Phuket Tourism 'Possibly a Target for Terrorism'
Source: Phuketwan
By Pathomporn Kaenkrachang
Thursday, July 14, 2011
PHUKET: A timely warning that terrorism and tourism do not mix has been delivered to Phuket. By coincidence, the warning was followed within hours by a triple attack on the Indian city of Mumbai that killed and injured more than 150 people.
Phuket's warning came yesterday at a meeting of key Phuket authorities with Thai Army security expert Major General Verasak Lomwong, who told them that Thailand was one of 36 countries seen as being subject to terrorist attacks.
While the insurgency in Thailand's south continues to claim lives almost every day, Phuket and other tourist destinations in Thailand have so far been spared.
But transnational terrorism knows no boundaries.
Major General Verasak warned the gathering at Provincial Hall in Phuket City that Indonesia and the Philippines, both prey to terrorists who attacked tourists, were neighbors in the region.
Thailand was also a centre for production of fake passports, Major General Verasak said, and tourist destinations such as Phuket in many ways represented ideal international ''melting pots'' where outsiders could mingle unnoticed.
He said that Phuket was easily accessible by sea and air. The key priorities for Phuket, he told the media after a closed-doors meeting, were:
.. More security officers at Phuket's deep sea port;
.. An improvement in the quality of security at Phuket airport especially and other airports;
.. More security officers who could protect Phuket consulates.
The message to Phuket delivered by the major general was ''Protect is better than Retreat.''
Less than an hour after the Mumbai blasts, India's Home Ministry confirmed a terrorist attack and placed the entire city on high alert.
A Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008 killed 166 people, targetting two luxury hotels, a Jewish center and a busy train station.
Wednesday's blasts coincided with the birthday of the lone surviving Pakistani gunman from 2008.
By Pathomporn Kaenkrachang
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Phuket's warning came yesterday at a meeting of key Phuket authorities with Thai Army security expert Major General Verasak Lomwong, who told them that Thailand was one of 36 countries seen as being subject to terrorist attacks.
While the insurgency in Thailand's south continues to claim lives almost every day, Phuket and other tourist destinations in Thailand have so far been spared.
But transnational terrorism knows no boundaries.
Major General Verasak warned the gathering at Provincial Hall in Phuket City that Indonesia and the Philippines, both prey to terrorists who attacked tourists, were neighbors in the region.
Thailand was also a centre for production of fake passports, Major General Verasak said, and tourist destinations such as Phuket in many ways represented ideal international ''melting pots'' where outsiders could mingle unnoticed.
He said that Phuket was easily accessible by sea and air. The key priorities for Phuket, he told the media after a closed-doors meeting, were:
.. More security officers at Phuket's deep sea port;
.. An improvement in the quality of security at Phuket airport especially and other airports;
.. More security officers who could protect Phuket consulates.
The message to Phuket delivered by the major general was ''Protect is better than Retreat.''
Less than an hour after the Mumbai blasts, India's Home Ministry confirmed a terrorist attack and placed the entire city on high alert.
A Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008 killed 166 people, targetting two luxury hotels, a Jewish center and a busy train station.
Wednesday's blasts coincided with the birthday of the lone surviving Pakistani gunman from 2008.
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