Dodgy tour operator suspended

The operator was found to have illegally employed unlicensed Chinese tour guides and tricked tourists into buying optional tours.

The decision came following complaints from tourists who were engaged in a heated argument with the agency. 

There are reportedly 25 more tour agencies on an investigation list, waiting to be investigated, as the DOT is seriously re-enforcing its rules and regulations to keep the industry in order.

Wanasiri Morakul, deputy director-general and acting director general of the DOT, said: “The DOT by its Bureau of Tourism and Guide Registration has issued the order suspending the licence of a certain tour agency in Bangkok’s Meng Jai area for six months as a penalty for violation of the Tourism Business Act BE 2008, sections 30 and 33. 

“The company will meanwhile have to undergo a one-year probation and any repeated offences would result in evocation of their licence.”

The findings from an official investigation indicated that during a scheduled tour programme from July 20-25, an unlicensed Chinese tour guide known as “Mr Sky”, who was employed by this tour agency, tried to solicit and force tourists to buy a number of optional tours, causing discomfort to tourists.

As the sole state agency entrusted to ensure legal operations among tourism businesses in Thailand, the DOT is empowered by the Tourism Business Act to take legal action against dodgy operators. 

It enforces the law by collaborating with the Tourist Police Division to conduct random inspections twice a week.

So far, four tour agencies have had their licence suspended this year. 

And according to the latest information from the department, 24 illegal tour guides – 11 Chinese, two Malaysian, one Myanmar and eight Thai, and two unregistered personnel – were arrested. 

Offending agencies must undergo a year-long probation during which any agency repeating the offence will be stripped of their tour business licence and be forbidden from operating for five years in accordance with the Tourism Business Act’s Article 46.

Wanasiri said that the DOT would step up measures to ensure a better image of Thailand’s tourism industry in the wake of reports of many so-called “zero-dollar” tour agencies. 

The agencies offer tour packages to Chinese tourists at very cheap prices and the agencies plan to sell a variety of optional tours in order to earn high profits. 

These tour companies often use illegal migrants and unlicensed Chinese tour guides to trick tourists into buying overpriced side tours.

“From now on, the Department of Tourism will step up its enforcement and take serious civil and legal action against all wrongdoers,” she said.