Pattaya Tourist Support Fund committee announce latest figures
The Pattaya Tourist Support Fund (PTSF)
committee meets at the Royal Cliff Hotel to update the public on the
progress of the fund.
Pratchaya Kerdthong
The Pattaya Tourist Support Fund (PTSF) committee met
at the Royal Cliff Hotel to update the public on the progress of the
fund and how it was created to provide assistance to tourists in
distress.
The April 27 meeting was chaired by Banglamung
Permanent Secretary Prachaya Unpetchworakan with Sanga Kijsamrej,
treasurer and Panga Vathanakul director of the PTSF.
Sanga gave an outline of how the fund got started,
relating the tragic story of how on December 2, 2009 an accident
involved two boats just offshore near the Pattaya pier that claimed 2
Chinese tourists and left 6 seriously injured.
He said that the fund was initiated as one of the
first projects of Pracha Taerat, then governor of Chonburi Province.
Governor Pracha’s concept was to raise funds from the Pattaya business
community, who rely on tourism for their livelihoods, and to use the
money as compensation for tourists who are victims of crime within the
city.
A committee was established to administer the fund,
with members drawn from local government and the private sector.
The committee of 14 urgently approved a relief fund
for the victims giving 50,000 baht to the family of the 2 who lost their
lives and another 140,000 shared amongst the 6 injured.
Sanga said, “It was necessary to act quickly to
maintain the good image of our city and to show that the Thai people
care and for all our visitors.”
Panga Vathanakul, MD of Royal Cliff Hotels Group,
said, “When any incident occurs that involves tourists to Pattaya, we
should not only bring them flowers but we should also be ready to assist
them in healing their ill feelings. I strongly urge that all businesses
who deal with tourists must have liability insurance to protect everyone
concerned.”
The PTSF announced that the total amount of the fund stands at
830,000 baht. There have been no donors in the past year and the
committee is planning to ask city hall for financial support to add to
the fund for emergency use.
