Pattaya officials try talking out jet ski problem

PATTAYA:--Pattaya officials again summoned beachfront jet ski operators, pleading with them to bring the scam artists in their midst into line, but taking no other actual corrective measures to end the extortion that has ruined the city’s reputation.

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh hosted the chat with vendors at city hall Sept. 3, informing them of the threat of a national boycott of Pattaya by India due to repeated victimization of Indian tourists at the hands of jet ski vendors, who rent their watercraft then extort tens of thousands of baht from them for supposed damage. The demands for payment are often made under threat of violence.

Pattaya has, for years, promised to bring the situation under control, set up several committees to draft new rules, and threaten sanctions, but, in the end, has followed through on none of its proposals. The most-recent meeting saw nothing more happen than for the deputy mayor to ask for cooperation.

Even then, shouts went up from various operators, proclaiming their innocence and objections to a suggestion made by the Pattaya Business & Tourism Association that the city should outright ban all jet skis to protect Pattaya’s tourism industry.

Ronakit acknowledged that only a minority of jet ski operators are involved in the scams, but told the vendors claiming to be innocent that it is their responsibility to get rid of the bad apples.

“This has to be stopped before the problems gets worse,” he said. “Recent crimes, including the bombing in Bangkok and the alleged rape of two Chinese tourists by Pattaya speedboat drivers have affected tourism enough. Jet ski scams are the last thing we need at the moment.”

- See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-officials-try-talking-out-jet-ski-problem-51066#sthash.AXuFNZ9n.dpuf

-- Pattaya Mail 2015-09-11

"Jet ski operators responsibilty to get rid of the bad apples" Pleading with them ? What a joke! Typical Thai way. Shut them done!!! Or is that too easy?

Talk Talk Talk

Laughable and Pathetic. Corruption Rules !!

Crap, even the mayor is scared to do anything about it. All they do is beg the scum to stop. Shows you who is in charge. What a shithole, the fox is in charge of the hen house. Kinda makes you afraid to be here when the crooks are running the show. Wild West I suppose.

As usual, all talk, NO action.

By the way, +1 on banning the jet skies completely.

It's getting better, just wait and see. Or we will have a total ban within 2017.

30 Pattaya 'Jet Ski Mafia' Warned to End Scam

By Khaosod Eng.

Crime Suppression Division director Maj. Gen. Akaradech Pimonsri, at center, speaks to the media today in Pattaya along with other CSD officers.

CHONBURI — More than 30 people have been placed on watchlist in the latest police effort to combat the notorious “jet ski scams” which have plagued the resort town of Pattaya for years.

A combined force of officers from Bangkok’s Crime Suppression Division, Marine Police, Tourism Police and Pattaya City Police Station visited Pattaya Beach today to canvas and question operators of jet ski rental businesses in the area in the most recent bid to rein in a practice which targets travelers.

Police Maj. Gen. Akaradech Pimonsri, director of the Crime Suppression Division, said police have received complaints about jet ski scammers extorting large sum of money from foreign tourists by claiming they had damaged their vehicles.

“We will combine forces from all agencies to be serious about inspecting, monitoring and preventing these problems,” he said. “We will coordinate with local authorities to set rules … to ensure fairness for society and tourists,” he said.

Read More: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1441976957&section=14&typecate=06

-- Khaosod English 2015-09-11

BS

These vendors have been doing this extortion racket for many years, No Business or group of Businesses have the right to ruin the reputation of the city for everyone else. Justice should be swift and sure. This foot dragging is exactly what will confirm the city officials are impotent. I like jet skies. But these vendors are Mafia to the core. And should be removed immediately. They have already been warned many times....I am not seeing any verbal warnings as a viable option.

It's amazing with all the information about the jet ski scams in Thailand that some people still fall for it. Obviously "awareness campaigns" are not working. With each new flavour of tourist (Indian, Chinese) that comes to Thailand looking to rent a jet ski (probably for their first ride on one ever) it just keeps the vendors in business. If no one rented, no business. No money. Jet skis go away. But that will never happen, I guess.

take them off the beach nobody wants them - solved

'working with local authorities' is a euphemism for the word 'warning', which is what the local authorities will get, before the CSD shows up. Aka; it's gonna be business as usual.

I thought they were going to be sorted out after Indias complaint, nothing ever happens and i guess thats part of TATs problem.Iget rid of them

More Mumbo-Jumbo.

More meaningless words.

So it's business as usual then.

The bib own them, or protect them. Remove the whole of the present police from there. And bring in from somewhere else. I hope the Indians apply sanctions. Thais only understand. Loss of revenue.

"while taking no other actual corrective measures to end the extortion"

This sums up each and every government in Thailand since the advent of WWII.

Picking a side is like having a favorite STD.

Rubbish.

Put up signs in Indian (Punjabi etc) saying "Warning Jet Ski Scam...". The Thais won't even be able to read it.

There have been a few videos of the scammers on YouTube.

I would feel happier if I saw these guys punished, and the confiscation of their jet-skis.

Police keeping an eye on operators should not be beyond their resources........

NOBODY WANTS THEM?????

There would be no scams if people didnt want them. It is obvious the Indians love the jet skis,as the Indian tourist board have threatened to boycott Pattaya.

Please please stop the scams or in 25 years you will be banned

They will not be stopped as there is too much money being passed up the chain of officials.

Corruption goes all the way to the top. How else could this scam survive for so long.

Teach them a lesson and shut them down for a week or two and strictly enforce it.Hit them where they like to hit the innocent tourist,,give them a taste of their own medicine and let them sample how it tastes.

This is all a big show. The scam will never end as long as the police are involved.

I wrote a reply on TV 5 or 6 years ago where I witnessed the same policeman come 3 times in the space of an hour or so to "arrest" foreign tourists who refused to pay. If he wasn't "involved" why did he bother to take the second and third tourist away.

A warning !

Good idea and should work as we know how compliant Thais are when warned. Just ask the airline and fishing industries for starters.

Some defamatory posts naming public figures have been removed

This is never ending same old same old You are in Thailand where Corruption is Everywhere and they don't care Tea money is more important then land of smiles The solution is simple Ban tem for good

“We will combine forces from all agencies to be serious about inspecting, monitoring and preventing these problems,” he said. “We will coordinate with local authorities to set rules … to ensure fairness for society and tourists,” he said.

Pointless

Police should NOT warn the jetski sharks, they should tell them. Second offenders should have their jet skis confiscated and then destroyed, the ski's not offender. Not sold back to the offender.