Mr Somsak said the idea would benefit inmates as they could develop valuable skills after their release, but acknowledged that not all prisons are suitable for tourism.
A prison in Thailand
According to the plan, the prisoners will perform some activities for tourists such as the “Chef behind the bars” cooking competition or souvenir production, aiming to promote professions in different fields, and prepare the prisoners to return to normal life in society, changing the image of the re-education camps.
Thai chili sauce cooked by a prisoner
A prisoner makes handicrafts
The project will be expanded in 2021. Currently, five prisons in Thailand have participated in this pilot program. The Thai Ministry of Justice confirmed that if successful, 50% of the country's prisons (72 out of 143 facilities) will become tourist attractions. Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin emphasized that many of the country's prisons are located near major tourist attractions, making them ideal destinations for visitors. Minister Thepsuthin said that if these prisons become public attractions, the government could use them to promote Thai tourism.
