The training and the use of ‘volunteer guards’, namely nightlife venue security staff, comes under the Strong Tourism Community (STC) project rolled out by Tourist Police Commander Lt Gen Saksira Phueakum, Phuket Tourist Police explained in a post online.
“Bangla Rd is one of 10 pilot areas where security staff at entertainment venues play an important role in maintaining safety for tourists, and if the guard has working standard as well as having a service mind, we will be able to build a lot of confidence among tourists,” Phuket Tourist Police noted in their post.
Similar projects are being carried out by Tourist Police in ‘Walking Street’ areas popular with tourists, including the famed Walking Street in Pattaya.
The training yesterday, held at the Patong Resort Hotel, was provided by officers and personnel from the Royal Thai Army and the Tourist Police, and was joined by Ratchadaphon O-in, head of the Phuket office of the Ministry Tourism & Sports, and Patong Deputy Mayors Sanakorn Keesin and Lalita Maneesri.
Also present were Patong Police Commander Pol Col Chalermchai Hersawat as well as officials from Patong Municipality and representatives of the Patong Entertainment Business Association (PEBA), whose hundreds of members include owners and operators of nightlife venues on Bangla Rd.
The 117 ‘volunteer guards’ received training in: being a good host; providing assistance and tactical guidelines for maintaining safety for tourists; and first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Certificates were awarded to all volunteers who passed the training. Tourist Police Division 3 have also created a Line chat group called “Soi Bangla Volunteer Guards" to serve as a network for operations so the volunteers can work together, inform each other of incidents and coordinate quickly, Phuket Tourist Police explained in their post.
The aim of the volunteer guards participating in the training was “to create confidence among them so they know and understand their role and duty of being a good host in helping to take care of the safety of tourists in Soi Bangla”, the Phuket Tourist Police added.
The post included the hashtag #บางลาต้องปลอดภัย (#Bangla must be safe).