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A plan to phase out all jet-skis from Phuket's beaches produced more vehicles

Phuket Jet-Ski Summit as 'Scam' Scandal Screens

Thursday, September 10, 2009
Today's Updating Report

THE Governor of Phuket, Wichai Praisa-nob, has called a meeting this afternoon in Patong of all parties to try to resolve Phuket's jet-ski problems.

At the meeting, expected to last for two hours or more, will be the island's chief of police, representatives from the Marine Police, the Royal Thai Navy, jet-ski owners and the local tessaban Patong authority.

It is understood that ''JJ,'' a jet-ski operator seen confronting British Marines in a newly-made television series depicting the activities of Thailand's tourist police, was called in for questioning by police yesterday.

The tv series, 'Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand,' graphically depicts an incident in which ''JJ'' demands 44,000 baht for alleged damage to a jet-ski.

He is filmed with a gun in his hand while heatedly negotiating a price for the damage with British marines from HMS Bulwark.

The British warship docked at Phuket earlier this year, allowing leave for military personnel returning from duty in Afghanistan.

'Big Trouble' first screened in Britain on Monday night, becoming the latest incident to damage Phuket's reputation as a safe, non-violent destination for tourists.

It is expected the 'Big Trouble' series will be sold around the world, continuing to damage Phuket's reputation for years to come.

Thais who have downloaded the show have also been astonished at the damaging way Thailand is depicted. The incident involving ''JJ'' and jet-ski ''damage'' on Phuket is seen as another blow to the island's troubled reputation.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban recently echoed calls from Australian and British diplomats for Phuket and Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport to end the rip-offs and the damaging scams.

One major source of complaint is the jet-ski scam, where tourists are accused of damaging jet-skis, although the damage is pre-existing.

Local police have been accused of being in cahoots with the jet-ski operators, taking commission on the scams.

Governor Wichai and the island's Police Chief, Police Major General Pekad Tantipong, have taken charge of all future complaints involving jet-skis.

A previous governor organised the phasing-out of all jet-skis on the island over seven years. Instead of reducing, numbers have increased.

Jet-skis are banned in Phuket's neighboring tourist provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi.

Phuketwan will publish updates from the meeting later today


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UPDATE Phuket's governor tells tourist horror stories of jetski operators in Patong and makes it plain that the era of the scams and ripoffs is coming to a close.
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China Visitor Bucks Jetski Bid for 50,000 Baht
UPDATE Phuket's governor tells tourist horror stories of jetski operators in Patong and makes it plain that the era of the scams and ripoffs is coming to a close.
China Visitor Bucks Jetski Bid for 50,000 Baht

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Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

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The video is on u tube . This is a wake up call to the goverment to see how these thugs run Patong beach . i hope someone films the tuk tuk drivers, they are no better

Posted by Peter J notley on September 10, 2009 12:10

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Finally some problems will be taken care of seriously but sad that a series like this had to be put on air to react. Thailand is destroying itself and the funniest thing is that Thai people don't even see it.

Posted by Antony on September 10, 2009 12:30

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I speak as an expat resident, tourist and lover of Thailand. Short term it will do some harm, but long term it can only benefit Phuket. All of us who love this country often despair at the way tourists are treated, and we've all known about the many scams, whether it be Taxis in Bangkok, fake tourist guides, gem scams when the markets are "closed", dual pricing, jet skis, long boats, etc.---the list is endless.
I really hope that the Thai government will now take this issue seriously and start to pursue these scams in order to clean-up this beautiful country where 99% of the wonderful inhabitants are some of the friendliest and helpful people you could wish to meet.

Posted by paul hillsmith on September 11, 2009 09:11

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if they 'fix' all the bad things, what would be the difference between here and every other country?

let the buyer(renter) beware...

or at the very least use ur effin eyes. i wont say brains.

Posted by b on September 12, 2009 11:38

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Why didn't the British marines grab that jerk JJ and give him a damn good doing over. Maybe that'll get the message across.

Editor: Because, Bob, the British marines realise that violence solves nothing. People who advocate violence, and use racist put-downs, lack the qualities of wise marines.

Posted by Bob on September 12, 2009 14:15

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The thing is the same in Pattaya


http://www.personalthailand.com/wordpress/new-record-in-jet-ski-scams-in-pattaya/

Posted by Personal Thailand on September 12, 2009 15:10

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My Thai friend told me when this was shown on Thai TV they were saying that it was a British Mafia and JJ was the innocent party ! LOL

Posted by Andy on September 23, 2009 13:35


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