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Chinese Tourists Catch Nemo in Bag
By Prasit Tarnsirisin Saturday, June 13, 2015
PHUKET: Officials from Phuket paid a visit to a popular day trip island yesterday - and actually saw tourists capturing tropical fish in a plastic bag as well as feeding them bread.
Phuket Tourism and Sport Director Santi Pawai, who also oversees Phang Nga, went to the island with Tourist Police and surprised a guide who was feeding bread to fish to attract them for a group of Chinese tourists.
''We also saw a tourist using a plastic bag to capture fish so she could inspect them more closely,'' Khun Santi said. The guide told the officials he worked as a freelance for Phuket-based Joel Thai Co.,Ltd.
Khun Santi took away the man's licence immediately and told him to be in the Tourism and Sport office on Monday with a representative from the tour company.
Officials in Phuket and around the Andaman region are increasingly troubled by reports being posted on social media sites more and more often showing that many tourists still abuse the environment because they are not instructed properly by guides.
''It really is vital to preserve the natural beauty of the Andaman region that guides give proper instructions to their tour groups about the need to be hands-off and to respect the environment at all times,'' Khun Santi said.
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Comments
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Phuket officials - these are the tourists you so desparately want. Why are you surprised by their actions? You have driven away the well behaved European tourists. You reap what you sow!
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
June 13, 2015 10:47
The Chinese have messed up large parts of their country to such an extent often you can hardly see literally through the pollution. Nemos are easy to catch as they live in anemones which actually mean that area is healthy to an extent but then this is just single view, what was it like 10 years ago. Guides caught destroying the environment like this there should be mandatory jail of 30 days minimum up to 5 years. Apart from the obvious reasons 100,000's of Thai rely on Phuket to be kept beautiful so the tourists still come, but now it is mainly uneducated Chinese shouting and spitting.
Posted by
Not Sue
on
June 13, 2015 11:03
Looking at the first picture provided by Phuketwan, the Illegal restaurant is still there!!!!
TAT is looking for small breaches of law but do nothing about illegal businesses encroaching public beaches and are polluting the underground soil - Wastes from toilets and foods and washing dishes - which is an big environmental problem !!!!
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
June 13, 2015 11:36
Editor Comment:
TAT is a marketing organisation. Enforcement of closure of an illegal restaurant is probably the responsibility of Phang Nga Marine 5.
Editor Comment: TAT is a marketing organisation. Enforcement of closure of an illegal restaurant is probably the responsibility of Phang Nga Marine 5.
I disagree with Phuketwan because Khun santi works for TAT Registration and he is in power to request an investigation by the authorities in charge to crack down illegal businesses on public lands, beaches and Marine National parks (NCPO, DNP, Harbour department - Region Marine 5, Thai Navy, Marine Police and so on...).
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
June 13, 2015 11:49
Editor Comment:
Khun Santi works for Tourism and Sport. They are based at Surakul Stadium. The TAT is a different organisation, based in central Phuket City.
These must have been quality Chinese because they were not caught eating the fish or using it to flavour the 5 minute noodles
Posted by
MoW
on
June 13, 2015 11:54
Look at what a mess Phuket tourism is, whole areas of bars/restaurants/dive schools closing down, restaurants trying to stay in business by offering cheap food but many also closed. Europeans/Scandis that were so common a few years ago are now nowhere to be seen sure the economy is not so good but there are still taking holidays just not here. The Visa situation is tricky but now unless you are old or working it is hard to stay a long time. So if I am a person with a few million dollars and under 50 and do not want to work I can't come to Thailand to live? Then everyone moans we only have low class expats/tourists. Millionaires want to mix with other millionaires and many countries will take millionaires even the over restrictive Australia, a country of immigrants who now are xenophobic and do not want immigration. So what's left many poorly maintained coaches pumping out black smoke (would never pass a test in the UK) ferrying Chinese around. Unless you like black smoke being pumped all over you in 32C heat this is not for you. Really are Europeans going to return to places like Kata that have so many dark closed down businesses? Many areas look depressing! What do the Chinese bring to the economy, ok they shop in pre-defined venues and go home and probably claim the VAT back. Nothing against Chinese but here we get the low class uneducated Chinese, not the same as in London etc. PS they do not shout or spit in London! Thais are not good 2nd language speakers so there are few tours for Westerners as a tour guide is a Thai reserved job then they wonder why the quality tourists do not come, the list of reason goes on and on but I have no sympathy I do not work here. After Asean will a Mandarin and Enlgish speaking Singaporean be able to work as a tour guide? It would be a positive start to cater for quality tourists.
Posted by
Not Sue
on
June 13, 2015 12:54
Sue, the 'millionaires' have the Visa elite program, which gives 5 years relatively hassle free (and does not really require one to be millionaire as it is not THAT expensive). Though it is a problem that it is the only fully legal, non employment/study option for unmarried, under 50's.
As to Asean and tour guides, short answer is no, not only has Thailand kept it protected trades protected, the whole thing it looking like there will no real free movement of workers for some time to come.
As to rest of your post, yep pretty much, despite headline numbers being up (due mainly to chinese) the majority of business dependant of tourism are getting getting decimated. But not just because of Chinese, who only spend money where tour allows them and tour only allows them where they get a huge cut, even the western tourists are dropping in 'quality' fast, it's all young backpacker or bali types for whom an 'expensive day/night out' is a 1000 baht
Posted by
Lashay
on
June 13, 2015 15:43
I manage some business... My customers will not come back mainly for high prices and zero improvement in services. And for the rampage pollution everywhere: Nai Harn beach for example look like a dump garbage site and all the channels and small rivers are full only by dark and smell water that at the end go to the sea and the beaches. The traffic is crazy and go around is very very dangerous mainly because of cement trucks, bus and minibus that ran at crazy speed compared their size (and that are the main cause of mortal accident on the road). All this is easy to fix by authority, but without the will the result is this: hihg quality tourist -30%, low quality tourist +50%. No money no honey.. But this time is for thai involved in tourists business..
Posted by
dave
on
June 13, 2015 16:53
@ Lashay my nickname is Not Sue - not Sue please....when I say "live" I mean equivalent to permanent residency and then citizenship. If I was a wealthy person and wanted to buy a house, car, boat etc I would not want to worry that every year Immigration could refuse my renewal which is the case with Elite and indeed all Visas. For example this is how it works in Australia and then I know my investments are safe and I can always use them after I think two years. Otherwise if Immigration refuse a renewal what happens to the house, car and boat etc. I think if Thailand wants to attract wealthy people they need to grant permanent residency/citizenship. I think this would help attract this sector.
Posted by
Not Sue
on
June 13, 2015 18:19
God knows what is happening inside those remote pre-build chinese venues!
Posted by
Sam
on
June 13, 2015 18:54
...as raw sewage flows into the Andaman from each and every beach.
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
June 13, 2015 19:36
Investor visa - 3 mil THB in the bank ( or condo ) qualify and at any age and get 1 year permission to stay. Worked for me.
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
June 13, 2015 19:43
Editor Comment:
Something perhaps just for Americans
I agree with @Dave regarding the condition of beaches in Phuket. It's a sad state of affairs that both Bangtao and Layan Beach are also a garbage dump. Taking a walk on the beach is not enjoyable anymore when all you see is trash thrown everywhere. It's really disgusting that such natural beauty is being ruined. I say the government should employ out-of-work Thai people to remove all the garbage on a daily basis. And after they get that under control, to extend this type of service to the streets of Phuket. Each district should have their own designated street cleaners and provide trash cans to discourage people from throwing it on the ground. Simultaneously, the Thai government should begin an advertising campaign for KEEPING PHUKET CLEAN. Push for it in the schools, in the media...everywhere. It would be money very well spent.
Posted by
Paradise
on
June 13, 2015 21:42
Editor Comment:
Is that a job Thais would wish to do? Employing Burmese might be more effective. But there is no budget.
Re investor visa; was for everyone but am incorrect - no longer available at 3 mil, now is at 10 mil THB.
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
June 14, 2015 07:07
In addition to if the government change the Immigration criteria and then you have purchased assets here and cannot live here Thailand has to remember like any other country if you are wealthy (legally) there are many countries that want you and why not providing you don't have a criminal record etc. Clearly by the fact so many businesses are closing on Phuket if the government wants to encourage higher spending expats and tourists they need to look a different options but there again maybe they are content. As the saying goes in Thailand "Up to you"
Posted by
Not Sue
on
June 14, 2015 09:03
@Not Sue (ex-FF)
Thailand has to remember like any other country if you are wealthy (legally)
===
you are again trashing hot air, without real knowledge:
no (normal) country in this world - except may be very few banana republics, with close to zero attraction for tourists - will not provide a kind of tourist visa for a stay longer than 90-180 days - without complying with extra covenants be it 1) a kind investment ( in real estate, in government bonds, in the local enterprises or subordinated capital of local banks etc. or 2) still a kind of employment.
Any country runs a risk of amending rules, and they actually regularly doing that, to unsatisfaction of visa holders ;)
Posted by
Sue
on
June 14, 2015 12:53
Sue,
I am grateful for Chinese immigration. We have a good local Chinese restaurant although I don't think I will order those small coloured fish again.
Posted by
Sue Booree
on
June 14, 2015 15:24
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Phuket officials - these are the tourists you so desparately want. Why are you surprised by their actions? You have driven away the well behaved European tourists. You reap what you sow!
Posted by Discover Thainess on June 13, 2015 10:47