Khun Rankit Ekasing presided over a meeting at Pattaya City Hall to discuss progress with the Tourist Assistance Center which is located on the beach at the entrance to Walking Street. The Assistance Centre is part of a 3.5 Billion Baht project that has been instigated in response to a series of disastrous accidents that have plagued Pattaya over the last year claiming the lives of many victims and putting dozens of local tourists in hospital. The Centre in an event of an emergency would serve as the place to coordinate rescue and emergency services and communication with the authorities and tourists involve in the incidents.
Disaster mitigation plans are in the final stages of planning and will be implemented this year. These plans will hopefully and I stress the word HOPEFULLY reduce the number of tourist deaths and injuries who come to Pattaya to use the varied water borne activities.
Also when these events occur and they will continue to occur the response by the authorities and rescue workers should and again I emphasise the word SHOULD be more effective and efficient.
