Tourist Police Commissioner Maj Gen Saksira Phueakum led the assembly in front of the popular Chartered Bank building just before the opening of the inaugural Chartered Walking Street market on Phang Nga Rd yesterday evening.
The assembly included Tourist Police officers who conduct patrols by pushbike, as well as Tourist Police Volunteers and the staff from the Tourist Assistance Center, who continually provide invaluable assistance to tourists for a wide range of issues.
Maj Gen Saksira said the assembly was to highlight how Tourist Police are “ready to take care of the safety of tourists in both urban areas and tourist attractions all over Phuket Island”.
“We have prepared measures to support the opening of entertainment venues until 4am to build confidence in [Phuket] being a safe tourist city,” he said.
“We have raised the level of security for tourists with cooperation from network partners at tourist attractions according to the ‘Strong Tourism Community’ project,” Maj Gen Saksira said.
“It can be seen that Phuket’s tourism economy has improved, especially with the increase in foreign tourists after the government issued visa-free measures,” he added
Following the assembly, Maj Gen Saksira paraded along the Chartered Walking Street market to stop and speak with tourists along the way.
Under the banner ‘Safe & Smile’ and the Tourist Police’s long-standing motto, ‘Your First Friend’, Maj Gen Saksira and fellow Tourist Police officers handed out bookmarks and keychains promoting the Tourist Police hotline 1155.