Cracks in the Crackdown?

[sinsin2]

Chief of police admits social order campaign may be driving away tourists

 

 

 

Committee says Beach Road closing is causing more inconveniences than expected

 

 

 

Pol. Col. Padungsak Ubekhanon, chief of Pattaya police, said that the enforcement of the social order directives have caused many tourists to become disillusioned with the resort, and that it could be a cause of failing numbers of tourists to Pattaya.

 

 

 

The police chief made the statement last week at a meeting of the committee to monitor the work of the Pattaya police. He did not elaborate on the subject.

 

 

 

Pol. Col. Padungsak also reported that petty crime is on the increase; while at the same time there has been a decrease in serious and drug related crimes. He said that drug users make up the majority of arrests.

 

 

 

Surat Mekhavarakul, president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association and a member of the committee said that closing Beach Road for the Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair was going against the nature of the people and businesses in Pattaya.

 

 

 

Surat went on to say that in Europe streets were closed on Sunday because most of the businesses were also closed. But in Pattaya businesses are open 7 days a week and closing the road has caused a lot of damage to the business operators in the area.

 

 

 

The PBTA president said that more than 100 business people in Walking Street have presented a petition to the mayor asking him to reconsider the road closing. He added that there were other methods of promoting tourism to the resort.

 

 

 

Sopin Thappajug, another member of the committee, questioned the closing saying that the plan was probably causing more harm to tourism than good. People of Bangkok escape the capital city to come to Pattaya for rest and recreation, and to get away from traffic problems. But when they arrive, they are faced with the same traffic problems as at home. ?Once the word gets out, no one will want to come here anymore,? she said.

 

 

 

Pol. Col. Padungsak said that he would report to Pol. Gen. Saneh Khamthiang, the commander of Chonburi police, and ask for his advice as to the further closing of Beach Road. He observed that the activities along the fair were scarce and far between and were not really of any interest to tourists, as most of the people walking on the street were residents in the area. ?Even the tourists that use the pier to come and go from the islands have been inconvenienced immensely,? the police chief said.

 

 

 

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