PHUKET: A real crackdown - as distinct from previous pretend crackdowns - is likely on illegal and unregistered tour agencies from early September, a meeting of about 300 agencies heard today.
Rear Admiral Prayuth Phuthien told the gathering at the Metropole Hotel in Phuket City that Royal Thai Navy 3 intended to enforce the law and provide justice for all, regardless of nationality.
In a test run, Santi Pawai, who now heads the Bureau of Tourism Business and Guide Registration, visited four tour agencies yesterday and found one that was illegal, with no Thai employees.
He told Phuketwan outside the Metropole meeting that all companies on Phuket will be obliged to conform, and said all resorts with counter tour agencies operating in their foyers had to ensure those agencies were registered to operate.
''We will start with the largest businesses and work through all 1600 tour agencies on Phuket,'' he said. The agency that failed to measure up yesterday was ordered to stop and the business will be deregistered.
The 300 people at the Metropole today represented some of the largest tour agencies. Rear Admiral Prayuth said that all agencies would be treated equally, ''and we will find the people who are illegal and ripping off tourists.''
He said the Navy's four priorities in conducting the islandwide checks were:
.. Fairness and justice for all
.. Instant, thorough checks on documentation
.. Any people without correct documentation will be called to ''clarify themselves''
.. If it's decided that the operator is in the wrong, the case will be referred to police
''The Royal Thai Navy supports the proper functioning of Thailand's economy,'' the rear admiral said. ''We will be carrying out instructions according to the National Council for Peace and Order, the Prime Minister and the Commander of Royal Thai Navy 3.
No illegal businesses would be tolerated, he said. ''We all have to work under the same law, whether Thai, foreign or something else,'' he added.
''If the rules are broken, we have to correct the problem. We have to use law enforcement. And we do this in the understanding that law enforcement has been weak in the past.''
Khun Santi, who remains Director of the Tourism and Sport office on Phuket, has already told Phuketwan that he plans to apply standard rates where possible across the tour agencies and resorts so that there is no price-dumping.
He says quality competition should be based on similar rates, leaving the customer free to make a decision on the value of the services involved.
He told the meeting that Phuket had 4000 Thai guides who spoke a variety of languages and they should be employed as genuine guides, not as ''sitting guides to meet legal requirements while other non-Thai guides performed the role.
Rear Admiral Prayuth Phuthien told the gathering at the Metropole Hotel in Phuket City that Royal Thai Navy 3 intended to enforce the law and provide justice for all, regardless of nationality.
In a test run, Santi Pawai, who now heads the Bureau of Tourism Business and Guide Registration, visited four tour agencies yesterday and found one that was illegal, with no Thai employees.
He told Phuketwan outside the Metropole meeting that all companies on Phuket will be obliged to conform, and said all resorts with counter tour agencies operating in their foyers had to ensure those agencies were registered to operate.
''We will start with the largest businesses and work through all 1600 tour agencies on Phuket,'' he said. The agency that failed to measure up yesterday was ordered to stop and the business will be deregistered.
The 300 people at the Metropole today represented some of the largest tour agencies. Rear Admiral Prayuth said that all agencies would be treated equally, ''and we will find the people who are illegal and ripping off tourists.''
He said the Navy's four priorities in conducting the islandwide checks were:
.. Fairness and justice for all
.. Instant, thorough checks on documentation
.. Any people without correct documentation will be called to ''clarify themselves''
.. If it's decided that the operator is in the wrong, the case will be referred to police
''The Royal Thai Navy supports the proper functioning of Thailand's economy,'' the rear admiral said. ''We will be carrying out instructions according to the National Council for Peace and Order, the Prime Minister and the Commander of Royal Thai Navy 3.
No illegal businesses would be tolerated, he said. ''We all have to work under the same law, whether Thai, foreign or something else,'' he added.
''If the rules are broken, we have to correct the problem. We have to use law enforcement. And we do this in the understanding that law enforcement has been weak in the past.''
Khun Santi, who remains Director of the Tourism and Sport office on Phuket, has already told Phuketwan that he plans to apply standard rates where possible across the tour agencies and resorts so that there is no price-dumping.
He says quality competition should be based on similar rates, leaving the customer free to make a decision on the value of the services involved.
He told the meeting that Phuket had 4000 Thai guides who spoke a variety of languages and they should be employed as genuine guides, not as ''sitting guides to meet legal requirements while other non-Thai guides performed the role.
I guess that means airport taxis taking tourists from the airport won't be diverting to the tour agency that always claims that the hotel you have booked has burnt down, or is closed and also gives the hard-sell on tours.
Posted by sir burr on August 27, 2014 13:52