Tightened control on parasailing after tourist death
After the death of an Australian parasailer on Phuket's Kata beach, all companies in Chonburi were called upon to thoroughly inspect safety measures and adjust them if necessary.
Pattaya Police and Tourist Police visited 16 companies offering parasailing to recheck safety procedures. During a two-hour meeting, officers questioned operators about their safety measures, as well as potential staffing issues. Prevention is necessary to avoid harming the tourism industry in Pattaya.
For insurance claims in case of damage, the insurance companies require a registration of personal data of the parasailers. Operators must also check whether a customer is physically capable of parasailing.
The police then went to sea with NPE Pattaya Co and tried to assess the security measures from different points of view. The owner, Nattapong Manasom, stated that in his 20 years of offering parasailing to tourists, he has never had a serious accident. He would regularly check his equipment and replace his parachutes every 6 months.
According to the governor of Chonburi Pakarathorn Thienchai, tourists should feel safe on the beach or in the water. There would even be lifeguards on the beach to ensure safety (the times I visited the beach, the lifeguards were apparently just eating or walking around 'incognito'!).
The beautiful police box on the corner of Jomtien Beach/Dongtan Beach is often unmanned. The tourist police also does not answer questions or does not answer at all. Only the Soi 9 police station is open to collect the payment of fines. They don't understand difficult questions and the police volunteers I met don't speak Thai. That should be a prerequisite!
Source: Pattaya Mail
The police volunteers don't speak Thai? Are those Farang? Or do you mean they must be able to speak English?
Most of the “Volunteers” are Farangs (Pattaya) and do not speak Thai, sometimes not even English.
Both in the police station and at road checks!