PATTAYA: The hunt for the killers of two Russian female tourists in Pattaya last Saturday has been stepped up in the face of fears that the resort will suffer a security crisis.
A male tour guide now heads the list of suspects, according to local media reports. He had apparently escorted the two Russian women on nightly visits to local entertainment venues.
The two women were found shot dead on Jomtien beach as they sat in deckchairs waiting for the sunrise. Security cameras caught their killer running away from the scene but the images were poor.
Police have offered Bt100,000 as a reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer
Newspapers in Thailand had condemned the killings and warned of the impact the incident will have on tourism.
The Nation newspaper, under the headline “Time to Clean up Pattaya” said: “This crime must not go unsolved. At stake is not only Pattaya’s status as a world-famous resort but also the image of the Thai tourism industry as whole.“
The newspaper said Russian tourists were very important to Pattaya and Thailand.
“They have deep pockets and tend to stay longer than other foreign tourists. They are good customers of local gift shops, restaurants and entertainment venues, not to mention the hotels and resorts.
“On one occasion, a chartered flight could not take off because the Russian passengers were overloaded with luggage and goods bought in Thailand.”
The Nation went on: “One worrying trend, which is not new, is that Pattaya has become a haven for international gangs. Foreign mercenaries have also found it convenient to settle in Pattaya.
“We hope the authorities will keep a close eye on such undesirable visitors in order to prevent any outbreaks of violence.”
