Mon, March 15, 2010
BANGKOK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A tourists assistance center is set up to facilitate tourists during an upcoming mass anti- government rally, said the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT) under the state-owned Public Relations Department, reported.
The National Tourists Assistance Center will facilitate and assist foreign tourists around the clock, if they have any difficulties during the mass rally by the so-called "Red Shirts," who support deposed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The operation of the center will start from March 12 to 23, which is the last day of the Internal Security Act's (ISA) enforcement.
A number of tourist police will be dispatched to three main venues where there are a number of tourists, including the Sanam Luang or the open field and public square and Grand Palace areas, Khao San Road, as well as from Siam Paragon Shopping Complex to Silom Road.
Meanwhile, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Asia and South Pacific) Sansern Ngaorungsi disclosed the center plans to distribute 200,000 leaflets recommending travel routes and attractions for tourists coming to Thailand during the rally period.
Sansern said the Thai Hotels Association (THA) is going to help distribute the leaflets to tourists at hotels.
In addition, Sansern said he is now asking the Immigration Bureau to help hand out the leaflets to tourists during an immigration process.
The operation of the center is the cooperation of many involved agencies, including the TAT, Tourist Police, General Insurance Association, Tourism Council of Thailand, Thai Hotels Association, and Association of Thai Travel Agents.
More information is available at 1672, the call center of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 1155 of the Tourist Police.
Thailand's weekly cabinet Tuesday decided to impose the ISA law during March 11-23 to ensure law and order in the rally by the anti-government United front for Democracy against Dictatorship ( UDD) group and from late Wednesday night security men have been deployed to ensure security.
The ISA imposition has taken effect in the whole area of capital Bangkok and Nonthaburi, which is next to Bangkok.
Also, the ISA law is implemented in some 21 districts of six other provinces nearby Bangkok, including Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Pathom, and Ayutthaya.
Totally, under the ISA law's enforcement there are 50,000 security men, who will maintain security during the mass rally.
