PHUKET: A company using Burmese instructors to teach Chinese tourists to dive at an island off Phuket was shut down today - with a New Year purge on all fake dive companies now likely.
The dive company, Hou Hai Diver Co Ltd, was promoting itself on the Internet using photos of clients in Santa hats underwater, holding up starfish and a turtle.
''I was amazed at what I found,'' said Phuket Tourism and Sport department director, ''Santi Clause'' Santi Pawai, who is still investigating the company's operations on Racha island, a popular destination about 40 minutes by speedboat from Phuket.
''Five Burmese are being held, awaiting the arrival of officers from Chalong Police Station on Phuket.
''It appears the company was set up by Chinese who then went back to China to run it, leaving the five Burmese here to do the hard work while the Chinese collected the money from package tourists.''
Khun Santi, who was in Soi Bangla at Patong checking discount package tour prices just last night, took a speedboat to Racha today as hundreds of tourists do each day.
The illegal company was operating from rented premises at Ter Bay on the east side of Racha. Chinese tourists would be driven to and from their instruction by the Burmese in samlaew motorcycles with locally-built sidecars.
''It appears the Chinese who go through this company may even be taking souvenirs from the seabed and breaking all the other rules as well,'' Khun Santi said.
Some of the Burmese had work identity cards from the construction industry.
''That's constructor, not instructor,'' he said, closing down the office.
Khun Santi made today's investigation following complaints from observers.
The company's web site is all in the Chinese language. Houhai is a district of central Beijing noted for its lakes.
The dive company, Hou Hai Diver Co Ltd, was promoting itself on the Internet using photos of clients in Santa hats underwater, holding up starfish and a turtle.
''I was amazed at what I found,'' said Phuket Tourism and Sport department director, ''Santi Clause'' Santi Pawai, who is still investigating the company's operations on Racha island, a popular destination about 40 minutes by speedboat from Phuket.
''Five Burmese are being held, awaiting the arrival of officers from Chalong Police Station on Phuket.
''It appears the company was set up by Chinese who then went back to China to run it, leaving the five Burmese here to do the hard work while the Chinese collected the money from package tourists.''
Khun Santi, who was in Soi Bangla at Patong checking discount package tour prices just last night, took a speedboat to Racha today as hundreds of tourists do each day.
The illegal company was operating from rented premises at Ter Bay on the east side of Racha. Chinese tourists would be driven to and from their instruction by the Burmese in samlaew motorcycles with locally-built sidecars.
''It appears the Chinese who go through this company may even be taking souvenirs from the seabed and breaking all the other rules as well,'' Khun Santi said.
Some of the Burmese had work identity cards from the construction industry.
''That's constructor, not instructor,'' he said, closing down the office.
Khun Santi made today's investigation following complaints from observers.
The company's web site is all in the Chinese language. Houhai is a district of central Beijing noted for its lakes.
Construction workers as Dive Instructors, hahahahahaha, that is the joke of the year. Are dive companies not registrated with a Dive Instructors list on name? By the way, did khun Santi at the same time check that hotel on Racha Island that release untreatedted water and polute the sea bottom, coral beds and underwater environment around the Island/ A few months ago a Vice Governor with many of her staff went to check that there.
Posted by Kurt on December 31, 2014 19:40