Before the New Year, Phuket tightens the rules for tourists

Thailand is preparing for the main tourist season and Phuket, as the most popular resort, is taking unprecedented security measures. Against the background of a sharp jump in tourist traffic (only in the first week of November the island was visited by more than 636 thousand foreigners, which is 18% more than previous figures), local authorities mobilized police, volunteers and representatives of the tourism industry.

The main goal of the large-scale operation is to prevent crime and accidents in the peak pre-New Year weeks. Tourist Police Commissioner Pongsayam Mikhantong said the reinforced patrols would monitor streets and coastal areas around the clock, with a particular focus on the Patong area.

What's changed on the beach

An updated and stricter system of color flags has been introduced, which must be taken into account:

• Red flag: a categorical ban on entering the water due to high danger (strong waves, currents).

• Red and yellow flag: indicates a safe area where rescuers are on duty and swimming is allowed.

Ignoring these signals can lead to tragedy, so tourists are urged to heed the warnings.

Since the beginning of the year, Thailand has hosted more than 26 million visitors, earning over 1.27 trillion baht. With such a gathering of people, the risk of theft and fraud increases. The authorities remind us of simple but important rules:

1. Never leave valuables (phones, wallets, documents) unattended on sunbeds or in crowded places.

2. Avoid questionable offers and excursions from street barks.

3. In any strange or dangerous situation, call the tourist police hotline on 1155. Operators will help coordinate the actions of rescuers or law enforcement officers, Turprom writes.