Oz Nanny State Government 'Calls To Protect Tourists' Visiting Phuket

[davidst01]

Here is an article in the Sydney morning herald paper today.

http://www.smh.com.a...0629-217yt.html

Our nanny state government believes that handing out printed warnings on all flights to Phuket will assist its precious citizens from problems when holidaying in Phuket. What a joke...

Calls for Thailand to protect tourists

Craig Skehan

June 30, 2012

• Read later
  

More protection for tourists ... demanded by the Australian government. Above, Phuket's Patong Beach.

THE Australian government has called on Thai authorities to clamp down on violence, extortion and scams against foreign tourists on the resort island of Phuket.

The call comes after the June 20 stabbing murder of 60-year-old Michelle Smith by a bag-snatcher. Australia's ambassador to Thailand, James Wise, yesterday flew in from Bangkok to meet provincial leaders and senior police.

There have been concerted attempts by honorary consuls from countries including Australia, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain to ensure a crackdown on thugs and organised criminal rip-offs.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.a...l#ixzz1zC5SdLYm

Edited June 30, 2012 by metisdead
: Font reset and article edited as per fair use policy.

[ripstanley]

Sorry but i am a little old but what is a nanny state?

[theblether]

I'm sorry OP........that is not nanny state, that is responsible government. Many of us having being calling for years for this type of action, I say three cheers for the Australian government for getting off their ass and protecting their citizens.

[theblether]

Now it's time for the rest of the governments to follow suit, and tell the Thai authorities that police complicity in scams that affect their citizens is not acceptable.

Complicity can be tea money, complicity can be by being the perpetrators, and complicity can be by not properly investigating crimes, an action that is oh, so common in Thailand.

Your barking up the wrong tree here OP, do a poll and you will find overwhelming support for governments to take this kind of action.

Once again, I applaud the Australian government.

[NomadJoe]

I'm sorry OP........that is not nanny state, that is responsible government. Many of us having being calling for years for this type of action, I say three cheers for the Australian government for getting off their ass and protecting their citizens.

Yeah, a nanny state would be a state that wouldn't allow people to post in tiny script for it may damage eyesight.

Edited June 29, 2012 by NomadJoe

[tuky]

I agree with theblether

Not that anyone cares what or whom I agree with.

[DP25]

Uhhh...the Australian government isn't handing out any kind of warnings on planes. That is one Australian business owner in Phuket that is calling for the Australian government to do so. They're not gonna do it, and not much reason for them to either. Phuket is fairly safe, there are FAR more dodgy places that people fly to every day and no one hands out warnings. No one hands out warning pamphlets on flights to truly dangerous locations in Africa and Latin America, you think they're going to bother in Phuket because of overpriced taxis and a handful of crimes?

[NomadJoe]

"He heads a group of 25 foreign volunteers called International Liaison Officers who co-operate with Thai authorities and conduct foot patrols."

Alai wa? <deleted> are International Liaison Officers? Did the Tourist Police Volunteers change their name or is this something new?

[daveh]

I do not like nanny states, however, this isn't an example of a nanny state. First of all, it's an Australian Patong restaurant owner that wants to hand out warnings. Second of all, that does not constitute being a nanny. A nanny state would simply not allow you to go to Phuket "to protect you".

The reason these scams continue to go on, is there is always a sucker to pull them on. Don't forget that a majority of the people visiting Thailand don't know about these scams. If the real goings on in Phuket were to turn into a proper reputation, then tourism would decrease. Then more hotel and bar owners would demand that something would get done to make Phuket a scam free place.

IMO, handing a flier to people boarding planes, is already a little too late. People should be warned before they purchase their tickets.

[edwinclapham]

The OP is spouting absolute rubbish, I am delighted our government are taking this stance!

In light of one of our Perth citizens who was brutally slain last week, I would expect nothing more from our Government and actually I find your post insulting!

Lets hope you will never require Larry Cunningham's assistance either whilst you are in Thailand! (Honorary Consul for Australia)

I applaud Australia for taking this stance !!

[edwinclapham]

Uhhh...the Australian government isn't handing out any kind of warnings on planes. That is one Australian business owner in Phuket that is calling for the Australian government to do so. They're not gonna do it, and not much reason for them to either. Phuket is fairly safe, there are FAR more dodgy places that people fly to every day and no one hands out warnings. No one hands out warning pamphlets on flights to truly dangerous locations in Africa and Latin America, you think they're going to bother in Phuket because of overpriced taxis and a handful of crimes?

When Insurance Companies stop insuring passengers bound for Thailand then there might be a noticeable difference in tourist figures.

[transam]

Uhhh...the Australian government isn't handing out any kind of warnings on planes. That is one Australian business owner in Phuket that is calling for the Australian government to do so. They're not gonna do it, and not much reason for them to either. Phuket is fairly safe, there are FAR more dodgy places that people fly to every day and no one hands out warnings. No one hands out warning pamphlets on flights to truly dangerous locations in Africa and Latin America, you think they're going to bother in Phuket because of overpriced taxis and a handful of crimes?

When Insurance Companies stop insuring passengers bound for Thailand then there might be a noticeable difference in tourist figures.

Though l like what you say, the travel insurance companies are raking in bundles of cash and they don't care about their odd native being slain cos it's covered. THEY want everyone to holiday to fill their bank account which will easily take care of the odd mishap .

[harrry]

Something easily fixed. Fix the problems here which everyone is aware about.

And it is not being a nanny state to warn people. It may be if it banned people from coming.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Something easily fixed. Fix the problems here which everyone is aware about.

The people with the authority to do so are those behind the problems. Those above them don't give a stuff.

How do you fix that?

You've got a different take on the word 'easily' than I do.

[theblether]

I agree with theblether

Not that anyone cares what or whom I agree with.

Ehm....we care, it's interesting to see an old member back, I was talking about that today on another thread,

[smokie36]

I agree with theblether

Not that anyone cares what or whom I agree with.

Ehm....we care, it's interesting to see an old member back, I was talking about that today on another thread,

Yeah good to see you back Tuky...but what good this will do I am unsure. Perhaps if they hand out crayons to the passengers they can draw pictures on the blank side of the paper.

[soi41]

The OP is spouting absolute rubbish, I am delighted our government are taking this stance!

In light of one of our Perth citizens who was brutally slain last week, I would expect nothing more from our Government and actually I find your post insulting!

Lets hope you will never require Larry Cunningham's assistance either whilst you are in Thailand! (Honorary Consul for Australia)

I applaud Australia for taking this stance !!

First of all the Australian Government has taken NO stance in this matter, merely a suggestion from an aussie barowner. Secondly (and no disrespect intended) the lady, who got slain was a travelagent, here to send even more Australians to Thailand, I don't think that she would have liked a paper handed out to her customers telling them about the dangers of going here.

Yes Thailand and the rest of SE-Asia are more adventurous and dangerous, than the most countries in the west. That used to be the reason to go here, before it became a charterdestination.

So you have to be more vigilant and alert going here. But I presume that the people travelling here are adults and able to goggle Phuket, and after the first two pages with resorts and hotels, you'll find all the warnings you need. If afraid go somewhere else! In a case of violence in general, or diseases it is ok for governments to issue traveladvice, but apart from that IMO we are responsible for ourselves. No need for any government to tell us where to travel or not.

[edwinclapham]

The OP is spouting absolute rubbish, I am delighted our government are taking this stance!

In light of one of our Perth citizens who was brutally slain last week, I would expect nothing more from our Government and actually I find your post insulting!

Lets hope you will never require Larry Cunningham's assistance either whilst you are in Thailand! (Honorary Consul for Australia)

I applaud Australia for taking this stance !!

First of all the Australian Government has taken NO stance in this matter, merely a suggestion from an aussie barowner. Secondly (and no disrespect intended) the lady, who got slain was a travelagent, here to send even more Australians to Thailand, I don't think that she would have liked a paper handed out to her customers telling them about the dangers of going here.

Yes Thailand and the rest of SE-Asia are more adventurous and dangerous, than the most countries in the west. That used to be the reason to go here, before it became a charterdestination.

So you have to be more vigilant and alert going here. But I presume that the people travelling here are adults and able to goggle Phuket, and after the first two pages with resorts and hotels, you'll find all the warnings you need. If afraid go somewhere else! In a case of violence in general, or diseases it is ok for governments to issue traveladvice, but apart from that IMO we are responsible for ourselves. No need for any government to tell us where to travel or not.

THE Australian government has called on Thai authorities to clamp down on violence, extortion and scams against foreign tourists on the resort island of Phuket

That is a stance!

[cdnvic]

Running in Phuket news forum:

http://www.thaivisa....et-weapons-ban/