Safety zones to boost Thai tourism

BANGKOK, October 26 (TNA) - Metropolitan police have established a new safety zone in Bangkok's Chinatown or Yaowaraj area, the second of its kind in the Thai capital, after the first one in Kao San area, in order to maintain confidence in Thailand among international visitors, especially during the ongoing high tourism season. Metropolitan police chief Police Lieutenant General Kamronwit Toopkrajang and a senior police advisor, Police General Wutthi Liptapanlop, jointly presided over a ceremony to launch the second safety zone, known as, "Safe Yaowarat 2012", on Thursday, during which they also released a caravan of patrol police, tourist police and police dogs to take care of the Chinatown area in the Thai capital. General Wutthi acknowledged that, like other tourist attractions worldwide, Thailand is entering the annual high tourism season, as seen by the increasing number of international tourist arrivals at the main Suvarnabhumi International Airport in by 5-10 per cent daily. According to the senior Thai police officer, the "safety zones" policy is also part of national preparations for the ASEAN Community (AC) by 2015. The metropolitan police chief, meanwhile, told reporters that more safety zones will be soon established in Bangkok, including in Nana area and the Cow Boy alley. (TNA)