A STUDY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SECURITY MEASURES FOR PUBLIC AIRPORTS BY UNREST IN 3 SOUTHERN BORDER PROVINCES

Abstract

This research, entitled “A Study on the Development of Security Measures for Public Airports by Unrest in 3 Southern Border Provinces,” aims to examine the current state of security at public airports in the 3 Southern border provinces and to identify guidelines for improving the efficiency of security measures at airports affected by unrest. The airports included in this study are Hat Yai International Airport, Narathiwat Airport, and Betong International Airport, which differ in operational characteristics. Hat Yai International Airport operates both domestic and international commercial flights. Narathiwat Airport has commercial flights with lower frequency, while Betong International Airport currently has no commercial flights in operation. This research employs a qualitative methodology. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 9 Key informants selected by purposive sampling. The participants included heads of security units, security officers, and relevant security agencies responsible for airport security, each with at least 1 Year of experience. The findings indicate that public airports in the 3 Southern border provinces face risks from ongoing unrest, unauthorized access by external individuals, budget constraints, and limitations in security technology. Key issues related to the development of airport security include strengthening proactive security measures both inside and outside restricted areas, and implementing security technologies such as CCTV systems and access control systems. In addition, policies should be established to provide multilingual communication materials, continuously develop personnel capabilities, and allocate dedicated security budgets. These measures would help enhance airport security appropriately and in alignment with the local operational context.