Senators 'Worried' About Phuket Beating, Cheating, Intimidating Tourists

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Senators 'worried' about Phuket beating, cheating, intimidating tourists

Phuket Gazette

Phuket Senator and former Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop (center) was among the senators at the meeting. Photo: Warisa Temram

PHUKET: -- A delegation of senators from Bangkok yesterday were treated to a grave description of the problems plaguing Phuket’s tourism industry, including jet-ski ripoffs.

The senators, all members of the Senate Standing Committee on Tourism, agreed that everything from the intimidation and beating of tourists to the lack of a strong public transportation system were having a serious effect on Phuket’s critical tourism industry.

Phuket Senator Thanyarat Achariyachai, who chaired the meeting, said that all organizations in the province needed to cooperate to find solutions to these issues.

However, there was no mention of Patong becoming a special administrative zone or what effect that would have on Phuket’s reputation as a world-class tourism destination.

The committee did note, however, that many organizations were already at work finding their own solutions to the issues being faced.

Because of this, the committee, which included Phuket's other senator and former governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop, decided that it would follow up on the progress made at a later date.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12471.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-03-03

[laurentbkk]

Pfffffffffff .. nothing will ever change ... I havent travel to Phuket for yearssssss and dont intend to go there anymore .. there are so much better places.

[Jimi007]

The committee did note, however, that many organizations were already at work finding their own solutions to the issues being faced.

Because of this, the committee, which included Phuket's other senator and former governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop, decided that it would follow up on the progress made at a later date.

So now after how many years the Senators admit there is a problem. Their solution is to follow up on the progress, or more likely the lack of progress at a later date...

[Soupdragon]

They have been having meetings and forming committees for as long as I can remember and so far have solved nothing. It's easy guys, stop the corruption and a lot of the problems will fade away.

The committee did note, however, that many organizations were already at work finding their own solutions to the issues being faced.

[fred110]

They have been having meetings and forming committees for as long as I can remember and so far have solved nothing. It's easy guys, stop the corruption and a lot of the problems will fade away.

The committee did note, however, that many organizations were already at work finding their own solutions to the issues being faced.

Stop the corruption? These guys are meeting to count their illicit money!

[kurnell]

Bleating beating meeting.

[ronthai]

... follow up on the progress made at a later date.

What progress???

[stevehaigh]

maybe if they were getting more tea money from Phuket they wouldn't worry so much

[monty1412]

rustle rustle rustle, I hear the sound of sweeping... yes vigorous sweeping.. wait wait.. is that I see a rug corner being listed.. yes it is.. sweep sweep.. there its all swept under the rug... no problems we have mentioned it , we have said we are concerned and now it is firmly under the rug.

Somebody should make a sequel to YES PRIME MINISTER but call it YES SOMCHAI....where the key lead character specialises in "masterful inactivity"

the only worlds missing here were "in the fullness of time,and "at the appropriate juncture"

This plays out exactly like a four step plan

1) we admit there might be a problem

2) We are keeping a watching brief on it

3) There could be something we could do but believe local authorities have it in hand

4) We should have done something but alas its too late now.

Simply amazing

[steelepulse]

There's no progress as the tuk tuk "associations" continue to collect fees and disperse said fees where needed. Hmmm, who's in charge of said associations? Oh yeah, the "influential" families.

[marioc]

Pfffffffffff .. nothing will ever change ... I havent travel to Phuket for yearssssss and dont intend to go there anymore .. there are so much better places.

I totally agree with it, but.......it is unfortunate, isn't it?

As far as nature concerned, it is a beautiful spot!

[HOOD Robin]

Pfffffffffff .. nothing will ever change ... I havent travel to Phuket for yearssssss and dont intend to go there anymore .. there are so much better places.

Last time i was in Pocket was... 3 months after tsunami, but as a longstayer i also don't want to go there anymore with all those creeps !

[spidermike007]

Hmmmm. So typical of the Thai senate. Lets acknowledge the problem. But, no way we are going to actually create a solution, or do anything about it. As a matter of fact, we will be sure to forget about this problem, by tomorrow. Having lived in Samui for many years, I can tell you many, many of these problems exist in Samui too. Some are worse. Has anybody, done anything, on any level? No. I hear many of these problems exist in Pattaya, and Hua Hin also. Has anything been done there? Very little. So, stop blabbing, and stop discussing, unless you are potent enough of a force to actually do something. Earn your salary, for God's sake!

[hushai1]

Notice that they talk about solving the problems just because it affect the tourism industry, that is their source of income, not because it is wrong in itself to beat up tourists!

Thailand the land of shit!

[jacko45k]

So the minutes read, do nothing until the next meeting.

What were the minutes of the prior meeting... something similar?

[toenail]

Viewers will be surprised to read this, but I now prefer to go to Pattaya for beach holiday than Phuket? Why??????? Various reasons but the main one is that the "locals" in Phuket are rude and always ripping off the tourists. They locals who are "south Thais" are different than the Thais from Isaan or the North. In Pattaya, the locals (who are from the North and Isaan) are more friendly and patient. True, the beaches are not as clean to swim in but they're nice to look at from your 4 -5 star hotel. It is cheaper and you don't have to fly to get there. Good bye Phuket. You were awesome back in the 80's but no more. You (Phuket) have ruined your charm by becoming greedy and over runned by the thugs and mafia with the tuk tuks and shops.

[Asianrider]

So the minutes read, do nothing until the next meeting.

What were the minutes of the prior meeting... something similar?

thai officials having meetings about meetings

[sirchai]

"However, there was no mention of Patong becoming a special administrative zone or what effect that would have on Phuket’s reputation as a world-class tourism destination.

Why do I get such a terrible feeling in my stomach when reading: World Class bla, bla, bla..?

Our school's also a "World Class Standard School". But there's nothing as it should, or could be. Computers don't work, because there's no World Class Standard Anti Virus program on. Most of my Thai colleagues beat the shit out of the kids at a primary school in a "Non World Class Manner".

Our Thai English teachers with their "Low Class Behavior", some holding a Masters in English cant's even say one easy sentence without a mistake. By the way, what's the definition of World Class anyway????????

[BigJohnnyBKK]

It's easy guys, stop the corruption and a lot of the problems will fade away.

Easy? How so, when the only authorities with the power to do so are themselves the problem?

[rotorbreeze]

Viewers will be surprised to read this, but I now prefer to go to Pattaya for beach holiday than Phuket? Why??????? Various reasons but the main one is that the "locals" in Phuket are rude and always ripping off the tourists. They locals who are "south Thais" are different than the Thais from Isaan or the North. In Pattaya, the locals (who are from the North and Isaan) are more friendly and patient. True, the beaches are not as clean to swim in but they're nice to look at from your 4 -5 star hotel. It is cheaper and you don't have to fly to get there. Good bye Phuket. You were awesome back in the 80's but no more. You (Phuket) have ruined your charm by becoming greedy and over runned by the thugs and mafia with the tuk tuks and shops.

Living in Pattaya now for my 4th 6 month tour have enjoyed with selecting venues of Sport Clubs, great shopping, a couple hours to go into Bangkok...even have police help in quieting the evenings of yaba dealings outside my apartment...a lot of Russian are settling in here and the mafia seem more effective in keeping peace here..."touch wood" Sorry to hear about the violence in Phuket, but in these events it shows locals here in Pattaya how to curve future problems here. Traffic is always a problem here, no helmets during the night activity so suspect Pattaya will make the news.

[dude007]

They have been having meetings and forming committees for as long as I can remember and so far have solved nothing. It's easy guys, stop the corruption and a lot of the problems will fade away.

The committee did note, however, that many organizations were already at work finding their own solutions to the issues being faced.

too little, too late. Phuket goes down the drain and senators continue to meet and discuss and form committees and ... thereby not forgetting to put the money in the pockets!

It takes 5 minutes of courage and decide to cancel all crooked tourist issues dealing with scam, corruption and intimidation. In the first place the tuk-tuk maffia well protected by the corrupt Phuket police who doesn't know what's right or wrong but who knows what is Thai and what is farang. Yes, this is Thailand, we know...

[chooka]

"Because of this, the committee, which included Phuket's other senator and former governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop, decided that it would follow up on the progress made at a later date."

The year 2062 sounds like a good time to check on the progress, give the next generation time to get off thier backsides and actually do something.

[prvtdetdave]

I have been coming to Thailand since 2005,

I would come for a month return to the US for 3 months and come again for a month. 1 month here and 3months US.

I now live here in Thailand.

I have never been to Phuket, with all the bad things that happen there. I will never go and I feel no loss for it.

If you truly want to make Phuket a better place, you will need to kill it first.

That means do not go there!

[ThaiTerry]

Notice that they talk about solving the problems just because it affect the tourism industry, that is their source of income, not because it is wrong in itself to beat up tourists!

Thailand the land of shit!

So why not leave?

[jalansanitwong]

Most of these jet ski thug operators dont own the machinery. They rent it on a daily rate plus beach parking space from Thai business people.

Gee, i wonder who they are ??/

[nahkit]

Notice that they talk about solving the problems just because it affect the tourism industry, that is their source of income, not because it is wrong in itself to beat up tourists!

Thailand the land of shit!

So why not leave?

So why not fix it?

[chooka]

So the minutes read, do nothing until the next meeting.

What were the minutes of the prior meeting... something similar?

thai officials having meetings about meetings

True they should have a referendum to see if they should have an inquiry to see if calling a meeting to discuss the problem would be viable. At that meeting they could have a ballot to see if they should call a meeting to have a further ballot to see if they should actually do anything and then they could call a further meeting to see what they should do about the problem. By this time elections would have been held and a fresh bunch of muppets would be in power and they could start the process over again. The gears of progress would be engaged with the clutch in but hey they would be working on it.

[OZEMADE]

I spoke to my travel agent in Sydney the other day and she told me that she has had some cancellations to Phuket. However they changed their booking to Pattaya where, I must admit there seems to be less trouble than Phuket. Although there are some of the same scams going on.

[diehard60]

The first thing they need to do is get rid of the GREED factor there. Then they might be able to do something.

[bigbamboo]

Pfffffffffff .. nothing will ever change ... I havent travel to Phuket for yearssssss and dont intend to go there anymore .. there are so much better places.

If you've travelled a bit Phuket really is nothing special.