DSI called in to tackle taxis and raid foreign businesses

[bangon04]

"The businesses listed in Annex III of the FBA cover those in which Thais are deemed not yet ready to compete with foreigners."

Does it include owning and operating go go bars??

[IAMSOBAD]

When will they arrest the crooked BIB all over the country? They run more scams than all the criminals combined.

[pomchop]

“We have been gathering information for some time. We have found that in some cases the mafia gangs have even barred ambulances from picking up patients at hotels. The patients were made to take unlicensed-taxi rides," Mr Tarit said.

Just what you want to hear if you have a heart attack at your hotel....no you cannot go in an ambulance...you must go in taxi....and must pay in advance in case you die enroute.

[onflipflops]

Well the first place they should start is cleaning up the TukTuk's. I would say that they account for a good percentage of the complaints of foreign visitors.

As far as the Foreign business operating they had better get used to it because as soon as the AEC kicks in a few years from now, they will be overrun with foreign owned businesses and they will be completely legal, so this should be a wake up call for the locals.

If they keep up the tactics of the last 10 or so years, there may not be any tourists left by the time the AEC starts anyway.

As stated many times, the tourists are getting very tired of being ripped of every time they walk out from their hotel.

i was wondering about that. Is it easier to start a business in any of the AEC member countries (other than Thailand) as a foreigner? Do they have a similar job protecting list in these countries? And would that allow one to fully operate in Thailand while being stationed in one of the other member countries?

[k9guy62]

I love this country, but it ceases to amaze the level of corruption that exists at every level of existence here. How does the government actually think that by announcing their plans to spearhead an effort to stop this and give all the information as to when it will begin will actually help in their efforts? I have no doubt that the government is involved in nearly all facets of the corruption and mafia activity going on Phuket. It's really a crying shame because Phuket is a truly beautiful place to visit and to live.

[jpeg]

'The officers, expected to arrive on Thursday for a two-day campaign'

Only 2 days and days fully known. Oh well time to take 2 days off for the black taxis.

Please do enlighten me as to how any 'crackdown' on 'black ' taxis, who charge the same exorbitant rate as the legal mafia , will benefit us? Or is this just parroting the vested interests' 'taking food from our lying ugly mouths' bs?

[eezergood]

I would like to see them all investigated for payment of TAX!!!

[Valentine]

Bullshit! Obviously it is nice for a Russian family to be picked up by a Russian taxi, taken to a Russian hotel, eat in a Russian restaurant etc but there are no such "Russian" conveniences in Egypt, Turkey, France or Spain and a lot more Russkies go there than to LOS. Thailand for Thais, everybody else is just a guest. and should not work here unless he has some exceptional skills which the Thais can't match. Make sensible rules and enforce them and everybody will win.

"unless he has some exceptional skills which the Thais can't match" - so, you have met a Thai who is fluent in the Russian language, have you????

I have & apparently she makes really good money.

[NamKangMan]

Bullshit! Obviously it is nice for a Russian family to be picked up by a Russian taxi, taken to a Russian hotel, eat in a Russian restaurant etc but there are no such "Russian" conveniences in Egypt, Turkey, France or Spain and a lot more Russkies go there than to LOS. Thailand for Thais, everybody else is just a guest. and should not work here unless he has some exceptional skills which the Thais can't match. Make sensible rules and enforce them and everybody will win.

"unless he has some exceptional skills which the Thais can't match" - so, you have met a Thai who is fluent in the Russian language, have you????

I have & apparently she makes really good money.

I read an article a couple of days ago in the business section of a publication that can not be mentioned here, but the fact it has a business section should give it away.

The article stated AirAsia have emploed something like, from memory, 120 Chinese speaking Thai's for their air routes to and from China. Obviously, this adds to customer service.

You would think the Thai Government would allow a few work permits for translators until Thai's working in the tourism industry are reasonably fluent in Russian.

Locking up a few illegals reduces sales and customer service and achieves nothing for tourism.

[pagallim]

Bullshit! Obviously it is nice for a Russian family to be picked up by a Russian taxi, taken to a Russian hotel, eat in a Russian restaurant etc but there are no such "Russian" conveniences in Egypt, Turkey, France or Spain and a lot more Russkies go there than to LOS. Thailand for Thais, everybody else is just a guest. and should not work here unless he has some exceptional skills which the Thais can't match. Make sensible rules and enforce them and everybody will win.

Egypt and Turkey (you're forgetting Cyprus also) are visa friendly towards Russians, as of course is Thailand (with their 90 day on arrival exemption). France and Spain are not, with both requiring a Schengen Visa. You'll find the number of Russian visitors to either country to be far less than currently visits Thailand. However, there are far less constraints in either country, particularly in their current economic climates, for foreignors (including Russians) setting up and managing businesses which they can wholly own (as with land also in these countries).

[KarenBravo]

Russians don't get 90 days on arrival. They get 30 days just like most other nationalities.

[stevenl]

Bullshit! Obviously it is nice for a Russian family to be picked up by a Russian taxi, taken to a Russian hotel, eat in a Russian restaurant etc but there are no such "Russian" conveniences in Egypt, Turkey, France or Spain and a lot more Russkies go there than to LOS. Thailand for Thais, everybody else is just a guest. and should not work here unless he has some exceptional skills which the Thais can't match. Make sensible rules and enforce them and everybody will win.

"unless he has some exceptional skills which the Thais can't match" - so, you have met a Thai who is fluent in the Russian language, have you????

I have & apparently she makes really good money.

I read an article a couple of days ago in the business section of a publication that can not be mentioned here, but the fact it has a business section should give it away.

The article stated AirAsia have emploed something like, from memory, 120 Chinese speaking Thai's for their air routes to and from China. Obviously, this adds to customer service.

You would think the Thai Government would allow a few work permits for translators until Thai's working in the tourism industry are reasonably fluent in Russian.

Locking up a few illegals reduces sales and customer service and achieves nothing for tourism.

I have said this many times before, but yuou keep ignoring it: the Thais don't want the Russians here anymore, and are now regretting their attempts to get them here. Chinese are very welcome, hear of any problems with Chinese speakers?

[Felt 35]

Its all in the wording. It means problems for foreign businesses, legal or illegal. Later then we will see the heading in media that many foreign businesses operate on the border to be illegal but the crackdown on illegal taxis show that only one driver was unlicensed.

Edited July 20, 2013 by Felt 35

[Felt 35]

Bloody foreigners!

All jobs that includes overcharging, treats, cheating and scamming are reserved for Thai nationals!

What would happen to Thainess, if foreigners took over that market??

Spoke to a friend of mine on the phone today. He's in Pattaya. He said Russians and Chinese everywhere. Russians working, obviously illegally, everywhere. Everyone making money.

It appears no need for the police to extort, scam, cheat etc up in Pattaya when everyone is happy making money and the tourist receive a better service.

It would be interesting to interview two seperate Russian couples - one couple who went to Phuket, and the other couple who went to Pattaya, and hear their comments on their holiday.

Similarly, it would be even more interesting to interview the same Russian couple after they have both been to the other destination - I think Phuket would lose out - twice.

Tourists know when they are getting "ripped" here - and they don't forget, and they don't come back.

Pattaya Police and Mayor are by far more intelligent than their counterparts in Phuket.

In Pattaya they close their eyes on many things, but they get rewarded for it in more ways than 1.

In Pattaya, they do everything trying to keep the place as foreign heaven, because the money keeps rolling 365 days per year and everyone makes their bit, in Phuket they think by taking away money from foreigners, they will make money, not realizing, but by taking away money from foreigners they also scare off foreigners.

ie if there would be no Russian operators, Russians will simply stop to go there.

If there would be no English pub(English owned) English will simply stop to go and so on

Its a totally different mindset in Phuket, the indigenous population are confrontational and not so bright, and are mainly Muslim. Whereas Pattaya's local population have migrated to the area over the last 50 or so years, and have built up business, or come in to build business. There are a lot of Esarn employees as well. Generally the people of Pattaya even though they respect Buddhism generally there are not so many fanatics (exept a few weirdos who collect medallions & cover themselves with tattoos to keep the ghosts away!) but the people are generally calm and level headed with a very healthy live and let live attitude.

Following history books (what is to find) and well educated Thai friends it goes deeper than the mindset, its simply a inherited Gene.

[KarenBravo]

Just a continuation of the "all problems in Phuket are caused by foreigners" mind-set.

It plays well with the home team.

[NamKangMan]

@ stevenl

Hey, thy don't want any of us here, just our money. Nothing nw about that.

If they want the Russian money, they'll have to accept the Russians that come along with it. Can't have one without the other.

In relation to Chinese people causing trouble. This comes to mind.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Tourist-Police-arrest-illegal-Chinese-guides-20965.html

There are many Chinese here doing as the Russians. Then, you have the Burmese, Nepalese and Indians.

[stevenl]

@ stevenl

Hey, thy don't want any of us here, just our money. Nothing nw about that.

If they want the Russian money, they'll have to accept the Russians that come along with it. Can't have one without the other.

In relation to Chinese people causing trouble. This comes to mind.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Tourist-Police-arrest-illegal-Chinese-guides-20965.html

There are many Chinese here doing as the Russians. Then, you have the Burmese, Nepalese and Indians.

No, not the same. It is the Russians that are not wanted.

[NamKangMan]

@ stevenl

Hey, thy don't want any of us here, just our money. Nothing nw about that.

If they want the Russian money, they'll have to accept the Russians that come along with it. Can't have one without the other.

In relation to Chinese people causing trouble. This comes to mind.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Tourist-Police-arrest-illegal-Chinese-guides-20965.html

There are many Chinese here doing as the Russians. Then, you have the Burmese, Nepalese and Indians.

No, not the same. It is the Russians that are not wanted.

Why was this guy charged then?

What about all the other Chinese working here illegally?

If they really didn't want the Russians here, just make them all apply for 15 day visas, with strict criteria, before allowing them entry. That will cut the numbers down.

Sure, they don't want them here, but they want their money here, so, they let them in.

In the future, it also may be a case of Phuket not wanting the Russians and their money here, but in fact needing the Russians and their money here.

Edited July 20, 2013 by NamKangMan