Abuse Of Phuket Tourists: 'Bar Mafia’ Crackdown Looms

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Abuse of Phuket tourists: 'Bar mafia’ crackdown looms

PHUKET: -- Foreign “mafiosi” who cheat and even assault foreign tourists sometimes do so with the support of Phuket officials, yesterday’s meeting with a high-ranking Ministry of Interior (MoI) official was told.

Interior Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Pranai Suwannarat was in Phuket to hear directly from tourism industry operators and analysts about problems facing the industry.

His findings during the four-hour gathering will be compiled into a report to be submitted to the MoI.

Bhuritt Maswongsa, Vice President for Marketing of the Phuket Tourism Association, told the meeting he received “almost daily” complaints about foreign bar owners overcharging patrons.

“Foreign mafia are mostly Russian and German. They open bars and charge much higher prices than their competitors.

“For example, they might charge 200 baht for [a small] bottle of beer that usually sells for around 80 baht to100 baht a bottle at other bars. They exploit consumers,” he said.

Such operators typically set up in west coast beach areas popular with foreign tourists, such as Patong, Kata, Karon and Surin, he said.

In some cases tourists are assaulted if they refuse offers to enter certain establishments, he said.

Sarayuth Mallam, another PTA vice president, said that “Even though the mafia people are locally very powerful, they are afraid of the people in uniform.”

“Tourists come in their bars and get cheated. For example, a tourist bought two bottles of beer but was charged for four bottles.

“Then they had a fight, which was reported to the police who recorded it in their daily log.

“But later the police received a call from a high-ranking government official asking the police to ‘take care of’ [ignore] the case,” he said.

Government officials must clean up their own acts before they can be effective in addressing the problems plaguing the Phuket tourism industry, the lawyer said.

Mr Bhuritt suggested that the Revenue Department audit such bars in order to find a way to prevent customers from being cheated.

Deputy Pranai promised to report the problem – and several others heard at the meeting – to the ministry next week.

This is the second of two Phuket Gazette reports on the recent increase in cheating of foreign tourists in Phuket. For yesterday's report, click here.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-05-21

[TrevorFisher]

There is one bar in Patong that may fit this profile, in Patong, it has Russian girls pole dancing in it. There are a few go-go bars that do the big bill at the end scam just like Pattaya, Bangkok, Vegas, Soho etc etc, buyer beware.

A 'crackdown' is hardly required.

Edited May 21, 2011 by TrevorFisher

[KeyserSoze01]

I didn't realize that the TukTuk and Jet Ski mafia were farang.

Edited May 21, 2011 by KeyserSoze01

[angiud]

Yes, mainly Germans and Russians

[ChoakMyDee]

Nothing will be done. He's compiling and submitting a report which will gather dust. The only reason this is reported is to feed the xenophobic Thai media.

Edited May 21, 2011 by ChoakMyDee

[Liam Sathorn]

I'd have to say that farang bar owners are scarcely the major problem, but such stories do tend to distract attention from where authorities should be acting.

[kevbap]

I didn't realize that the TukTuk and Jet Ski mafia were farang.

quite right ! and everything else, from haircuts to condo's !

[Shurup]

“For example, they might charge 200 baht for [a small] bottle of beer that usually sells for around 80 baht to100 baht a bottle at other bars. They exploit consumers,” he said.

Every bar usually has a privce list somewhere in the open. I was in Patong a number of times and if I see the price of my drink double than other bar, I get up and walk away to other place. I don't see the problem when they charge 200 for a beer if it costs 80-100 elsewhere. Nobody forces touris to stay in any particular bar - get up and leave! End of problem.

If they try to charge you more than you actually ordered - that is a scam but don't get shit-face drunk and chances are it won't happen to you.

[koheesti]

I've known bars like this in Eastern Europe. Sometimes, the price for a beer my increase many times if you require "table service" (someone bring it to your table). Or sometimes they have something that is universally cheap so few ever check the price (like the local beer) but on their menu the price is really high. Anyone who complains just gets shown the menu. These bars would also emply girls to find guys in other bars of on the street using the old "I know of a great place not far from here".

[moe666]

I read both stories and where did it say the TUT-TUT and jet ski operators where falanga. The story was about bar owners.

[johncat1]

I have been a teacher here for 6 years and the government makes it harder every year for foreign teachers to work here and yet they let this scum open businesses and extort money from people.

It all comes down to money. MOST ( not all ) Thais do not have principles they can be easily bought.

Of course they are charging high prices because they have to pay off the police to stay in business.

If the government paid police a decent wage and got rid of most of it's existing police force we may actually have some law and order here, and the Thai people may even start to respect the police. Then the foreign mafia ( with Thai interests ) would have to move to another country.

[laurentbkk]

Of course , farang create the most problems in all the country , they cheat other farang ,they bit farang , they steal them etc ..... I just had the impression this was Thailand no ?

Soon the heavy flood with the rainy season will also be the fault of farang. The bad weather , the education , the traffic jam ,the corruption , all this is because of the farang. :jap:

[james24]

Everyone seems to agree we are used as scapegoats and all in all treated as mugs, will the day ever come where we just pack up and leave.....??

[pontius]

Phuket. I'd rather swim in a sewer than go back to those ...... well insults are not allowed on here. A joke of a place.

[LivinLOS]

Yes the mafias on Phuket are all farang ones.. Theres no domestic issues.. And the mafias are afraid of those in uniform for their just and even handed way of enforcing the law.

[avidflyer]

I agree with Stanley

[johncat1]

"For example, they might charge 200 baht for [a small] bottle of beer that usually sells for around 80 baht to100 baht a bottle at other bars. They exploit consumers," he said.

Every bar usually has a privce list somewhere in the open. I was in Patong a number of times and if I see the price of my drink double than other bar, I get up and walk away to other place. I don't see the problem when they charge 200 for a beer if it costs 80-100 elsewhere. Nobody forces touris to stay in any particular bar - get up and leave! End of problem.

If they try to charge you more than you actually ordered - that is a scam but don't get shit-face drunk and chances are it won't happen to you.

Several years ago I was in Pattaya with a friend drinking at one of the many faceless bars, when, although very drunk he noticed every time he ordered a drink he was charged for 2. He got very angry with the bar girl doing this and started a big argument resulting in the bar owner being called and the Tourist police getting involved.

The police calmed the situation down and the bar owner apologized for the girl's actions and gave us free drinks all night if we made no more fuss.

So for once the tourist police did their job.

BUT of course the situation could have gone the other way and we could both have been given a good beating by a group of Thai minders or pimps for causing trouble ( I was the quiet one trying to control my drunken friend )

[SICHONSTEVE]

I read both stories and where did it say the TUT-TUT and jet ski operators where falanga. The story was about bar owners.

This was a sarcastic retort (which you obviously didn't get) implying that not all of the scams in tourist areas such as Pattaya and Phuket are Russian and German (farang) ones - such as the jet-ski and tut-tut operations that are Thai controlled!!! Get it now!!!

[patsouth]

Do what I do; don't go to Phuket.

[bdenner]

Phuket shooting itself in the foot again. A meaningless report and feel good event for another useless politician.

This type of event will ONLY become newsworthy when we see some real physical action.

[DummDays]

NOTHING like this happens in Thailand without the support of the Police

[Boatman]

Why would anyone want to visit, let alone live, in a corrupt cesspool like Thailand ? Admit it guys, you are all there primarily for the culture.....bwaaahaaaahaaa.

Yes, I spent 12 months over a 3 year period living it up. But trust me guys, if you get back to civilization and get a REAL girlfriend your self-respect CAN be revived.

[johncat1]

I agree with Stanley

How can you agree ?

Stanley has not said anything yet he has only reposted peoples posts.

[stevehaigh]

this is why i stay in Rawai and Nai Harn

[johncat1]

NOTHING like this happens in Thailand without the support of the Police

Yes I agree with you.

REMEMBER support your local police buy plenty of Chang

[BOBBYTIN]

Phuket. I'd rather swim in a sewer than go back to those ...... well insults are not allowed on here. A joke of a place.

why on earth would you want to swim in the sea at patong,ohhh,i get it sarcasm

[me313]

Regarding the sentence, "It all comes down to money. MOST ( not all ) Thais do not have principles they can be easily bought." I hate to say this because it might burst your perception of Thai people, but MOST people all over the world can be bought with money most people are ruled by money. I just lived in Europe for a year and all I can say is money rules the world, and most people will do almost anything for it. I"m not disparaging your (what seems like) racist comment about Thai people, perhaps they are not as clever at disguising greed as our Western counterparts?

I have been a teacher here for 6 years and the government makes it harder every year for foreign teachers to work here and yet they let this scum open businesses and extort money from people.

It all comes down to money. MOST ( not all ) Thais do not have principles they can be easily bought.

Of course they are charging high prices because they have to pay off the police to stay in business.

If the government paid police a decent wage and got rid of most of it's existing police force we may actually have some law and order here, and the Thai people may even start to respect the police. Then the foreign mafia ( with Thai interests ) would have to move to another country.

[johncat1]

Why would anyone want to visit, let alone live, in a corrupt cesspool like Thailand ? Admit it guys, you are all there primarily for the culture.....bwaaahaaaahaaa.

Yes, I spent 12 months over a 3 year period living it up. But trust me guys, if you get back to civilization and get a REAL girlfriend your self-respect CAN be revived.

I was the same but did not spend quite that long living it up my Thai wife would not let me waste my ( her ? ) money .

But after getting rid of a bad Thai wife I started teaching in a small Esaan town, and was amazed at how people viewed a farang if they worked for them.

I have self respect and I am highly respected in my community ( NO I do not buy it )

I keep myself to myself and live and work in a farang free area of Thailand. The first year was the worst because I was treated as an oddity by Thais who had never met a farang before.

Now I stay away from Farang infested areas because they mean high prices and usually trouble.

Finding REAL girl friends is not a problem here if you stay away from bars. Most of my girl friends are government workers on a decent salary.

BUT to find a good WIFE now that is another thing.

I think near impossible in Thailand if you are poor.

[wandrinstar]

Its a rare Day when i can agree with a Teacher. J.C. is spot on.:jap:

[johncat1]

Regarding the sentence, "It all comes down to money. MOST ( not all ) Thais do not have principles they can be easily bought." I hate to say this because it might burst your perception of Thai people, but MOST people all over the world can be bought with money most people are ruled by money. I just lived in Europe for a year and all I can say is money rules the world, and most people will do almost anything for it. I"m not disparaging your (what seems like) racist comment about Thai people, perhaps they are not as clever at disguising greed as our Western counterparts?

I have been a teacher here for 6 years and the government makes it harder every year for foreign teachers to work here and yet they let this scum open businesses and extort money from people.

It all comes down to money. MOST ( not all ) Thais do not have principles they can be easily bought.

Of course they are charging high prices because they have to pay off the police to stay in business.

If the government paid police a decent wage and got rid of most of it's existing police force we may actually have some law and order here, and the Thai people may even start to respect the police. Then the foreign mafia ( with Thai interests ) would have to move to another country.

Comments on Thai people are observations based on experience and 7 years of living here.

The suggestion they seem to be racist is a joke because I work with over 3,000 THAI children and 180 teachers every day.

Also I am the only Farang not just at my school but also in my small town of about 25,000 THAI people.

It is because of people with strong farang opinions and racist attitudes I prefer NOT TO live amongst farangs