Entries Tagged 'Airports' ↓
September 27th, 2009 — Airports, Travel Thailand
H1N1 Virus, Red Shirts, Yellow Shirts, Thaksin, bad economy and tourists scandals like the airport and yet ski scam have brought down the tourist 14 % this year.
Thailand is sure the numbers will turn around but will they clamp down on the scams that tourists are set up for?
Now the Thai government is blocking the second movie “Big trouble in Thailand” but they have not blocked the scams.
But some lights in the dark tunnel are the following
The Phuket governor have put down his foot and said enough lets hope it is.
The airport crack down on scams will continue but the airport will also get their own police force.
The customs department has got new directions to stop corruption.
The people that closed down the airport will finally be questioned by the police.
Lets hope the 2010 will be a better year for the Thai tourism sector.
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September 13th, 2009 — Airports, Corruption, Travel Warning
According to the Bangkok Post there are more than 20 powerful groups operating in the airport which come under the command of major gangs – Kamnan Samruay, Boonruang Srisang, Sak Pakphanang and Pirap.
The Kamnan Samruay camp used to operate at Don Mueang airport, where they provided underground foreign exchange services.
At the new airport, the gang has extended its business to cover ticketing and illegal taxi and tour guide services. It also collects “protection fees” from smaller gangs.
The Boonruang Srisang gang also runs an illegal taxi and tour guide service network. It has a small number of members and is independent.
The Sak Pakphanang gang is a break-away from the Boonruang Srisang gang, while the Pirap group is believed to have strong connections as its leader has the same last name as an AoT executive.
There are also two prominent groups known as the Pattaya Mafia gang and the Phuyai Daeng gang. The Pattaya Mafia gang, whose leaders are known as Steve and Montri and who are neatly dressed and can easily pass as passengers, is stationed on the fourth floor of the passenger terminal. The Phuyai Daeng gang, with good connections with influential figures in Samut Prakan, works more like a lobbyist for fraudsters who want to gain entry to the airport.
We have all seen these illegal tour guides hanging around the arrivals hall and approach foreign passengers. They introduce themselves as airport workers and lead tourists to illegal taxi queues when a deal is made.” They are scattered on every floor in the terminal and stay among passengers and officials. According to the AOT “It is hard to pick them out from the crowd because they are well dressed” but that must be a joke even a normal expats living here for more then 1 year could pick them out in no time.
I think the Bangkok Post should hand in a Thai copy of the report and arrest these people behind the scams. But since the trail go so high up it probably never happened.
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September 12th, 2009 — Airports, Travel Thailand
The new “airport security team” in Bangkok have arrested over 1000 people since the crack down began.
I am very surprised how they can arrest 1000 people and the airport is still full with these scammers? Even if I only go to the airport once a month I can spot these gangsters in suits just by looking around for a few minutes.
Once these thugs have been arrested one time the AOT should just banned them from trolling around in the airport, unless they have a valid reason like a ticket.
I think the number of 1000 included the taxi cars that drop people off and is trying to get a passenger back to down town Bangkok. I really do not see the reason why they can not be allowed to take passengers back. The “company” that have a contract with the AOT use old Taxi meters cabs and are full with scammers themselves, even if you pay the 50 THB fee. I never had a problem with a Taxi on the fourth floor but when I take a taxi from the counter and pay 50 THB they always try to rip me off.
The “airport security team” has not arrested any people inside the baggage area even if they know they exist. They say they have the right to be there because they work for different airline. You can see them sometimes in black suits with some very official tags around the necks. I feel very safe to know that we have gangsters’ handling my luggage.
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August 18th, 2009 — Airports, Travel Thailand, Travel Warning
Thailand Prime Minister have told Thailand airport AOT to stop messing around. The airport needs to stop the scamming of tourist and baggage thefts.
Thailand new airport should be the first tourist see but since the opening in 2006 it has been nothing but problems for them.
Almost all the trolleys that the AOT bought have dispersed; some staff has sold them as scrap metal.
Tourists are scammed by licensed and unlicensed taxis when they go from the airport either by overpricing or by simply throwing them out from the taxi on the high way.
The British and the Danish embassy have warnings on their websites about the airport and told people not to shop in the duty free area.
Many people have lost their luggage when arriving to Thailand and the list goes on.
Now it looks like the Prime Minister have had enough but lets see if he can put words into action or if its just talk before the high season.
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