Thailand bets on prisons to boost tourism

[reader]

From Reuters

BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Thailand plans to turn about half its prisons into tourist attractions to boost visitor numbers as the Southeast Asian nation struggles to recover from an economic slump caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Sporting events, art exhibitions, cooking contests and souvenirs made by inmates will be rolled out in 72 of the country’s 143 prisons, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said this week.

A pilot scheme is being tested in five prisons, including those in the cities of Trat, Rayong and Ratchaburi, he said.

This would not only bring much-needed visitors, but also prepare inmates for a “normal life in society” and change the image of prisons from being “a twilight world to a world of opportunities”, he added.

The concept of prison tourism is not new. From tours of Alcatraz in San Francisco to the notorious Hoa Lo prison in Hanoi that is now a museum, prisons are major attractions worldwide.

Some defunct prisons have even been converted into luxury hotels, while a women’s jail in Colombia has a restaurant run by inmates, and a Singapore prison hosts an annual charitable run.

Thailand has the largest prison population in Southeast Asia, and inmates have limited access to medical facilities, food, water and sanitation, according to a 2017 report by the International Federation for Human Rights.

A 2017 law was aimed at improving prison conditions, and Thailand’s Justice Ministry has vowed to ease overcrowding, as well as provide vocational training for prisoners.

The tourism project is a part of this plan, Somsak said.

[kokopelli]

Furthermore, as I understand, tourists will be able to book a room at a prison for a one night's stay to better appreciate the amenities offered to the prisoners.

[vinapu]

56 minutes ago, kokopelli said:

Furthermore, as I understand, tourists will be able to book a room at a prison for a one night's stay to better appreciate the amenities offered to the prisoners.

it's easy, just kick first policeman in your sight and bingo , booking done

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, reader said:

From Reuters

BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Thailand plans to turn about half its prisons into tourist attractions to boost visitor numbers as the Southeast Asian nation struggles to recover from an economic slump caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Sporting events, art exhibitions, cooking contests and souvenirs made by inmates will be rolled out in 72 of the country’s 143 prisons, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said this week.

.....

noble idea to improve prison conditions perhaps but nonsensical when comes to boosting tourism, for that country gates must be wide opened as infrastructure and attractions are already in place

[spoon]

Thai prisons has a notorious reputation worldwide, so surely it can be turned into a tourist attraction indeed. Although half of the prison turned into tourist attraction is definitely farfetch. Perhaps focusing on one or two prison, each with their own uniqueness is a more practical way of doing this. Things like weird location (like alcatraz island) or extreme security, or housed widely known serial killers etc. So far, ive seen thai prison only in documentary such as locked out abroad.