After the tragic Halloween crowd crush at the trendy Itaewon district in Seoul, South Korea, Thai tourism operators expressed concerns over packed gatherings and encouraged relevant authorities to be ready for any tragedies.
According to Suthiphong Phuenphiphop, vice-president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, he is still convinced that tourists’ faith in Thailand won’t be impacted by the concerns around such an incident.
Mr. Suthiphong is confident that the relevant authorities will be able to maintain order and avert potential chaos during the upcoming major events, such as Loy Krathong this month and Songkran festival the following year—two customary celebrations that typically draw a sizable crowd.
He said the government, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Marine Department and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation should work closely together during the Loy Krathong festival, particularly at sites along the Chao Phraya river.
“It should be the government who mainly takes those responsibilities, not only the private sector or volunteers,” said Mr Suthiphong.
He stated that the Loy Krathong celebrations in Bangkok are anticipated to draw around 100,000 attendees.
According to him, fatal accidents in Thailand typically take place in places that are closed to the public, as seen in the 2009 Santika Pub fire and the recent Mountain B nightclub fire.
One Thai woman was among the at least 154 victims of the Itaewon crowd crush on Saturday night.
As evidenced by online comments on Thai social media, this tragedy sparked anxieties and fears about impending holiday celebrations.
A number of events and performances have been postponed in South Korea as the country observes a national period of mourning.
Given that the Itaewon accident took place in a small, sloped street, Mr. Suthiphong asserted that it was unlikely to occur in popular Bangkok nightlife areas like Khao San Road or Patpong, where the streets are bigger, flat, and have connections to facilitate better traffic movement.
However, exits shouldn’t be obstructed by fencing if the event requires ticket payments.
Mr. Suthiphong said outbound trip operators should be aware that such instances might conceivably happen in any place, not just in South Korea, as tours to South Korea have surged after Covid-19 limits were relaxed.
The president of the Thai Hotels Association, Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, stated that neither tourists nor hotel guests should have any concerns.
“However, we should not be negligent in planning safety measures for festive events,” she added.
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