Phuket tourism boss concerned that the 'feelings' of locals may be provoked by foreigners

[webfact]

Minister of Labour Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn (right) has ordered a crackdown nationwide on employment and labour law abuses by foreigners. The crackdown has seen raids and arrests across the country, in particular, focused on Southern Thailand. Meanwhile, a local tourism industry boss in Phuket has expressed concern about the feelings of local people following several high-profile criminal acts by foreigners there including a long-stay resident and two tourists from New Zealand who attacked a uniformed policeman on Saturday, March 16th last (inset bottom). Similarly, there have been assaults reported in Ko Phangan (inset left bottom), Pattaya and Trang. It follows an alleged assault on a Thai female doctor by Swiss man Uli Fehr on February 24th (inset top left), a case which sparked public revulsion and protests on the island.

Phuket tourism boss is concerned. Crackdown on foreigners nationwide launched by the Minister of Labour Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn as local outrage grows. Assaults and illegal businesses have seen tensions rise and locals left fed up. Especially in Southern Thailand and in tourist hotspots. Calls for the police and officials to implement the law strictly.

Amid a government nationwide crackdown on foreigners working illegally in Thailand, a top tourist business leader in Phuket warns that a spate of egregious criminal acts linked to visitors on the island may have tested the patience of locals.

 

Nationwide, recent high-profile attacks by foreigners and labour law abuses are coinciding with an economy increasingly reliant on foreign tourism. At the same time, more foreigners are extending their stays in the kingdom, taking flight from war and bad weather at home. The result has raised tensions and a national campaign to rein in abuses, especially in Southern Thailand.

Thailand’s government is beginning to crack down on the activities of long-stay foreigners in the kingdom. It comes with the country’s economy in a slow state of decline. For instance, government receipts in the most recent period were down 11% on last year.

 

In the meantime, the situation has emphasised Thailand’s dependence on foreign tourism.

 

by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor

 

Full story: Thai Examiner.com 2024-03-27

 

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[ukrules]

44 minutes ago, webfact said:

Crackdown on foreigners nationwide launched by the Minister of Labour Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn as local outrage grows

Local outrage - what nonsense, now national action?

 

What is a crackdown on foreigners? Are they going to hassle us in the malls? 🤣

[still kicking]

4 minutes ago, ukrules said:

Local outrage - what nonsense, now national action?

 

What is a crackdown on foreigners? Are they going to hassle us in the malls? 🤣

No ban all foreign tourists coming to Thailand and go broke,

[mr_lob]

Knee jerk reaction to some isolated high profile cases involving foreigners.

Meanwhile cases of rape, abuse by teachers and bent coppers are kept silent

[Funkymover]

so whats the stats, 2 criminals for every 1000 foreigner , but hey , lets clamp down on them all,,  yet the thousands of thai criminals, does not seem to be a problem for them 

[ChipButty]

It's just a small minority that are behaving badly, most of us respect the law better than Thai people.

[TheFishman1]

Do you think they’d be concerned about corrupt politicians, returning after years away the sister, who leaves somehow the day before sentencing the cops, here are corrupt the governors of the provinces who are corrupt the principal and the teachers, and they’re more worried about a few foreigners, who caused a very limited amount of actual damage to the country. Go figure TIT.

[harleyclarkey]

Great to teach him a lesson.

For Europe to crack down on Thais working illegally. They are everywhere.

In the UK I see on documentaries that they arrest Thais, and others, every day. 

[DonniePeverley]

What did they think would happen when they allowed Russians a 6 month visa. 

 

They weren't just going to sit in their rooms and play dominos. Clearly they don't want to be in Russia, and some will seek means of work/business. 

 

It's been clear for nearly a year they were buying businesses, and operating with free will. Sri Lanka recently had to stop their long visa for Russians as a result of the local population growing fed up. 

 

Now they've given Chinese the free visas to come and back and forth too. Same issue is going to start. 

 

The barriers Thailand had up to protect it's population (employment, rising rent prices from long stayers, etc) were just thrown away in a few days with some strange decisions. 

[soalbundy]

The Phuket tourism boss is trying to raise his profile. Thailand hasn't any greater problems with foreigners than other countries. Considering the number of tourists, the relaxed drinking laws, the sex industry and the laziness and corruption in the RTP, the criminal activities of foreigners seems statistically low. It's pretty obvious that tourist centers are going to be a hub of a few undesirables  both Thai and foreigners which is why Phuket seems to get mentioned a lot but rarely Isaan where I live which seems to be an island of peace and relaxed attitude by the authorities, Bangkok could be a foreign country as far as the locals are concerned, at any rate I haven't seen any change in attitude towards me which has always been friendly and welcoming.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

The Thais only 'think' short term as usual.

Allow thousands of Russians in, then go visa free for the Chinese, for short term gain, but don't think ahead?

Didn't they think, all these, relatively young, Russians escaping the war, will run out of money at some point?

[Gottfrid]

Totally understandable. There are far too many sad foreigners every year, that set a bad example and destroys the reputation of others. I am all in for stricter laws and enforcement, so we finally can get rid of the cancer these individuals are causing. As a foreigner that abides the law in Thailand and respect the country and it´s population, I have no problem with any action the government might use to fight this growing problem of insanity.

 

Side note: To all members here, that directly start to talk about law breaking Thai people. As usual, that is just the regular smoke screen you need to hide behind as you can face up to reading about something that scratches on you thin skin.

[DjSilver]

Concerned, when foreigners stand up for themselves against racist, discriminating and scamming Thais? lol

 

We need more of this, to show these low life racist scammers we wont stand it any more...

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Phuket tourism boss is concerned. Crackdown on foreigners nationwide launched by the Minister of Labour Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn as local outrage grows.

You both invited them in....

Russians initially weren't coming here on holiday, they were evading a draft at the time Phipat was in office.

But he was too busy trying to make Phuket a sandbox miracle after Covid decimated the islands tourism.

He was only interested in numbers and not who or why they were coming.

[RobU]

Possible diversion tactic. When I see political outrage like this in the news, in any country not just Thailand. I look for what appear to be minor news items which are 'overlooked' in the feeding frenzy. These 'minor' items often have greater impact or are more outrageous but are deliberately played down. 

[eumenades]

1 hour ago, Funkymover said:

so whats the stats, 2 criminals for every 1000 foreigner , but hey , lets clamp down on them all,,  yet the thousands of thai criminals, does not seem to be a problem for them 

The grumpy simplifications are often mutual.

[eumenades]

1 hour ago, Funkymover said:

so whats the stats, 2 criminals for every 1000 foreigner , but hey , lets clamp down on them all,,  yet the thousands of thai criminals, does not seem to be a problem for them 

That photo of a bound Thai cop still bothers me, as it may many others.

[AhFarangJa]

27 minutes ago, RobU said:

Possible diversion tactic. When I see political outrage like this in the news, in any country not just Thailand. I look for what appear to be minor news items which are 'overlooked' in the feeding frenzy. These 'minor' items often have greater impact or are more outrageous but are deliberately played down. 

Spot on Sir, as you say many countries do it. Slightly off topic, but look at Europe now trying to misdirect people's attention away from the WHO vote in May. I wonder what they are hiding here?

 

[nobodysfriend]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

a local tourism industry boss in Phuket has expressed concern about the feelings of local people following several high-profile criminal acts by foreigners

 

All this started in Phuket .

But Phuket is too packed with foreigners , tourists and longer staying Russians .

There is no place left on the island .

Sure , the locals want to earn money , they do this in the moment .

Too many different nationalities and cultures packed together in a tight space creates tensions , that's clear ...

So , who is at fault ?

The politicians who welcomed tourists after locals complained about not earning enough money after Covid ?

Or the locals who got much more farangs than they wanted ...?

Be careful what you wish for .

The Sri Lankan way to get rid of ( russian ) people is becoming more plausible every day ...

https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-ukraine-tourists-sri-lanka-visas-whites-only-event-2024-2?op=1

 

Be careful what you wish for .

 

Too many foreigners ... stress for locals , but enough money to be made .

Much less foreigners ... not enough money , people will complain again ...

[ryandb]

59 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

The Phuket tourism boss is trying to raise his profile. Thailand hasn't any greater problems with foreigners than other countries. Considering the number of tourists, the relaxed drinking laws, the sex industry and the laziness and corruption in the RTP, the criminal activities of foreigners seems statistically low. It's pretty obvious that tourist centers are going to be a hub of a few undesirables  both Thai and foreigners which is why Phuket seems to get mentioned a lot but rarely Isaan where I live which seems to be an island of peace and relaxed attitude by the authorities, Bangkok could be a foreign country as far as the locals are concerned, at any rate I haven't seen any change in attitude towards me which has always been friendly and welcoming.

This is why I'm considering a move from Samui to somewhere without so many foreigners, I live in a Thai area so don't have anything to do with authorities really on the day-to-day, but I can see the IO becoming a little bit more annoying to deal with down here plus the rents are just going through the roof due to Israeli, Ukrainian and Russians (some others too but mostly seem to be these nations for the obvious reasons) operating subletting businesses 

[AustinRacing]

Blame greedy officials who take bribes from anyone including foreigners who in turn compete with local businesses. 

[Red Forever]

2 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

Do you think they’d be concerned about corrupt politicians, returning after years away the sister, who leaves somehow the day before sentencing the cops, here are corrupt the governors of the provinces who are corrupt the principal and the teachers, and they’re more worried about a few foreigners, who caused a very limited amount of actual damage to the country. Go figure TIT.

Full marks for shoehorning an anti Shin comment into the subject of badly behaved foreigners.

[Kim Jones]

They can't live with us, and they can't live without us. 

[jippytum]

Still in a panic about the Swiss guy. Making a mountain out of something to get  press coverage

[jippytum]

The behaviour of foreigners is insignificant compared to that of Thai politicians

[Confuscious]

Stirring the people up, based on hate against a particular group of people has been proven an asset for the politicians.

Hitler and the Jews; ku Klux klan and the black people; the Hungarian president and the illegals; etc.

More politicians will jump on the bandwagon to secure their spot in the government.

And all on the cost of a few crooked foreigner's.

Sad state of affairs for Thailand 

[arithai12]

1 hour ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

The Thais only 'think' short term as usual.

Allow thousands of Russians in, then go visa free for the Chinese, for short term gain, but don't think ahead?

Didn't they think, all these, relatively young, Russians escaping the war, will run out of money at some point?

Since you seem to be the one who can do the thinking, please be informed that "young Russians escaping the war" have many other options apart from Thailand. And if someone is escaping mandatory draft it's the Ukrainians, not the Russians. But apart from that, do you have any statistics to prove that, after normalization, Russians and Chinese behave worse than say Brits or Kiwis? Only difference is that Russian and Chinese bring in far more money than, say, Brits or Kiwis.

 

[stoner]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Phuket warns that a spate of egregious criminal acts linked to visitors on the island may have tested the patience of locals.

 

and my patience is tested daily by the locals. spare me the you are a visitor garbage too. if the locals want to be treated fair and kind then they should do so in return.

[bob smith]

shades of The Night Of The Broken Glass...

 

if you know, then good, you are awake.

 

The writing is on the wall.

 

Time to get out.

 

bob.

[Rampant Rabbit]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

Totally understandable. There are far too many sad foreigners every year, that set a bad example and destroys the reputation of others. I am all in for stricter laws and enforcement, so we finally can get rid of the cancer these individuals are causing. As a foreigner that abides the law in Thailand and respect the country and it´s population, I have no problem with any action the government might use to fight this growing problem of insanity.

 

Side note: To all members here, that directly start to talk about law breaking Thai people. As usual, that is just the regular smoke screen you need to hide behind as you can face up to reading about something that scratches on you thin skin.

perhaps they could  tattoo us  all and make us  wear a little  star on our clothes or maybe just a big "F"