Bangkok--24 Nov--Ninety Nine Communications Agency
Tourist Police Division has already made full preparations for the upcoming Loy Krathong Festival so as to handle all issues that may arise during the celebrations. A really huge number of tourists from around the world are expected to celebrate this beautiful festival in Thailand. Many Thai provinces will host Loy Krathong celebrations to keep alive this colorful Thai tradition. Tourists, both Thai and foreign, therefore will have good opportunities to enjoy the beauty of Loy Krathong. This year, the Loy Krathong will be celebrated on Wednesday November 23 with related activities scheduled to take place in several riverside areas. Tourist Police Division has thus made full preparations to support the Loy Krathong Festival. Resources and personnel are mobilized to facilitate traffic flow and ensure the safety of celebrants.
Tourism Authority of Thailand has officially supported Loy Krathong events in seven areas this year. Held under the theme of "Delightful Colors of Rivers, the Loy Krathong Festivities", the events will run from November 21 to 26. In addition, various other Loy Krathong events will definitely take place across Thailand. Together, they are expected to generate the cash flow of more than Bt3.75 billion – up by three per cent from the previous year. The number of tourists for the Loy Krathong Festival will be well over two million, covering about 1.93 million Thais and more than 70,000 foreigners. The huge crowds at Loy Krathong events, however, may raise risks of crimes, public nuisance, and accidents particularly those related to fireworks.
Aware of such risks, Tourist Police Division has drawn up the plan to deliver convenience and safety to tourists during the Loy Krathong Festival. As parts of the plan, the ceremony to mobilize policemen for crime-prevention mission was already held at the Tower Clock, Asiatique the Riverfront. Policemen has since checked the safety of piers along the Chao Phraya River from the Asiatique to the Shangri-La Hotel. Such measures are taken to boost public confidence in the safety of the upcoming Loy Krathong Festival. On Monday 23rd November 2015, a meeting will also be convened to finalize safety measures for the colorful festivities. Following the meeting in the same day, the ceremony to deploy policemen for the "Loy Krathong Celebrations: Fun and Safe with Tourist Police" project will take place. HE Mrs Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, will preside over the project launch.
Pol.Gen. Wut Liptapanlop, Deputy Commissioner-General of Royal Thai Police, will preside over the policemen-deploying ceremony. Pol Maj General Surachet Hakparn, acting chief of Tourist Police Division, will also be present.
Pol.Maj.Gen. Surachet Hakphan, Acting Chief of Tourist Police Division, says his division has already prepared personnel for the mission in all aspects. According to him, more than 35 tourist police units across the country will seriously conduct patrols at Loy Krathong venues particularly in the 12 Cities You Can't Miss, the 12 Cities You Can't Miss PLUS, and Bangkok. A total of four motor homes will also be dispatched as reinforcements in Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Bangkok. These vehicles' interiors are equipped with complaint-receiving facilities, radio-communications devices, and CCTV system monitors to keep watch on what have been happening outside. In addition, these vehicles have an outside screen to display PR information to the public, close-circuit cameras, loudspeakers, etc.
At least, one such vehicle will be stationed at the Asiatique the Riverfront because it is one of the most popular destinations for Loy Krathong revelers. If tourists need help from tourist police, they can find the exact location of such vehicle by looking for the giant fluorescent balloon emblazoning the Tourist Police 1155 message. Between November 22 and November 25, Tourist Police Division will actively promote its Hotline 1155 via various social-media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter too. Not only that such promotion can raise public awareness of its Call Center 1155, but it can also create the good and friendly image of tourist police. Foreigners who are exposed to such media will return to their homeland with happy memories and the wish to come back soon.
Tourist Police Division's PR activities at the Asiatique today are designed for deterrence effects. They can deter ill-intentioned people from committing any crime that may affect the lives and property of foreign tourists. People and entrepreneurs who notice suspicious activities or persons should immediately contact Tourist Police via Hotline 1155. The call center works round the clock.