Tourism agency makes example of 'zero-dollar' tours

The action followed complaints from tourists who were engaged in heated arguments with the unnamed agency. 

There are reportedly 25 more agencies on the investigation list as the department says it is seriously reinforcing its rules and regulations to keep the industry in order.

Wanasiri Morakul, acting director-general, said her department’s Bureau of Tourism and Guide Registration had issued the penalty against the agency in the Mengjai area for violating Sections 30 and 33 of the Tourism Business Act. 

The company will be put on a one-year probation and any repeated offence will result in the revocation of its licence and a five-year ban.

An official investigation found that during a scheduled tour in July, an unlicensed Chinese guide known as “Mr Sky”, who was employed by this agency, tried to solicit and force tourists into buying optional tours, causing discomfort to the visitors.

The department is the sole government agency entrusted to ensure legal operations among tourism businesses in Thailand. It is authorised to enforce the law by collaborating with Tourist Police to conduct random inspections twice a week.

Four agencies have had their licences suspended so far this year and 24 illegal tour guides – 11 Chinese, two Malaysians, one Myanmar national, eight Thais and two unregistered personnel – have also been arrested. 

Wanasiri said the department would step up measures to ensure a better image of Thailand’s tourism industry in the wake of reports of many “zero-dollar” packages sold to Chinese travellers at very low prices by agencies that plan to sell a variety of overpriced side tours to earn high profits.