Chinese Embassy Diplomats Demand Better Safety for Chinese Citizens Visiting Pattaya

The visit follows a concerning rise in the number of deaths from Chinese people drowning around Pattaya.

Manager Online reported that diplomat Zhou Guangxu spoke to Pattaya tourist police yesterday, saying that a large number of Chinese people would be visiting over Chinese New Year from February 4-10 and is seeking better care of his compatriots, especially swimmers, people on tour boats or those doing water sports. He also called for safety checks on boats and buses.

He noted that 80 per cent of drowning victims in Pattaya were Chinese.

In response, the Pattaya authorities and police promised better signage, especially on speedboats, and improved communication advising Chinese tourists about any dangers.

Zhou asked for shops renting motorbikes to only rent to tourists with proper international licences. And he requested that more officials be brought in that could speak Chinese as few Chinese visitors spoke Thai or English.

Meanwhile, Emergency respondents have been called to Jomtien beach in Pattaya’s south yesterday after a German tourist was reported in difficulty whilst swimming. There were many tourists on the beach at the time.

Members of the local rescue foundation, Sawang Boriboon attempted CPR on 78 year old Klaus Heinz Trappiel but were unable to revive him. The man died at the scene opposite Soi 5 on Jomtien Beach.

A witness to the drowning told investigators that the victim arrived with four others and had been swimming. He was later spotted floating on the water surface. The also said that it was the German’s first visit to Pattaya.

The man had been staying in Jomtien and was due to depart later this week. Police say that the man had been suffering from a preexisting condition and speculated that this contributed to his drowning.

Source: Thethaiger.com