Phuket’s Bangla street touts warned: “Hands off tourists’

PHUKET: Patong Police have warned touts plying Phuket’s renowned Soi Bangla that they are not to touch tourists whilst soliciting.

“And they are not to drink alcohol while they are working,” said Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Akanit Danpitaksat.

Lt Col Akanit explained to the Phuket Gazette that the new rules for working the streets of Patong are the orders of Patong’s new police chief, Sermpan Sirikong.

The news also follows a meeting of bar owners and their staff on Tuesday.

“We are going to make Soi Bangla better so tourists feel safer and are given a better impression of Phuket as an international tourist destination,” Lt Col Akanit told the Gazette.

“Street vendors and walking touts, such as flower hawkers, are no longer allowed to work on Soi Bangla,” he said.

“Employees tempting tourists into bars with menus and signs are not allowed to touch tourists, and all promotional signs being carried by employees must also clearly establish which bar they are associated with,” he added.

Lt Col Akanit urged anyone who sees any hawkers breaking the new rules to report it to the police immediately.

“We will be strict in enforcing these rules. If anyone violates them they will be promptly arrested,” he said.

Four police officers will be on duty on Soi Bangla every night to ensure compliance, he added.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong