Tourism operators demand improved marine safety in Thailand

Recurring incidents of marine accidents in Thailand’s popular tourist destinations have prompted tourism operators to call on government authorities for an improved marine safety with alert system and tighter regulation of unlicensed boats. This plea comes in the wake of multiple boat sinkings in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

Numerous tourism boats, operating in highly frequented locations like Phangnga, Koh Tao in Surat Thani, and Pattaya, have recently succumbed to heavy waves, leading to lost tourists at sea. These recent accidents have caused widespread concern among tourism operators, as they fear a significant dent in tourist confidence, particularly during the high season when foreign tourists throng to Thailand’s islands.

According to Sasithorn Kittidhrakul, president of the Krabi Tourism Association, the Marine Department typically checks boats, safety equipment, and the credentials of crew and passengers before the vessels set off. However, if there’s no warning from the department based on weather forecasts, most sea tour operators proceed with their schedules, reports Bangkok Post.

She emphasised the need for an in-depth investigation into each accident to ascertain whether they resulted from inadequate preparation, insufficient official alerts, or issues beyond the operators’ control. She called upon the relevant authorities to enhance the accuracy of weather forecasts.

She suggested that the authorities also issue specific permissions for different types of boats depending on their routes, as they encounter varying wave intensities. In Krabi, the majority of boats serving tourists are speedboats, capable of carrying 60 to 70 people, with many tourist destinations situated along the seaside.

Motorboats with a capacity of 25 or more are mandated to install an official tracking system and Marine Department certified radio communication to facilitate location verification. This enables officials to promptly initiate rescue operations in emergencies, such as a boat capsizing. However, smaller unlicensed vessels like fishing and long-tailed boats, which also ferry tourists, are exempt from this requirement.

She states that many local operators resist this investment due to the high installation cost, ranging between 40,000-50,000 baht. She urged the authorities to regulate these boats and subsidise the safety equipment’s cost. This would motivate all boat services and local proprietors to provide marine travel insurance for passengers.

Sasithorn also advised tourists to opt for operators possessing boat licenses from the Marine Department and tour service licenses from the Tourism Department.

In related news, Phuket readies marine safety measures for Thai prime minister’s visit.