Tourist Destinations in ASEAN: Pattaya Recognized as One of the Safest Cities
Pattaya City, a popular tourist destination in Thailand's Chonburi Province, aims to strengthen its safety measures, having been recognized as one of the top 10 safest tourist destinations in ASEAN by Numbeo.com.
Mayor Poramet Ngampichet revealed on Wednesday that this accolade bolsters Pattaya's positive image. The evaluation by Numbeo considers crime rates, police effectiveness, and local perceptions of safety. Among the top ten cities on the list, three were from Thailand:
- Chiang Mai - ranked first
- Bangkok - ranked seventh
- Pattaya - ranked ninth
Numbeo commended Pattaya for its significant advancement in improving safety, particularly in tourist areas. This progress aligns with the city's strategies, which include installing over 2,000 CCTV cameras that coordinate with the police for crime investigations.
Poramet acknowledged that Pattaya's diverse tourist population might influence public perception due to frequent crime reports. However, he emphasized that these reports depict a partial picture.
In an effort to enhance safety further, Pattaya is planning to learn from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) by studying their operations and optimizing CCTV usage in investigations. The city will also focus on improving lighting and encouraging vigilance among residents, especially as the population grows significantly due to tourism.
Last year, Pattaya welcomed approximately 20 million Thai and foreign tourists. According to Mayor Poramet, crime incidents, while periodic, are inevitable in such a bustling city. Pattaya is committed to reducing crime rates and deterring offenders by expanding CCTV coverage and implementing more sophisticated security protocols.
In addition to these efforts, Pattaya is reportedly discussing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Region 2 Provincial Police and the Royal Thai Police to improve cooperation and intelligence sharing, enhancing overall safety measures. These efforts aim to boost confidence among domestic and international tourists, particularly those from China.
These safety initiatives are part of a broader strategy to make Pattaya a smarter and safer city for visitors, incorporating improvements in street lighting, surveillance systems, and pedestrian infrastructure. [Source: 4, 3, 1]
- The accolade of being one of the top 10 safest tourist destinations in ASEAN by Numbeo.com strengthens Pattaya City's positive image, particularly in the realm of general news and politics.
- Numbeo commended Pattaya for its significant advancement in improving safety, specifically in tourist areas, which aligns with the city's policies and legislation focusing on tourism.
- In the face of periodic crime incidents, Pattaya is committed to reducing crime rates and deterring offenders through international collaborations, such as MOUs with local police forces, and implementing advanced security protocols, a move that could attract more tourists from countries like China.
- The diverse tourist population in Pattaya may influence perceptions of safety due to frequent crime reports, but the city is working diligently to enhance safety through not just CCTV cameras and improved lighting, but also by learning from experts like the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in terms of investigation techniques.
