Bangkok--24 Dec--Hill & Knowlton
Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA) today announced its intention to emphasise comprehensive security control by enhancing its procedures, personnel standards, and technology in the shopping district. At the same time it is stressing its willingness to coordinate with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of all visitors and tourists during the festive season and beyond.
Chai Srivikorn, President of the RSTA said, “RSTA announced phase one of the security system development project on Ratchadamri Road, Ploenchit Road and Rama I Road in July 2007 with more than 20 million baht invested in the system that included 64 security cameras covering the skywalk and footpaths throughout the district. A control centre was officially opened in November 2007.”
RSTA has focused on three security elements in its phase two security enhancement programme: control which comprised of procedure, people and technology as follows:
Technology — RSTA has spent additional two million baht in upgrading wide screen, four million pixel security cameras located on the BTS skywalk at Ratchaprasong Intersection. The association also plans to install a wireless system and five additional CCTVs in the district, making the monitoring area to reach 45,000 square metres in total.
People — At the Ratchaprasong Security Centre, security personnel monitor the entire area while four trained security specialists, are on 24-hour stand-by. An additional 27 RSTA member security personnel work and train together with the Ratchaprasong Security Center. Some of the training courses provided during the year were such as robber recognition techniques and relevant law related to criminal arrest.
Procedures — Ratchaprasong Security Centre coordinates with Lumpini Police Station, Special Branch: the Royal Thai Police, Immigration Police and Tourist Police in all security procedures, promptly assisting official agencies when necessary.
For the upcoming festive seasons, RSTA is also providing support to the organiser of the “Hands Bangkok Countdown 2009.” RSTA, in particular, will provide support for the safety and security throughout the district by monitoring the car parking area, buildings and surrounding areas. The association will increase its security personnel from 700-800 to 1,000 along with police officers and soldiers to provide area 24 hour security.
Currently, RSTA comprises nine members; Amarin Plaza, CentralWorld Plaza, Erawan Bangkok, Gaysorn, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, The Holiday Inn Bangkok, InterContinental Bangkok, President Arcade Shopping Center, and Maneeya Center. The enhanced security system reflects the excellent cooperation between the RSTA members’ and the government sector to develop the district. “RSTA is the first and only private sector organisation to officially respond to government policy of increasing public security and safety in Bangkok. Our continuing efforts are intended to ensure the comfort and safety of all visitors to the district and to position Ratchaprasong district as a leading regional shopping centre” the RSTA president added.
About Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA)
Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association or RSTA was officially formed in 2003 and so far has nine members consisting of Amarin Plaza, CentralWorld, Erawan Bangkok, Gaysorn, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, Holiday Inn Bangkok, Intercontinental Bangkok, Maneeya Center and President Tower Arcade. The association aims to improve and promote Ratchaprasong to be one of Asia and the world’s leading shopping districts. It covers a total area of one million square metres with 600,000 square metres of shopping area and more than 900 retail shops. Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, Arnoma Hotel, Central Chitlom, Narai Phand and Big C Supercenter Rajdamri are RSTA’s alliance partners in developing the district.
The founding of RSTA demonstrates good cooperation between private companies and the government sector to promote Bangkok as a world-class shopping destination. RSTA has worked actively with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on the district’s development and preservation plan including various physical development and maintenance projects as well as promotional campaigns. Visitors can access more information at www.ratchaprasong.org.
For more information please contact:
Visa Cheawsamut / Orawan Chuenwiratsakul
Hill & Knowlton Thailand
Tel. 0-2627-3501 Ext. 107, 212
Mobile phone 087-616-8338
Email: vrodcumdee@th.hillandknowlton.com