Hotels urged to act on security

PHUKET TOWN: Thailand was a peaceful place but additional security measures were needed as a precaution, Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi told a special meeting of the Hospitality Club of Phuket today. He said he was satisfied with the measures in place for the 17th Patong Carnival, which marks the opening of the high season for Phuket tourism on Friday. Among the governor’s suggestions to representatives of hotels and resorts gathered at The Metropole hotel were: to increase security and security-related training; to require more documentation from guests; to be constantly on the lookout for unusual people or incidents; cross-checks of car registration numbers; and increased surveillance of all parts of every property, especially places where people seldom venture. “I need everybody here to be extremely watchful because we are all in the same boat,” Gov Pongpayome said. “The hospitality industry is the lifeblood of Phuket.” The governor added that the Government’s National Intelligence Agency was setting up a branch in Phuket.