British Embassy Bangkok Joins Forces With Ministry Of Tourism To Tackle Tourist Scams

[webfact]

The British Embassy joins forces with Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism to tackle tourist scams

BANGKOK:-- Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports recently launched a television campaign to encourage Thais to be good hosts to foreign tourists.

With over 850,000 British tourists visiting Thailand each year, British Ambassador Mark Kent jumped at the opportunity to be involved and highlight some of the problems tourists face when visiting Thailand.

Mark joined the filming of the campaign with Chumpol Silpa-archa, Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism and Sports Minister. The television campaign (insert link to youtube video of commercial) will run until the end of December.

Mar Kent, British Ambassador, said:

“This cooperation with the Ministry is a concrete example of the Embassy’s continuous effort to tackle the problems some Brits encounter when in Thailand.

Each year more than 850,000 British nationals visit Thailand.

We at the Embassy here would like to make sure that they travel safely, receive a warm welcome and have a good time here.

The Consular team at the Embassy is here to help and we also work with the Thai government to make this happen.”

British Ambassador to Thailand on the campaign "Being Good Hosts" for Thailand tourism

Source: http://ukinthailand....sR&id=841961682

-- UK in Thailand 2012-12-07

[sandrabbit]

'BANGKOK:-- Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports recently launched a television campaign to encourage Thais to be good hosts to foreign tourists. '

Whilst this is true I would also like the reverse to be pointed out, I have seen so many fellow Brits treat Thais like shit for no reason except they were drunk and ignore the Thai culture. When in Rome?.

[OzMick]

I'm sure Chalerm will pop round with a report of how he has eliminated all those tourist mafias.

[johna]

While the decision to close the Pattaya consulate was probably made before Mark arrived it certainly wont help the victims of crime.

Then again as Britain slides towards 3rd world status maybe their tourists they will feel right at home in Pattaya.

[Mario2008]

I hope the Thai governnment will take the lead in showing a good example and abolishis its own dual pricing policy.

[FarangTalk]

Sad state of affairs when a foreign consular office has to step in to assist in doing a job the local authorities have failed to do.

We at the Embassy here would like to make sure that they travel safely, receive a warm welcome and have a good time here.

Strange, no mention in the article of Thailand being the most dangerous tourism destination for Britons.

It should be up to local authorities to make sure tourists receive a warm welcome and that wherever they travel to is safe.

The Embassy should only have to be concerned about the behaviour of its citizens abroad and issuing advice and travel warnings.

[jonclark]

While the decision to close the Pattaya consulate was probably made before Mark arrived it certainly wont help the victims of crime.

Then again as Britain slides towards 3rd world status maybe their tourists they will feel right at home in Pattaya.

Britain will never be 3rd world

[baboon]

Tourist scams? What, like chargng the best part of £200 for a new Passport? They ought to get into the jetski business...

[mancub]

A 20 second video politely asking people not to take advantage of Tourists is hardly worthy of the title " Tackling tourist scams " ! Nice touch showing happy holidaymakers having a great time on their rented jet-skis on Pattaya beach though !

Well done Mark ...about as useful as making a video wishing everyone a Merry Christmas !

[MrRed]

“This cooperation with the Ministry is a concrete example of the Embassy’s continuous effort to tackle the problems some Brits encounter when in Thailand."

​Absolute tosh man,speaking from the Embassy's flip-chart of well rehearsed nicey nicey responses....grow some balls and say what is really happening here....if they will let you that is! Ambassador my Arse!

[nong38]

I hope the Thai governnment will take the lead in showing a good example and abolishis its own dual pricing policy.

Like the reciprical pension agreement neither are on the agenda.

[upena]

As if any Thais, especially the Ministry of Tourism and Sports will listen to a Farang. And, what about the videos from Australia and the Netherlands that were posted here - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bureau-of-Prevention-and-Assistance-in-Tourist-Fraud/347089205337410?ref=ts&fref=ts at the

Bureau of Prevention and Assistance in Tourist Fraud Facebook page

[nong38]

I guess the biggest scams are property and jet ski's. Dont go near a jet ski and dont buy any sort of property especially if you cant feel it or physically see it for starters! Why anyone but a dreamer would want to even buy a genuine condo is a mystery to me. You dont who your neighbours are going to be and it will be difficult to sell on, plus it ties to the same places all the time, better to have short time rent or hotel, keep your money and your options open. Keep em peeled and dont have nightmares.

[asiamaster]

Aren't the Ministry of Tourism and the TOT the biggest tourist scams themselves?

[Tatsujin]

I'm sure Chalerm will pop round with a report of how he has eliminated all those tourist mafias.

. . . only after yet another overseas fact-finding mission with his cronies at the taxpayers expense . . .

[topt]

I guess the biggest scams are property and jet ski's. Dont go near a jet ski and dont buy any sort of property especially if you cant feel it or physically see it for starters! Why anyone but a dreamer would want to even buy a genuine condo is a mystery to me. You dont who your neighbours are going to be and it will be difficult to sell on, plus it ties to the same places all the time, better to have short time rent or hotel, keep your money and your options open. Keep em peeled and dont have nightmares.

The article is about tourist scams and "Tourists" I would suggest are less likely to buy a condo (real or unreal).

The subject however has been done to death in enough posts so I am not sure why you are raising it again here...

Anyhow different strokes for different folks

[wildorchid]

I think if they told the bib NOT to try n rip tourist's off, that would be a start, then the the jet ski' boys told to behave or they will not operate, next the taxi's and the song tao's, to play nice and, WOW things are a hell of a lot better for the falang tourist and the thai people.

[wans]

the police could end the jetski scam in one day if they wanted, TV ads are just an admission that the police refuse or have no power or are too lazy to act

[arrowsdawdle]

While the decision to close the Pattaya consulate was probably made before Mark arrived it certainly wont help the victims of crime.

Then again as Britain slides towards 3rd world status maybe their tourists they will feel right at home in Pattaya.

You have no doubt nailed it as this new collaboration may be the result of the Brits waking up and taking a page from the TAT playbook to get their turn at the 30% cookie jar.

[arrowsdawdle]

A 20 second video politely asking people not to take advantage of Tourists is hardly worthy of the title " Tackling tourist scams " ! Nice touch showing happy holidaymakers having a great time on their rented jet-skis on Pattaya beach though !

Well done Mark ...about as useful as making a video wishing everyone a Merry Christmas !

Just enough video to get n'er-do-wells into the mindset that, "Hey, maybe cousin Somchai is right, it is easy to cheat these falang for some fast cash."

Edited December 7, 2012 by arrowsdawdle

[NoshowJones]

While the decision to close the Pattaya consulate was probably made before Mark arrived it certainly wont help the victims of crime.

Then again as Britain slides towards 3rd world status maybe their tourists they will feel right at home in Pattaya.

Britain will never be 3rd world

Will it not? The way things are going in Britain, the population will soon be outnumbered by emigrants from third world countries, so that will make Britain a third world country. Thank goodness I now live in Thailand.

[NoshowJones]

A 20 second video politely asking people not to take advantage of Tourists is hardly worthy of the title " Tackling tourist scams " ! Nice touch showing happy holidaymakers having a great time on their rented jet-skis on Pattaya beach though !

Well done Mark ...about as useful as making a video wishing everyone a Merry Christmas !

or putting ashtrays on their motorbikes.

[Briandajew]

No doubt Mark has plenty of time on his hands as neither he or any of his staff actually do anything that a British Citizen expects of a British embassy......like issuing or renewing a British passport, we have to do that via Hong Kong.

Besides, if your office is only open for about 3 hours a day, then he won't have much time to do any thing else.

[Lancelot]

'BANGKOK:-- Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports recently launched a television campaign to encourage Thais to be good hosts to foreign tourists. '

Whilst this is true I would also like the reverse to be pointed out, I have seen so many fellow Brits treat Thais like shit for no reason except they were drunk and ignore the Thai culture. When in Rome?.

No argument about some folks misbehaving, of all nationalaties.

As Devil's advocate, lets say all future British "guests" are well behaved, well dressed and spoken travelers. Do you honestly think the local scammers will decease and desist because the Brits are being nice?

The culture of scamming is, unfortunately, ingrained in some of the locals and I don't see it ever decreasing, let alone ending. Prove me wrong

Edited December 7, 2012 by Lancelot

[bender92]

While the decision to close the Pattaya consulate was probably made before Mark arrived it certainly wont help the victims of crime.

Then again as Britain slides towards 3rd world status maybe their tourists they will feel right at home in Pattaya.

Britain will never be 3rd world

4TH world then?

[KhunMichael]

While the decision to close the Pattaya consulate was probably made before Mark arrived it certainly wont help the victims of crime.

Then again as Britain slides towards 3rd world status maybe their tourists they will feel right at home in Pattaya.

Britain will never be 3rd world

Yes...., true.... they will directly jump to 4th.

[khunken]

I wonder if he really knows what he is doing in cooperating with Silpa-Archa the rape-excusing minister. To say the least this seems of doubtful worth.

[wolf5370]

wow trolls are out today - Britain will not be a 3rd world country. Immigrant per percentage population is higher in Germany and far higher in the USA (both resident and yearly incoming) - will they also be thrid world (or fourth????) ? This also ignores the fact that mostly immigrantion inwards is of benefit to the country with an aging population and skills shortage. When hard times come, like now, jobs dry up and its often the immigrants who leave first (as we saw with the Polish exodus a few years back following the housing collapse). Britain still maintains its triple A status - find me a 3rd world country that also does?

There is no way that corruption and scammers will be removed from Thailand. The scammers support the police, the police support the civil service and politicians and the civil service / politicians support the military. Corruption is too ingrained and is the glue that has held the political and social structure of this country together since the removal of absolute monarchy. Every layer of every state structure is dependant on corruption for their jobs, jobs for family, promotion and money. The whole system is heavily over manned and under efficient - there would be chaos if suddenly it all just stopped. Remove the scammers and its like kicking out the foundations. Scammers are 'great' because they prey on transient foreigners and there are plenty of those every year.

Most tourists go home unscammed, none the wiser about being scammed or unhurt by the scams (i.e. getting ripped of a few hundred baht by tuktuk drivers/bar bills/etc - often which is still less than they are used to generally paying back home) - so mostly its easy to ignore. If it gets too bad - like the jet skii documentaries a few years back, then there is some noise, some temporary crack down - may be a few arrests (that often result in small fines) - then its back to business again. When very bad things happen - like bent police murdering foreigners in bars (like a few years back) - or hotel mistakes costing tourist lives, then its cover up - excuses, BS and slapped wrists at best.

All this is helped along with embassies (from all countries) turning a blind eye in favour of business opportunities, and the media and holiday companies glossing everything over with a jasmine scented myopic brush.

This is the price for living in, or visiting, a country with the morals of a banana republic.

Edited December 7, 2012 by wolf5370

[kevvy]

dont you just get sick and tired of all these people(government) saying lets fix it... just fix it it is not rocket science to do.

[harryfrompattaya]

'BANGKOK:-- Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports recently launched a television campaign to encourage Thais to be good hosts to foreign tourists. '

Whilst this is true I would also like the reverse to be pointed out, I have seen so many fellow Brits treat Thais like shit for no reason except they were drunk and ignore the Thai culture. When in Rome?.

Please tell us Thai Culture and how you know it is Thai Culture or just a Thai Con