THAILAND

Jail Time in Phuket

You don’t have to rob a bank to end up in jail in Thailand!

An old Phuket prison no longer housing inmates is set to become a spooky tourist attraction, providing visitors with a ‘Twilight Zone’ experience. Phuket Prison was built in Phuket Town about 120 years ago, and officials now plan to turn it into a ‘live museum’ to teach both tourists and locals about its history.

In addition to the fun new tourism experience, the prison will also become a site for training inmates in vocational skills. Prisoners will get training in traditional massages, embroidery and operating drink stalls. The prison will also serve as a source of education for those interested in correctional work.

The date that the prison will officially open as a tourist spot has not yet been announced.

Phuket Prison was emptied of its prisoners in 2020. That year, over 2,000 male prisoners were transferred to the new Phuket Provincial Prison in Thalang district. Phuket Prison then served as a ‘Covid Care Centre’ in 2021. It served people who tested positive with antigen tests, but were asymptomatic.

Source: TheThaiger