In the past, families of all foreign tourists were entitled to compensation of around THB 1 million ($27,000) in case of death from the Foreign Tourist Assistance Fund.
However, this fund was dissolved last year because it was considered ineffective and there is no permanent source of funding to compensate tourists in the event of injury or death.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports said it planned to compensate tourists killed or injured in the shooting, using either the ministry’s budgetary budget or the central budget.
Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol suggested the government implement a 300-baht tourism tax system that was approved by the previous cabinet and use part of the fees collected through this system to finance tourist insurance.
The ministry is finalizing the collection method, requiring tourists to pay the fee before arrival via a website, mobile app or kiosk at airports and land border checkpoints, she said , adding that the method was changed from a previous plan that required airlines to include the fee in airfares.
The shooting at Siam Paragon also raises the need to ensure security and respond to emergency situations at shopping and entertainment centers, which are popular tourist attractions in Thailand.
Chadatip Chutrakul, managing director of Siam Piwat Group, owner and operator of Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery, said the group had prepared measures to deal with the shootings more than three years in advance, following Similar incidents in other countries.
According to her, the group has put in place measures to explain to stores how to manage and deal with customers in such situations.
Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, marketing director of Central Pattana Plc, said the country’s central shopping malls have instituted a comprehensive set of security measures to ensure the safety of all visitors.
These measures include security checkpoints at mall entrances where all bags and luggage are thoroughly checked by staff before entering, with a highly trained security team stationed throughout the premises, it added .
