Phuket Vice Governor, Prajead Aksornthammakul, said officials were concerned about a rising number of incidents involving tourists who have been robbed of valuables, suffered injuries or even death.
The incidents have eroded faith in tourist safety and tarnished the image of the island, said V/Gov Prajead.
As a result, he said, Phuket Governor Chamroen Thippayapongthada had proposed setting up tourist service centres on popular beaches and some islands in Muang, Kathu and Thalang districts.
In Muang district, the centres would be set up on Kata, Karon, Nai Harn and Yanui beaches, and on Koh Racha, Koh Hae and Koh Mai Ton islands. In Kathu district, there would be centres on Patong, Kamala, Kalim and Tri Trang beaches. In Thalang, proposed locations are Mai Khao, Nai Thon, Nai Yang, Bang Tao, Surin, Layan and Sai Kaew beaches and Koh Naka.
The deputy governor said he had ordered local administration organisations to survey potential sites for the centres and report them to the provincial Tourism and Sports Ministry office this week so budgets could be allocated.
The service centres are expected to open by early December, he added.
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