Happy New Year from Big Joke! Cardboard image greets the tourists at Bangkok airport

[webfact]

Happy New Year from Big Joke! Cardboard image greets the tourists at Bangkok airport

 

Picture: TNA

 

Thai immigration chief Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn ordered his minions to roll out the red carpet and greet tourists for New Year at Suvarnabhumi airport at the weekend. 

 

Though the chief could not be there in person there was a towering cardboard image of the poster boy of the Thai police to greet the hundreds of thousands of tourists.

 

Picture: TNA

 

And to make matters swing the Lt Gen had ordered that Thai angels in traditional costumes hand out Thai sweets and souvenirs as the band played Thai music. 

 

Tourists had their pictures taken at the passport hall with deputy chief of Region 2 immigration Pol Col Cherngron Rimphadee and the dancing girls with their treats.

 

A sign from the man known as Big Joke said: "Wishing you a wonderful year full of blessings and joy". 

 

It was also in Chinese.

 

This greeting was somewhat of a contrast to the Lt Gen's activities this past year in deporting thousands of unwanted visitors to the kingdom under the "X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner" campaign. 

 

video screenshot

 

But it was all smiles yesterday as Pol Col Cherngron assured reporters that all passport booths were open with no time off given to immigration officers during the New Year period. 

 

TNA reported that 157,000 visitors passed through Suvarnbhumi on Friday which compared favorably to the 145,000 on the same day last year. 

 

The fancy welcome to tourists will continue until January 3rd at both Bangkok's main airport and Don Muang. 

 

Source: TNA

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-12-31

[Nyezhov]

Nice!

[ThreeEyedRaven]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

there was a towering cardboard image of the poster boy of the Thai police to greet the hundreds of thousands of tourists.

I will laugh fit to burst if someone nicks it.

[worgeordie]

He's growing in size as well as reputation.

the only one getting anything done in the Govt.

Happy New Year  Worgeordie

[Vacuum]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

A sign from the man known as Big Joke said: "Wishing you a wonderful year full of blessings and joy". 

 

It was also in Chinese.

Of course.

[Bluespunk]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

Though the chief could not be there in person there was a towering cardboard image of the poster boy of the Thai police to greet the hundreds of thousands of tourists.

Guy sure does love himself. 

[sammieuk1]

The bigger joke will come when the tourists get booted back out for a myriad of minor infringements????  

[Darcula]

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai angels in traditional costumes hand out Thai sweets and souvenirs as the band played Thai music

[Nong Khai Man]

 hundreds of thousands of tourists...............Err Are You sure you got that figure CORRECT ??

[fruitman]

Is  Chinese new year so early this year?

[PatOngo]

5 minutes ago, Nong Khai Man said:

 hundreds of thousands of tourists...............Err Are You sure you got that figure CORRECT ??

Yes, I am disappointed too, I expected millions!

[ezzra]

42 minutes ago, webfact said:

A sign from the man known as Big Joke said: "Wishing you a wonderful year full of blessings and joy". 

 

As long as you don't overstay your welcome and run foul of Thai hospitality that is... There's nothing more assuring to a first time tourist than to be greeted by a life size picture of a police/army officer in a stern look and full uniforms...

Edited December 31, 2018 by ezzra

[Justgrazing]

53 minutes ago, webfact said:

A sign from the man known as Big Joke said: "Wishing you a wonderful year full of blessings and joy". 

but try to stay off the roads .. and boats .. HNY y'all .. B J .. 

[Cadbury]

Big Joke's ego knows no bounds; just like someone else we know well.

That someone else might have their nose out by not having their own cardboard cutout image there to greet people. Big Joke needs to be careful, he could be treading on some very sensitive toes.

[stanleycoin]

37 minutes ago, fruitman said:

Is  Chinese new year so early this year?

Why ?

Have you already seen them taking a dump in the streets  

Edited December 31, 2018 by stanleycoin

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Though the chief could not be there in person there was a towering cardboard image of the poster boy of the Thai police to greet the hundreds of thousands of tourists. 

I thought the PM had Pat. Pending on that?

Will he follow the PM's lead too, who told journalists to address their questions to his cardboard cut-out.

I remember it was easier to work out which one was the imitation - the cardboard cut-out had a kinder look.

Plus, it didn't threaten to punch any one in face.

[marko kok prong]

Personally i am hoping for a ' Happy new miah'

[Misterwhisper]

And soon this narcissist (some may say, attention wh***) will probably commission a gigantic bronze statue of himself, his hand stretched out towards heaven to symbolically reach for the stars.

[tukkytuktuk]

The airport bib stun us with their creativite minds. What will the next photo op look like? Stage theater must be a big part of their training now.

Edited December 31, 2018 by tukkytuktuk

[transam]

So no cardboard cutout of a farang bird in a bikini with a big red cross on it saying "Beware"....????

[RotBenz8888]

I arrived yesterday at an almost empty suvarnbhumi airport . 4 people in queue before me at the immigration, got through in no time. And the taxi line, well, it wasn't any line. I was basically alone. The cab driver confirmed what i saw, there are very few tourists arriving. These ever increasing numbers of tourist arrivals is just a bougus. I believe what i see with my own eyes.

[greeneking]

10 hours ago, ezzra said:

As long as you don't overstay your welcome and run foul of Thai hospitality that is... There's nothing more assuring to a first time tourist than to be greeted by a life size picture of a police/army officer in a stern look and full uniforms...

And gun?

[djayz]

Exactly what you want after a long flight... 

[OJAS]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

there was a towering cardboard image of the poster boy of the Thai police to greet the hundreds of thousands of tourists.

And no doubt said cardboard image will after 3rd January be moved to the Departures hall by way of "goodbye and good riddance" to American, Australian, British and Danish retirees boarding one-way flights back to their home countries, having been unable to amass 800,000 THB in their Thai bank accounts for future extensions of stay now that their embassies no longer offered income confirmation services!

Edited December 31, 2018 by OJAS

[observer90210]

And how many will get cheated just on their way out of the airport with a rogue taxi refusing the meter ? The respected Hon. Mr Big Joke should have rather posted 50 cops near the taxi at Suvarnabhumi arrivals,  to make sure no visitors are cheated by the taxis, as all the year around.

[Wilsonandson]

Big Joke, is he the top of the food chain in the bib? Get's the largest cut? Stop warning and start enforcing the Thai law on all not just targeting foreigners. Who is this guy anyway? All I know if him in the news is his hatred for Africans residing in Los.

As for the over-sized cut out maybe they should rename him big bloke.

Sent from my SM-A700FD using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[balo]

Remember only good guys in. 

Big Joke could kill two birds with one stone and send them back again after handing over some Thai sweets. 

 

[kannot]

19 hours ago, Nong Khai Man said:

 hundreds of thousands of tourists...............Err Are You sure you got that figure CORRECT ??

calculator malfunction

[dotpoom]

I soppose it'll be a change for some to have their photo taken with the police under these circumstances?

[notasmartassknowitallfarag]

What is it with the obsession with PR in this country.  

No one is doing their job properly but there is always someone handing out flowers, waiing and ‘honest’ cabbies finding hundreds of thousands of baht in their cars.