Thailand to put ID wristbands on tourists

[Hvr]

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said she had approached hotels over the idea of handing out wristbands to help identify tourists that get lost or into trouble.

Thailand to put identification wristbands on tourists


No way would I ever wear one nor even carry it. Whilst the intention may be admirable there are far too many negative consequences. E.g. if you're wearing a bracelet you're going to be a target for scammers and criminals.

No way will a taxi ever put on a meter nor will you ever be able to get a fair price for anything.

 

[veganftw]

I agree. Negatives seem to far outweigh the positives.

 

[anat0l]

Dear Mr and Mrs so-and-so, we regret to inform you that your daughter Miss this-and-that has been murdered in coughet. Blah blah blah as found details on her emergency bracelet.

Yours truly, person from government with idea which is waste of time.

 

[JessicaTam]

Seems like a silly idea to me.

 

[harvyk]

E.g. if you're wearing a bracelet you're going to be a target for scammers and criminals.

No way will a taxi ever put on a meter nor will you ever be able to get a fair price for anything.

My first thoughts exactly. Whilst I would probably never truly pass as a local, if you where to wear one of those bracelets you might as well be wearing a big giant target on your back. Besides, yes some tourist do get into trouble OS, however how many tourists are there whom have traveled OS and come home with no problems at all?

Personally I think that a travel safety should be a course which one needs to take prior to getting their first (adult) passport which would cover things such as keeping safe whilst traveling, identifying scams (esp ones run by the local police), the fact that Australian safety standards are not applied therefore you need to make a judgement call on how safe certain activities really are, and finally how to maintain a level of control whilst enjoying a drink or three and more importantly why you need to maintain a level of control.

Oh, and the most important part of the course, how not to be a bogan overseas / respecting other peoples cultures.

I think that something like that would cut down the number of people getting into trouble overseas more than any identification.

 

[JohnK]

Worries me that very little thought is put into these "ideas".

Electronic tracking device? Yeah right. Like I would ever agree to that.

No way will a taxi ever put on a meter nor will you ever be able to get a fair price for anything.

A few words of Thai will have the taxi driver realise you are not new and this shouldn't stop you bargaining. Walk away if you are not happy with the price. If they want sell they will come running after you.

 

[lukenet]

Just crossed Thailand off the list of places to visit.

 

[harvyk]

Just crossed Thailand off the list of places to visit.

Why exactly?

 

[anat0l]

Why exactly?

I'm going to guess either directly if such a scheme were implemented, then the ridiculousness of being able to be identified / have your identity stolen or misrepresented, and thus not wanting to take that risk.

More indirectly, perhaps a reference to the possible incompetence, ineptitude or otherwise blatant disregard of the government or governmental attitudes to concoct such a scheme, and thus broadly reflects the government's inadequacy to protect tourists.

Just guesses, mind you.

 

[Justchecking]

What a completely stupid idea. No thanks I don't want to be dog tagged and microchipped as a condition of having a holiday. It would effectively turn Thailand into a detention centre type experience, well it's not very far from that right now anyway. On the other-hand if you wanted to fake your own death it would be a simple matter to toss the stupid thing into a river and let it wash up somewhere.

 

[dajop]

The government has already said it won't be implementing the idea.

And really who are we to talk, as if an Australian government (state or federal) has never had a stupid idea! Many they even try to implement...

One idea to improve safety would be to advise tourists to stay off drugs and drink alcohol in moderation and don't get involved with unsavory locals.

I am not sure what the figures are for Thailand, but have heard that at any point of time in Bali there are 20-30,000 Australians. Whilst undoubtedly tourists do die for various reasons on holiday in Bali, statistically a certain number of people would die in a town of 30000 people each year (from other than natural causes).

 

[anat0l]

And really who are we to talk, as if an Australian government (state or federal) has never had a stupid idea! Many they even try to implement...

Oh we know our government is full of stupid ideas, but a stupid idea is a stupid idea. We also are in a good stead in characterising our respective levels of government in the manner of which they also suggest and/or implement stupid ideas.

One idea to improve safety would be to advise tourists to stay off drugs and drink alcohol in moderation and don't get involved with unsavory locals.

Undoubtedly invaluable advice no matter where you are around the world. Of course, tourists will not like that as it seems to imply that they are primarily responsible for their safety and that they were doing wrong in the first place - they don't like that.

I hadn't heard about this incident with the two British tourists however and whether excessive consumption of alcohol, consumption of drugs or another kind of altercation was involved. Or, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and were murdered for their possessions.

 

[Archphoto]

. . . . . I hadn't heard about this incident with the two British tourists however and whether excessive consumption of alcohol, consumption of drugs or another kind of altercation was involved. Or, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and were murdered for their possessions.

Currently, your guess is as good as anyone else's. From reports here in the papers, it's been a botch job since day 1. They've arrested some Burmese migrant workers, who have "confessed" to the murders, although there are rumblings that this may not be true and it's being paraded to show they have a handle on the situation.

It was a *very* brutal attack (I've seen some photos of the woman) and the word "horrific" doesn't begin to describe it; the bracelet idea was ill-thought out (aka stupid) at a time when common sense and justice were required. Sadly these don't seem to go hand-in-hand with the PD over here - corruption and incompetence are more likely to be realised than the former.

 

[Musongman]

Just crossed Thailand off the list of places to visit.

Don't do that, Thailand is a great place to visit and a great place to live. Keeping one's wits about one is the key to personal safety anywhere in the world.

 

[Musongman]

Currently, your guess is as good as anyone else's. From reports here in the papers, it's been a botch job since day 1. They've arrested some Burmese migrant workers, who have "confessed" to the murders, although there are rumblings that this may not be true and it's being paraded to show they have a handle on the situation.

It was a *very* brutal attack (I've seen some photos of the woman) and the word "horrific" doesn't begin to describe it; the bracelet idea was ill-thought out (aka stupid) at a time when common sense and justice were required. Sadly these don't seem to go hand-in-hand with the PD over here - corruption and incompetence are more likely to be realised than the former.

Sadly, the soft target is the easiest for the Thai police, and the poor old Burmese labourers fit the bill. Whether they actually did the deed, may never be known, my money's on the Brit friend!!

 

[Archphoto]

Sadly, the soft target is the easiest for the Thai police, and the poor old Burmese labourers fit the bill. Whether they actually did the deed, may never be known, my money's on the Brit friend!!

Has been reported on Sunday that the "confessions" were coerced via torture; several of my Thai friends have posted on FB regarding the handling of this crime, the Thai translation of the English demand for justice is loud and clear.

It has been an absolute farce - a press conference was called stating many dignitaries would be in attendance, in the end the Thai PD was left with egg on their face - not one showed.

Saving face is more important than actually finding the truth - too much grandstanding and not enough actual police work. On reflection of the images I saw, I also think it was someone they knew - the first thing that came to mind when I saw the shots of the young woman, was "rage attack".

I'm hoping justice will prevail, but in reality that may be a pipe dream.