts in case of injuryor death.
The Tourism and SportsMinistry said it plans to compensate tourists killed or injured during theshooting, using either the ministry's fiscal budget or the central budget.
Tourism and Sports MinisterSudawan Wangsuphakijkosol suggested the government implement 300-baht tourismfee scheme which was approved by the previous cabinet and use part of feecollected from this scheme to fund insurance for tourists. The ministry isfinalising the collection method, requiring tourists to pay the fee beforearrival via a website, mobile app, or kiosk at airports and land bordercheckpoints, she said, adding that the method was modified from a previous planthat asked airlines to include the fee in airfares.
The shooting at Siam Paragonalso raises the need for security assurance and response to emergencysituations at shopping and entertainment centres, which are popular touristattractions in Thailand.
Chadatip Chutrakul, chiefexecutive of Siam Piwat Group, the owner and operator of Siam Paragon, SiamCenter and Siam Discovery, said thegroup prepared measures to deal with shootings more than three years inadvance, following similar incidents in other countries.
According to her, the group has measures in place to instruct stores onhow to handle and manage customers in such situations.
NattakitTangpoonsinthana, chief marketing officer of Central Pattana Plc, said Centralmalls nationwide have instituted a comprehensive set of security measures toguarantee the safety of all visitors.
Thesemeasures include security checkpoints at mall entrances where all bags andluggage are thoroughly checked by staff before entering, with a highly trainedsecurity team stationed throughout the premises, he added./.
