Thai government’s warning on zero-dollar tour firms

BANGKOK, April 11 (TNA) - The Thai government has warned firms operating zero-dollar tour packages, as the administration is seriously tackling the problem, which has affected the national image of being a cheap tourist destination. Thai Government Spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd told journalists on April 10 that the government has received a large number of complaints about the zero-dollar tour packages, which initially charged unrealistically low fees to woo clients, especially during festivals like this week's Songkran Festival. The spokesman stated that about 300 Thai tour firms had received such tourists and later forced their clients to buy expensive products and services. The spokesman pointed out that most of the firms are run by Thai proxies and profits from such tour packages rest with operators, not Thailand. “Thai businesses that accept zero-dollar tour groups share benefits. They cooperate with hotels, restaurants, shops of jewelry, souvenirs, edible bird’s nests, bags and herbal medicine and even pornographic show parlors which charge unreasonably high fees to cash in on tourists. As much as 350 billion baht was changed hands among partner businesses, leading to the problems of illegal tour guides, the monopoly of car rental services and the notorious behaviors of some tourists as often reported,” said the spokesman. The spokesman acknowledged the problem damages the national image because foreign tourists view Thailand as a cheap destination, in contrast with the government's policy on promoting the country as a quality destination and protect legitimate operators. According to the spokesman, the Thai government and travel agent associations will inform other countries which are big markets of the Thai tourism, including China, South Korea and Russia, of realistic tour package fees and ask them to block any tour packages which charge unreasonably low fees. Besides, the government will promote services for quality foreign independent tourists. The spokesman revealed that Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has ordered decisive solutions to the problem, conceding that foreign tourist arrivals may drop initially from the move, but Thailand prefers quality to quantity. The spokesman noted that firms with good tour management and services will receive temporary certificates from the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports to give them moral support and stimulate quality improvement. (TNA)