Junta is going to tackle Jetski scams in Thailand
At the request of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Ministry of Tourism, the problem of corrupt jet ski operators in Thailand is being addressed immediately.
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has ordered the vetting and regulation of the Jet Ski companies.
Jet ski scams have been causing a lot of damage to the reputation of the tourism sector in Thailand for some time now. After a ride on the rented jet ski, tourists are told that they have damaged the device and they must pay for the repair. This concerns amounts of up to 100.000 Baht. The tourist must then pay for damage that was already present before the vessel was rented. If tourists refuse to pay, intimidation and threats of violence will follow. Calling in the police makes little sense because in many cases they are part of the conspiracy.
The unpleasant experience with the rental of Jet skis has led to a flood of complaints from tourists to their national embassies. Pattaya and Phuket in particular are notorious for scams, there are even videos on Youtube to warn other tourists.
The NCPO has ordered that the problem be addressed immediately. There will now be rules drawn up in the so-called 'Jet Ski Rental Service Standards'. It states that Jet Ski rental companies receive a license for three months at a time. A condition for the license is that the name and address of the lessor is recorded. The Jetski entrepreneurs must also take out insurance and lessors must appoint certified supervisors with a first aid diploma. These regulators must inform tourists in advance about the rental costs and the conditions for rental. Only Jetski operators who meet all the conditions set receive a quality mark: 'Merry Elephant' from the Ministry of Tourism, so that tourists can see that it is a bona fide rental company.
The 'Jet Ski Rental Service Standards' will also include rules regarding the safety of tourists who rent a Jestski. Every tourist receives an instruction in advance about the operation of the jet ski and the safety rules, in addition, every tenant of the vessel must wear a life jacket.
mr. Thawatchai Arunyik of the TAT is pleased with the measures: “If we strive to improve the image of Thailand's tourism industry, it is essential that all jet ski companies understand that such standards are vital. The quality of service, staff training and business ethics must improve. From now on, the operators involved in defrauding and damaging Thailand's reputation will face prosecution and termination of their activities.”
“We hope that these new regulations will help tourists enjoy water sports in Thailand without the fear of being scammed.”
Source: TAT news
You can't say it out loud, but it's actually quite nice, the occasional coup d'état.
@ eric donkaew.:
If you didn't say it out loud, I didn't secretly hear it.
Moderator: Please respond to the topic of the posting.
I have been coming to Phuket for more than 20 years.
I have seen fatal accidents with jet ski and parasailing several times.
Hundreds of tourists are scammed every year for big money. Tourist police
engaging only leads to higher amounts because they also want to communicate
in the booty. The extortion is accompanied by brutal violence, where weapons are used if necessary.
Incidents can be seen on Youtube.
In Phuket, after 2000, all jet skis would be off the beach and banned. However, 2000 already came
fast so it would be tolerated for a while. In 2014, nothing has changed.
When the junta came to power a few months ago, the beach was swept clean.
Massage and stalls where you could buy something to drink had to be removed from the beach. Also
the beach chairs had to die. Jestski and parasailing were away for a few days and
to make matters worse, they were back very soon. Completely incomprehensible.
I really don't understand that there are still Western tourists (although they don't come much after Phuket)
who still want to rent his thing. You now see the Chinese and Indians as the next victims.
The Russians are by no means easy prey, because they have not been afraid.
I don't want to go on a jet ski for free yet because you know that after 15 minutes or so a hefty bill will be presented. Warn and advise everyone against renting a jet ski. Just never start.
YES
Even experienced it, even if it was only 1500 baht.
I'm never stepping on it again.
they should also do the same with scooter companies
I worked in the tourist industry and heard from the office that they received many complaints from Thai holidaymakers about this kind of practice, including with scooters. Even advised their customers to always take photos before departure, including those of the landlords. How do you kill a beautiful country like Thailand.
But the taxis of Kho Samui can also do something about it, by asking a fare of 4 to 8 times the price of Bangkok, so many complaints.
And they also have to provide the tuk-tuk in Bangkok with a meter, only then will they be doing well.
But hey, Thailand, “after a few months the jet skis are back on the beach” and everything is back to normal.
gr. Nico
The worst thing about jet skis and parasailing is the space they take up along the beach in Patong.
Plenty of space to bring the jet skis and parasailing to the beach.
And small deposited areas of water, where beachgoers can wade at low tide.
Because before it gets deep, you're almost at the barrier with floats.
They can make so many rules, it's purely about checking them, which means nothing. From August 12, taxis on Samui must use their meters. All a nice big sticker on the car with what amount they start. Have asked people who call a lot of taxis for customers, but there is no taxi that turns on its meter. According to the people I spoke to, the taxi drivers are also aware of exactly where and when there are police checks. So all in all still a corrupt gang and that's how it will go with the jet skis.
Applause for this plan of action and no half measures please!
A few weeks ago on the beach of Phuket I also saw the Jetski rental companies busy. However, there was also an army officer in the area who ensured that the trailers were parked neatly away from the beach and if there was no rental, even the jet skis had to be taken out of the water and parked away from the beach between the trees.
If you then know that these are the criminals, who always had to take the jet ski out of the water with three men and push it up by hand, I of course had a lot of fun watching them busy…. however, things did not go well for them, you could read from their faces.
All well and good, certification, then a company is reliable. Yes … and then, a lessor who asks for money because his jet ski is said to have been damaged by the renter. Who is going to help the tourist who is threatened? Police? Yes, he was also part of the conspiracy in the past. Only then can you complain somewhere afterwards, a permit may even be revoked. Are you better off as a tourist? Maybe it all helps a bit, will it continue to help? Big doubts about that. Just the permit under a different name and off you go, on your way.
Nico B
The problem with these landlords has existed for years, and is known to almost every tourist, and cannot be improved in the long run with a temporary military action. There should be stricter laws whereby these jet ski rental companies can lose their licenses on lifespan. At the moment it is just advisable to take warnings seriously and not to hire, this has more effect than 10 military governments.
I can see that the pressure of the uniforms now sitting has more influence than the group of hotemets who have been paid for years. Force foreign eyes, new brooms sweep clean. But if the influence of the currently incumbent club uniforms diminishes in favor of … and the old lines are restored after elections, the gangs will soon be back.
The only thing that helps is a boycott of certain tourist centers by international tour operators. Then the hotels and pubs and go go's remain empty and maybe they fill more back pockets than jet ski rental companies?
But as temporary relief from the rubble? Nice bonus.