BANGKOK, Oct 7 (TNA) – The British embassy in Thailand and the Tourism and Sports Ministry organized training for local officials to efficiently help British tourists who become sexually assaulted victims in the country.
Anan Wongbenjarat, deputy permanent secretary at the Tourism and Sports Ministry, and British ambassador Brian Davidson launched the training for rescuers and related organizations at Lancaster Hotel.
Mr Davidson said that in the past three years there were at least 40 cases of British visitors and residents who were sexually assaulted in Thailand. Their cases formed 4.2% of sexual assaults on British tourists and expatriates worldwide. Those still excluded the cases of victims who did not file their complaints with authorities, he said.
The British embassy therefore intended to give the best assistance to affected British people, the ambassador said.
According to him, more than 1 million British people visit Thailand annually and about 60,000 compatriots live in the country. Each year the consular affairs division of the embassy helps British people in Thailand in more than 1,500 cases and there are 15 cases of sexual assaults on average annually.
Mr Anan said that the government intended to provide visitors with the best services and assistance so that foreigners would re-visit Thailand.
There was a compensation fund for tourists and ministries joined forces to ensure safety for tourists, he said. (TNA)
