Discover Thainess: Tourism Authority Of Thailand Collaborates With The Department Of Tourism To Eliminate Jet Ski Scams

Friday, July 24, 2015

Tourism Authority Of Thailand Collaborates With The Department Of Tourism To Eliminate Jet Ski Scams

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently announced a strategy to work with the Department of Tourism, under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, to solve the problem of tourists being scammed by corrupt jet ski operators. This step comes after the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) released a command to clean up and manage the company of jet skis in numerous of Thailand’s well-known beach locations.

Jet ski frauds have actually been damaging the track record of Thailand‘s tourist sector for some time. Usually, having returned a leased jet ski, travelers are informed that they have actually harmed it and need to pay a large repair service (approximately 100,000 Baht in some cases) fee for breaks and scratches that were currently present. These big fines are typically removed under the risk of violence, and numerous travelers have taken the step of lodging problems with their nationwide embassies after being scammed by jet ski operators.

Pattaya and Phuket are the two primary locations where tourists have actually been scammed and the practice is so well known that there is a video on YouTube which reveals the conmen in action, published as a cautioning to other travelers.

Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, TAT Governor said, ‘Because of the numerous reports lodged about these frauds, the NCPO has purchased that the problem be tackled immediately. The move is one of numerous procedures put in location by the NCPO to assist bring back the self-confidence of tourists going to the kingdom. To bring an end to rip-offs and frauds, brand-new policies will be put in place and more ethical working practices motivated.”.

The “Jet Ski Rental Service Standards”, which are coming into force, require that operators have at least a three-month legal company license tied to a permanent address along with a valid insurance coverage policy. In addition, licensed managers with first-aid training need to exist at all time. To make sure ethical and transparent services for travelers, jetski operators must plainly show the service charge as well as terms and conditions.

Rental stores adhering to the brand-new service standards will certainly be provided with a ‘Merry Elephant’ logo by the Department of Tourism to display. This emblem functions as a warranty that they are trusted jetski operators.

The regulations also extend to the safety of tourists utilizing this equipment. Anyone hiring a jet ski will certainly need to pass an evaluation test prior to they are permitted to take it out on the water. Once they pass this test they are still needed to wear conventional safety vests at all times.

The TAT Governor said “As we aim to improve the image of the nation’s tourism industry, it is essential that all jet ski companies understand that such standards are important and that they need to enhance their quality of service, staff training and business ethics. They likewise have to bring to the attention of the authorities any operators who are involved with scams and harming the reputation of Thailand, so that they can be prosecuted and dislodged of business.”.

“We hope that these brand-new regulations will certainly result in higher requirements which travelers can delight in some of the fun water sports Thailand can provide without fretting that they are going to be swindled by operators.”.

If you believe the Tourism Authority of Thailand is going to do anything to eliminate this scam, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I would like to sell you.