Following the recent murders of two British holidaymakers on Koh Tao early Monday morning (September 15) major concerns on tourists’ safety have been raised.
The murders are the first in the area involving foreiners since December 31, 2012, when British tourist Stephen Ashton, 22, was shot dead at a New Year's Eve party on Koh Phangan after getting caught in the crossfire of a gun fight between two local gangs.
"We don't want any more crimes," Governor Chatpong Chatraphuti said, adding that hotels and resorts would have to install new security cameras and lighting.
The military government vowed to restore Thailand's reputation as the "Land of Smiles", embarking on a clean-up of resorts after a series of complaints about scams, assaults and even police extortion, particularly in Phuket.
The battered bodies of David Miller, 24 and Hannah Witheridge, 23, were found on the southern resort island of Koh Tao early Monday morning.
Distraught relatives of Ms Witheridge broke down in tears and hugged each other ahead of a police briefing in Bangkok today (September 18) as the investigation continued to draw a blank.
Meanwhile, Thailand's military ruler Prayuth Chan-Ocha yesterday (September 17) drew criticism after questioning the safety of female tourists wearing provocative clothing in the kingdom.
"They think our country is beautiful and is safe so they can do whatever they want. They can wear bikinis and walk everywhere," Gen Prayuth told government officials.
But, he asked, "Can they be safe in bikinis … unless they are not beautiful?"
The British embassy in Bangkok said it had contacted the Thai Foreign Ministry raising its "concerns" over his remarks and asking "for clarification", according to an embassy statement.
Police today continued to hunt for clues on Koh Tao as post-mortem examinations of the victims' bodies in Bangkok found no DNA links to 12 people police have questioned so far.
Those include two of Miller's British friends who were asked to stay in Bangkok pending the forensic results -- and several Burmese migrant workers.
The British men were now "free to return home," regional police commander Lt Gen Panya Maman said.
Experts tested traces of semen and a hair found at the crime scene but could not find a match.
With no arrests and an apparent lack of new leads, it is unclear where the police investigation can turn after nearly four days scouring sparsely populated Koh Tao.
Thailand's key high season for tourists is just two months away and the kingdom is desperate to reassure visitors after a year which saw takings slump because of political turmoil, followed by the coup.