Preparations for taking care of int'l visitors launched during royal cremation of late Thai King

BANGKOK, October 6 (TNA) - The Ministry of Tourism and Sports, in good cooperation with all other relevant public and private agencies, has prepared measures to take care of international visitors to Thailand during the royal cremation of late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok this month. Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Pongpanu Svetarundra told journalists of the move on October 5, noting that as part of the preparations, a command center for implementing and overseeing the integrated measures has been set up at his office on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue near Sanam Luang ceremonial ground, where the Royal Crematorium is situated. Pongpanu said the prepared measures also include plans on catering for the international visitors, covering the estimate of the number of international visitors during the royal cremation period and the preparation of sufficient hotel or hostel rooms for them, especially those located in the vicinity of Sanam Luang, along with providing them with necessary and useful maps and information on available public land and ferry transport services. According to the senior official, a webpage, http://www.mots.go.th/king_r9/index_king_r9.php, has also been developed on his ministry's official website, which is linked to others of relevant public and private agencies. Besides, more personnel have been stationed at his ministry's Tourism Assistance Centers (TACs) nationwide and official call centers for international tourists, namely 1672, 1155 and 66-2401 1111, while brochures and QR Code on relevant and updated information have been produced and installed at focal places, namely Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi International Airport and other airports, immigration checkpoints and hotels and hostels located near Sanam Luang and the Grand Palace. The senior official revealed that the ad-hoc command center at his ministry, where officials and volunteers are working together during October 6-29, is also in charge of providing relevant and updated information for the public relations (PR) mission of all concerned public and private agencies. The Royal Cremation of the late and revered Thai monarch, who passed away on October 13, 2016 at the age of 89, has been set to be held at Sanam Luang near the Grand Palace on October 26. (TNA)