Thailand is expanding its surveillance system, called the Phuket Eye, to improve tourist safety and boost crime control on its most famous resort island. The strategic initiative is the result of rising tourism numbers and the desire for wiser, real-time surveillance throughout high-traffic regions.
By doubling the number of CCTV cameras and linking them into a unified police database, along with streamlining government safety operations for the public, Thai officials hope to discourage crime, traffic more efficiently, and convince tourists that Phuket is as beautiful as it is secure and effectively governed.
Thailand is taking a strategic leap to secure its globally cherished resort destination, Phuket, by expanding the innovative “Phuket Eye” surveillance system. Aimed at strengthening law enforcement, safeguarding tourists, and ensuring smoother traffic operations, the expansion underlines the nation’s commitment to transforming Phuket into a model of safety-driven, tech-enabled tourism. With crime control, smart monitoring, and public safety at its core, the project reflects Thailand’s broader goal of reinforcing trust and positioning Phuket as a world-class, secure travel destination.
Thailand has long been recognized as a top-tier tourist destination, with Phuket holding a central position among the country’s most visited islands. As part of an ongoing initiative to boost safety, streamline traffic management, and reinforce Phuket’s image as a secure and welcoming place for international travelers, Thai authorities are significantly expanding the island’s high-tech surveillance program known as “Phuket Eye.”
The move comes amid ongoing efforts to address both immediate and long-term safety concerns, manage increasing tourist volumes, and modernize public security infrastructure to match global standards.
The “Phuket Eye” is a central element of the broader Phuket Model — a progressive safety and public order initiative developed by the Phuket Provincial Police. Designed as a collaborative safety initiative, the Phuket Eye utilizes an integrated network of CCTV cameras and digital technology to oversee various activities throughout the island.
This multi-dimensional system allows police officers and relevant authorities to receive real-time surveillance data, enabling timely intervention and quick law enforcement responses across key locations.
Additionally, the Phuket Eye contributed to the detection and penalization of 28,809 traffic law violations involving foreign nationals, reinforcing the role of surveillance in shaping better driving behavior and improving road safety.
One of the most notable achievements attributed to the Phuket Eye system is the complete absence of traffic-related fatalities during Thailand’s famed Songkran Festival, celebrated annually in April. Historically, the festival has seen spikes in road accidents due to heavy vehicle use, celebratory alcohol consumption, and pedestrian activity.
Thanks to enhanced surveillance, proactive law enforcement, and public awareness campaigns tied into the Phuket Eye initiative, this year’s Songkran period was celebrated without any recorded deaths from road incidents in Phuket — a remarkable milestone in the island’s safety record. To further amplify the system’s effectiveness, Thai authorities have announced an ambitious investment of 98 million THB (approximately US$3 million) for the next phase of the Phuket Eye rollout
