Chiang mai: Tourist police and the local community are joining forces to enhance safety along "Khlong Mae Kha," supporting the area's new lifestyle landmark in Chiang Mai.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Maj. Gen. Pongsiayam Meekhantong, Deputy Commander of the Tourist Police, revealed that following a site visit to monitor the progress of the Mae Kha Canal development in Chiang Mai Province, an area stemming from a royal initiative project, the Tourist Police have integrated their work with the Chiang Mai Municipality, the public, and relevant agencies to enhance safety and build confidence among tourists. This is coupled with the preservation of the charm and traditional way of life of the community, aiming to promote the Mae Kha Canal as a new tourist landmark in the heart of Chiang Mai and as a model for sustainable conservation tourism.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Pongsiayam stated that the Mae Kha Canal area reflects the identity and lifestyle of the local community and has become increasingly popular with tourists. Therefore, ensuring security must go hand-in-hand with preserving the charm and unique character of the community, so that residents and tourists can happily share the area and generate income for the local people. During the meeting with relevant agencies, a plan for patrolling by tourist police was considered to align with the area's conditions. This included focusing on deploying officers to ensure security at key locations and during peak tourist hours. Proactive measures were also implemented to care for tourists through coordination with the Chiang Mai City Municipality, village health volunteers, and local residents, enabling them to provide quick and effective assistance to both Thai and foreign tourists.
Furthermore, there are plans to utilize foot patrols, bicycle patrols, mobile patrols, as well as CCTV and smart AI cameras to enhance operations and improve the efficiency of surveillance and security for tourists. This will also help to screen and track suspicious individuals or those with arrest warrants who may be infiltrating key tourist areas.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Pongsiayam further stated that he had visited the site to monitor the progress of the Mae Kha Canal landscape improvement project, Phase 2, on the Chang Khlan Cemetery side. He also inspected the junction between Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project at the Wiang Ping Bridge, a significant tourist attraction and community area. He met and spoke with community leaders and residents in the area to listen directly to their problems and suggestions, in order to improve the work plan and better align it with the needs of the people.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Pongsiayam further revealed that the development of Mae Kha Canal is not only focused on creating a new tourist attraction in Chiang Mai province, but also on preserving the charm and way of life of the local community, while simultaneously upgrading safety standards to build confidence among tourists and promote sustainable ecotourism. The Tourist Police are ready to work with all sectors to ensure Mae Kha Canal becomes an area that the local community is proud of and a destination that both Thai and foreign tourists want to visit. This will help generate income, distribute economic opportunities, and improve the quality of life for people in the area, alongside the balanced and sustainable growth of tourism.