Minivdo : The Tourism Authority Of Thailand Call For Agencies To Tackle Tourist Complaints On Exploitation.

[NBT TV Phuket]

The Tourism Authority of Thailand or T.A.T. Office Director Suwalai Pinpradap stated that her office often receives complaints from tourists about a minibus service between Phuket International Airport to Phuket city or Patong. They report that during the trip they are brought to stop at a business place on the By Pass Road to shop or purchase tours and hotel accommodation. The tourists however did not report the company name, so the T.A.T.’s registration officer has no evidence to temporarily close the tour company. Suwalai called for responsible agencies to tackle the problem as it is damaging the island’s tourism image.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=211437

from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket City, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, 8.30am & later on Phuket Cable TV Channel 1, Thursday 5 April 2007 & www.Thaisnews.com {Our news text and mini-videos can be freely copied, but give credit to Andaman News TV11 Phuket or contact [email protected]}

[khall64au]

The Tourism Authority of Thailand or T.A.T. Office Director Suwalai Pinpradap stated that her office often receives complaints from tourists about a minibus service between Phuket International Airport to Phuket city or Patong. They report that during the trip they are brought to stop at a business place on the By Pass Road to shop or purchase tours and hotel accommodation. The tourists however did not report the company name, so the T.A.T.’s registration officer has no evidence to temporarily close the tour company. Suwalai called for responsible agencies to tackle the problem as it is damaging the island’s tourism image.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=211437

from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket City, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, 8.30am & later on Phuket Cable TV Channel 1, Thursday 5 April 2007 & www.Thaisnews.com {Our news text and mini-videos can be freely copied, but give credit to Andaman News TV11 Phuket or contact [email protected]}

Perhaps TAT Phuket officers can take a few trips from Phuket International Airport aboard "a minibus service between Phuket International Airport to Phuket city or Patong. They report that during the trip they are brought to stop at a business place on the By Pass Road to shop or purchase tours and hotel accommodation. The tourists however did not report the company name, so the T.A.T.’s registration officer has no evidence to temporarily close the tour company. Suwalai called for responsible agencies to tackle the problem as it is damaging the island’s tourism image." .... then TAT Phuket may recognise which companies are damaging the island's tourism......

[LivinLOS]

The fact its owned by prominent personage has nothing to do with TAT amnesia of course

[donna]

even if they did know the name of the agency, the simple fact of the matter is that if it were reported, by the time the 'authorities' got there to give them a slap on the wrist, the agency would have already been closed down and opened up in a different name.

its a well known fact among hotels in phuket that if you get any business from the bypass agents, your chance of actually getting your money from them is certainly not 100%. these people issue payments on fridays. if they give anyone a substantial booking, they will take the money from the client, send them to the hotel with a voucher, and then, by the time friday rolls around and the hotel goes to collect their money, the shop is closed and probably opened in a different name. they usually use the same staff too!

the drivers get about a 70% cut from the sale of these hotel rooms, so when you do end up there and think about how pushy the agents are, remember that its the driver who reaps most of the 'reward' for this 'service'.

[IgnacioE]

"...the T.A.T.’s registration officer has no evidence to temporarily close the tour company. Suwalai called for responsible agencies to tackle the problem as it is damaging the island’s tourism image."

Well, either:

(1) this is a late April Fools Day joke;

(2) this lady has been living under a rock for quite a few years; or

(3) this lady believes people are so gullible and stupid to believe her.

I rode a minivan once about 3 years ago and got scammed - I even think that the stopover (the driver claims he has to go to the bathroom or make a quick stop) was next to a police station. I've talked to tourists in Patong who have gone through it recently and it sounds like the scam "greeters" are getting more impolite and meaner.

I have my own transport to and from airport now and about half the time I see a minivan parked at said area with tourists getting their first wonderful impression of Phuket.

At the airport, the scam has even went one level deeper: The tourist(s) purchases a trip for an automobile taxi, and the scam artists claim that it'll take a long time for one to come, so it'll be faster if they take the conveniently waiting minivan (so the tourist gets screwed on the price too).