Showing posts with label Risk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Risk. Show all posts

Wednesday 9 March 2022

US government tells citizens to avoid travel to Hong Kong, New Zealand – and Thailand

Americans are being told to avoid travel to Thailand, Hong Kong, and New Zealand, due to the rise in Covid-19 infections in each country. According to a Reuters report, the travel advisory was issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has raised its travel alert for Thailand to “Level Four: Very High”.

In total, the US is recommending citizens avoid travel to around 135 countries. Another 33 countries are at “Level 3: High”. Meanwhile, Anguilla, Cape Verde, Fiji, Mexico, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates have all been lowered to Level 3. Just 29 countries are at “Level 2: Moderate” or “Level 1: Low”.

The CDC is advising Americans who are not vaccinated to avoid travel, adding that even if vaccinated, travellers to Thailand risk contracting Covid-19.

“If you must travel to Thailand, make sure you are vaccinated and up to date with your Covid-19 vaccines before travel. Even if you are up to date with your Covid-19 vaccines, you may still be at risk for getting and spreading Covid-19.”

The Bangkok Post reports that Thailand has recorded 18,943 new infections today, down from yesterday’s 21,162. There were 69 Covid-related deaths, up from 65 yesterday. Hong Kong reported 25,150 new cases yesterday, with 280 deaths. Authorities there are struggling to contain the outbreak, with many of the elderly unvaccinated population enduring the worst of the wave.

The city has now reported a total of 500,000 infections, with most of its 2,000+ deaths reported in the last 2 weeks. According to the Reuters report, in the week to March 6, Hong Kong reported the most deaths per million people worldwide. The US CDC raised its travel advisory for Hong Kong to Level 3 last week.


SOURCE: Bangkok Post | Reuters

VISA AGENT  /  How to register for: THAI PASS - TEST & GO

Wednesday 8 July 2020

Plan for Travel bubbles in the fridge: "For the time being no foreign tourists to Thailand"


Travel bubbles are likely to be delayed after several countries eyed for the scheme have seen a resurgence of Covid-19 cases, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).

CAAT director-general Chula Sukmanop said even though talks about travel bubble arrangements continue with a number of countries including China, Japan and South Korea, the scheme will be put on hold due to a resurgence in infections. He said Thailand will be closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation this month.

The government has come up with a plan to launch travel bubbles with several countries with low corona-virus risk, originally starting in August.

Mr Chula said that local tourism is vital to rebuilding the country's aviation industry and noted that demand for domestic travel is picking up after airlines resume operations and business operators launch promotional campaigns to boost travel.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said on Tuesday that public safety is the top priority for the government as it considers reopening the country to international travelers.

Mr Saksayam called on airlines to wait for a clear policy from the government and the CAAT when asked about reports about airlines preparing to resume international flights in September.

Earlier an epidemiologist at Chulalongkorn University urged the government to use extreme caution when considering travel bubble arrangements because the Covid-19 pandemic is still ravaging many parts of the world.

Source - Bangkok Post

Saturday 16 May 2020

Phuket airport to remain closed following CAAT U-Turn


UPDATE:

In a surprise reversal, The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has announced the postponement of the reopening of Phuket International Airport, indefinitely. Just yesterday they announced that the provincial airport was to re-open from tomorrow morning.

Although Phuket has gone 13 days with no new Covid 19 infections, it was still considered a risk area that needs to be monitored to stop the spread of the disease to other provinces.

“At the recommendation of the CCSA, the airport is to remain closed until further notice.”

“Although Phuket is able to effectively control and stop the spread of the Covid-19, the situation is still considered a risk that must be monitored to ensure that measures stop the spread of the disease to other areas and prevent the disease from spreading again in the Phuket area.”

Phuket International Airport was closed on April 3, with a ban on all flights except government and military aircraft, and emergency landings.Scheduled international flights into and out of Thailand remained banned until at least May 31.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority has signed an order which will allow the Phuket International Airport to re-open from the morning of Saturday, May 16, less than two days away. Two days ago officials from the local provincial hall participated in an inspection of all the changes and preparations made to cater for passenger travel in the Covid era.

The Phuket International Airport is one of the last major airports to re-open to passenger traffic and commercial flights. The CAAT ordered the airport closed on April 3 to restrict air travel as health authorities nationwide battled to contain the spread of the virus at the time.

The order says that people arriving in Phuket from other provinces will be required to fill in an a form describing their travel history, particularly recently and information about where they are staying whilst on the island. At this stage the opening of the airport is only to limited domestic flights.

“All people leaving the island must register their health condition on the AOT Airports app.”

A ban remains in force for international flights at least until May 31 and a possibility that it could be extended another 15 days.

For land departures there has been a requirement for Phuket people, arriving in some provinces, to adhere to a 14 day quarantine. This order from the CAAT does not mention that requirement. We will post more information when it becomes available.

Currently land departures are required to have a fit-to-travel document saying that they have been in self-quarantine for 14 days before their date of travel. That has not been specified for air travel at this stage.

3 airlines have already notified the PIA of their plans to resume limited domestic passenger services in and out of Phuket, at one flight a day, according to the governor. Other domestic airports have been opened up around the country for limited services.

Provincial authorities also agreed yesterday to ask the Interior Ministry to allow reopening of all sea and road links from Saturday. No approval has been given at this stage.

Aircraft are also requiring specific seating to avoid people sitting next to each other and an insistence that passengers must wear masks. There is also no food and beverage services allowed on domestic services at this stage and travellers are urged to arrive at the airport 3 hours before their flight for additional check in procedures.

Source - The Thaiger


Sunday 8 July 2018

Thailand - World media moved back from cave as evacuation begins


Foreign media members on Sunday said they accepted an order by Thai authorities to move out of area outside the Tham Luang cave as evacuation of the footballers begins.

Foreign media are being evacuated four kilometres from the cave to ensure clear access. Journalists will be housed at the Tambon Pong Pha Administrative Organisation Office on Phaholyothin Road.


 The 12 teens and their football coach assistant have been trapped in the flooded cave since June 23, with experts from international allies joining with Thais to rescue the team in a race against water and time.
Local and international media have converged at the cave to keep the world up-to-date with the latest developments. 

Six days after the footballers were found safe deep in the cave network last Monday, authorities on Sunday launched the evacuation operation to bring them out.


Spanish television reporter Biel Calderon said he didn't mind the request that media move out of the way of officials and rescuers during the high-risk extraction.

Calderon agreed that a large group of media could harm the efficiency of the rescue operation and cause delays. He said he understood that there were reasons for such a request in the life-and-death situation and media needed to respect it.


 Russian TV reporter Andrey Pashin, who had been covering the story for the past four days from the cave entrance, said he felt positive about the authorities regulating the large number of media in the vicinity to ensure the rescuers are not blocked.

He hoped that, without a continuing media presence in the area, officials could work more efficiently and more quickly rescue the trapped youths.


 Pashin said he wasn't much worried much getting film for his news coverage, because he believed that officials were working to address the issue. He hoped that the Thai authorities would ensure all media have equal access to information and pictures and that any news and images obtained by journalists would be pooled and shared among all other media workers.


The Thai authorities on Saturday began limiting the media’s access at the front of the cave, but some journalists had ventured under the rope fence to report the news.

This led to an official order being issued at 7am on Sunday to reclaim the area outside cave. Media members, along with volunteers and officials not vital to the rescue efforts, were to be cleared from and kept way from the area by 9am.

Many reporters negotiated to remain, while others moved as ordered to crowd the Tambon Pong Pha Administrative Organisation Office area.

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Thursday 5 July 2018

Thailand - Diving the top option to evacuate 13 despite risk out of the Chiang Mai cave


Rescuers do not want to delay their exit due to upcoming rains and the possibility of more flooding in cave.

ALL 13 survivors are now familiarising themselves with diving gear as rescue planners concluded yesterday that they will have to dive through floodwaters to get out of the Tham Luang cave, where they have been stranded since June 23. 

“The fittest of the survivors will be the first to come out,” Narongsak Osotanakorn, the head of the rescue operations, said yesterday. “Others will follow.”

The former Chiang Rai governor spoke as the floodwater level inside the cave subsided thanks to the powerful pumps, well-connected tubes, and diversion of the natural water flow around the Tham Luang cave system. 


The easing of the flood situation has raised the prospects of helping the 13 footballers come out of the cave where they have spent 11 days.

“The floodwater level has been dropping by one centimetre per hour. If we can maintain this momentum, it should be safe enough to bring the kids out soon,” Narongsak said. On Tuesday, the US Cave Rescue Commission’s national coordinator Anmar Mirza said that while diving was the quickest option to bring the survivors out, it was also the “most dangerous” option.

But the option of letting the survivors stay inside the cave until the floodwaters completely receded was yesterday ruled out amid the significant risk of impending heavy downpours that could again leave the cave flooded. The 10-kilometre-long cave in Chiang Rai province is normally flooded between July and November every year. On Monday night, experienced cave divers from Britain found the missing football team at a spot about 5km from the cave’s entrance. 

The 13 survivors will stay put at their current location while detailed preparations are being made for their safe evacuation. They have been joined by Royal Thai Navy SEALs and are also supplied with soft food, water, light, medicine, thermal blankets and diving gear. 
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 Learning to dive

The survivors were yesterday taught to wear full-face masks and practice breathing. 
Medics, including Army doctor Colonel Pak Loharachun, have completed health checks for all team members and found them relatively healthy. A video clip released yesterday showed the footballers had minor wounds and were apparently eager to leave the cave. One footballer asked, “Can we go out today?” Pak told the boys to be patient, explaining that despite his diving skills it took him six hours to move from the third chamber of the cave to the current location of the survivors. 

The third chamber of the cave, which is about two kilometres from the entrance, is now operating as the forward command of the rescue operations. Lighting and communication devices have been installed there and also supplied with oxygen tanks, medicine and all other necessary supplies. 
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From the third chamber to the flooded T-junction is a distance of about 800 metres. From that intersection, there is a narrow and completely submerged passage that requires rescue teams to dive to get through. The floodwater level there was nearly five metres as of press time. 

After getting out of this narrow passage, rescue teams have to climb and hike a stretch of 400 metres. This zone is dry. Then, they have to dive for about another 130 metres to reach the so-called Pattaya Beach. Then the team must walk further over the beach before making another 400-metre-long dive to reach the slope where the survivors have gathered. 

All these survivors will have to be taught to swim and dive before being escorted out. 
Even with diving experts by their side, the team will have to dive and swim on their own at some points in the journey out of the cave. 

The two Britons who first located the missing victims – Richard Stanton and John Volanthen – have remained with the rescue team to help with the safe evacuation. The other British expert, Robert Harper, who was in his 70s, had to leave Chiang Rai province yesterday, though, to undergo a medical check-up in his homeland. 

A rescue team from the United States Indo-Pacific Command has also vowed to support the operations at the Tham Luang cave until all 13 survivors are safely brought out.
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Source - TheNation 
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Monday 2 July 2018

Vietnam - Life on the line: the railway people of Hanoi


Vu Thi Khoa washes her dishes in a plastic basin outside her home using water from a makeshift hosepipe. As she carefully scrubs away the dirt she issues a frank and stern warning.

"Keep your ears and eyes open and pay attention to the light and train horn signals," she says, "to avoid being hit by trains."


Khoa has lived less than a yard away from the railway line for 27 years, so she knows how to stay safe, and to keep others out of trouble, too — she’s raised her children and grandchildren there.


She’s used to the noise, used to the dirt and used to the risks, just like all the people who live their lives on the train line in Hanoi.


Several stretches of the North-South railway line passing through Ha Noi have become points of attraction for foreign tourists because of the houses people occupy just a few steps away from the tracks.


Dating back to 1881, the 1,730km North-South railway line passes through 21 provinces and cities across Vietnam. When Hanoi Station opened in 1902, the train lines that entered it were built in barren areas. But as the city grew and became more populated, houses were constructed closer and closer to the tracks.
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It is estimated there are hundreds of households living this way in the city’s inner districts, including Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem and Dong Da.

Most of the residents used to be railway workers. Some moved to the capital city from other provinces to find jobs.

"Living here is not nearly as good as other places," says Nguyen Thi Dau, who has been living near the railway line for 33 years. "But we’ve been living here so long we’ve all got used to it."

Open up Dau’s front door and there’s a small kitchen, bare walls, a room and an electric fan, constantly pointing in the direction of her husband, who lies on the bed.

He suffered a stroke seven years ago and has rarely moved since.

"The noise used to keep us awake, and we used to freak out when trains passed by because they shook our house. But then we all got used to it," Dau adds. "Life is tough here but we accepted it."
Using a method like Khoa’s, Dao Van Chinh scrubs away dirt from his clothes as he sits leaning over a plastic basin where he washes his garments.

They may come out of the water clean this time, but it won’t be long before they need a new rinse.

Monday 13 March 2017

Diner Alert: Nine Thai foods you should avoid in summer

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The Department of Disease Control has issued a list of nine Thai dishes that could potentially cause diarrhea during the summer.
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According to the Department, the number of diarrhea patients between Jan. 1 to Mar. 10 totaled 191,515. One patient reportedly died from complications resulting from the condition. The Department warned restaurants across Thailand to pay more attention to hygiene in the kitchen and warned diners to wash their hands before each meal.
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Below is the list of Thai foods that easily go bad in the hot weather, subsequently posing a risk to the health of diners.
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1. Larb/Koi or spicy Isaan meat salad: This dish is a combination of ground meat seasoned with fish sauce, limejuice, chili and herbs. Both dishes are similar except that Koi uses raw meat.
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2. Yum Goong Dten or “spicy shrimp salad”: This dish’s Thai name literally means “Dancing Shrimp Salad,” suggesting that live shrimp are main ingredient to the dish.
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3. Yum Hoy Krang or “spicy cockle salad”: Diners need to make sure that cockles are given a good rinse before eating them.
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4. Fried rice topped with crabmeat
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5. All coconut milk recipes: Phanaeng curry, Massaman curry, chicken green curry, coconut custard, Bualoy, Saku Biak, you name it.
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6. Kanom Jeen or “fermented Thai rice noodle”: Since Kanom Jeen is made from rice that has been fermented for three days, it can rot quickly.
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7. Khao Man Gai or “chicken rice”
8. Som Tam or “spicy green papaya salad”
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9. Green salad
The Department also warns diners of ice and suggests them not to eat food that has been left out overnight.
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Source - Coconuts 
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Sunday 31 July 2016

Top 7 Tourist Scams to Watch Out for in Thailand



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Thailand can be a land of excitement and wonder for a new visitor, but it also comes with its own share of risk and danger. There are those among the jovial crowd who are looking to make a quick buck from an unwary tourist, by hook or by crook. Keep a wary eye out and don’t let these scams spell the end of your hard-earned holiday!
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 1/ The Jet-skies
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The beautiful coastal beaches in the country are a local attraction for water sports, but should you ever decide to rent a jet ski, do keep in mind all scratches and dents that are already present on the vehicle before setting off. There are vendors who will falsely claim that you have damaged their jet ski after returning and demand compensation for repairs.
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Many people have fallen for such a scam, especially in tourist hotspots such as Pattaya and Phuket. These tourists are often intimidated by “police officers”, usually accomplices pretending to be so, who would threaten to arrest them should they not cooperate.
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It would be wise to avoid all jet ski activities to prevent yourself falling as another victim. However, if you really feel the need to experience the thrill in the water, never hand over your passport as collateral when renting one.
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It is also important to note that this scam is not exclusive to jet skis. Other tourists have reported the same situation upon renting motorcycles and cars, so be extra cautious when you decide to rent a vehicle in Thailand!
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 2/ The Thai Money
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Get acquainted with the local currency! Keep track on the different types of baht notes you possess and their appearance once you leave the money changer. Many tourists often find themselves shortchanged and taken advantage of by cashiers as they are not familiar with Thai money.
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Places like 7-Eleven and Family Mart in tourist areas usually declare out loud the amount of baht you pay during your purchase, so take the effort to double-check and ensure that the change you receive is the correct one.
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A variant of this scam revolves around the shopkeeper accusing you for paying with a counterfeit note. He or she would go to the back of the store, away from your sight, swap the note you handed over with a realistic counterfeit one and return. Giving the fake note to you, he or she would demand for new payment, leaving you to pay for twice or thrice the original amount.
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To avoid this, always keep an eye on your baht notes and roughly remember the serial numbers of the larger ones. The latter may prove to be a mild inconvenience for some, but it can end up saving you and your tight budget.
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3/ This Palace is Closed
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This scam is often encountered near any tourist attraction, but the majority of cases reported by victims usually happen outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
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A stranger will usually approach you and inform that the attraction is “closed” for various reasons. He or she will then recommend alternative locations, usually a gem store or a tailor shop, and dangle cheap discounts to entice you.
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Should you unwittingly accept the offer, they will arrange transport via taxi or tuk tuk, who are similarly in league, to the shops. Once there, they will attempt to bully you into buying overpriced goods, with extreme cases locking you in the shop until you decide to purchase something!
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These strangers often look and talk convincingly, wearing formal shirts with “tourist police” tags. They can even be found inside the attractions as well, so be on your guard.
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The solution to this would be researching on the place before heading over. Remember to check out the operating hours and visiting times to avoid being misled.
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4/ Sex Shows
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The red light districts in Thailand are often well-known for its ping pong shows. The claim of cheap drinks and entry by the friendly promoters outside the bar would do very little to sate your innate curiosity.
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But as they say, curiosity kills the cat. Once you step in, you’ll be led to a table where the girls will put up an underwhelming show. You will, then, be pressured to generously tip the performer despite being satisfied or not.
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If you request to leave midway, the bill that comes along will demand that you pay thousands for the few drinks you just had. Refusing it will usually incur the wrath of the bouncers hanging around the bar, so it’s best to just concede and pay up to avoid further harm.
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So steer clear of these shows, if you would rather not be left both disappointed and broke at the end of the day. This warning goes double if you are traveling alone, as lone tourists are easily ganged up on and are favored targets by the scam.
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5/ Thai Gemstones
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When someone tells you that you can make a huge profit by reselling gems from Thailand, it sounds too good to be true.
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In fact, it’s not true at all. You could be targeted for a gem scam, one of the more popular ones in the country. It usually begins with the scammer claiming that gems are easily harvested in the country, and can be purchased in bulk for cheap prices. He or she then continues to tell you that you can make lots of money by selling the bought gems back home.
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This scam can be made further enticing when they throw in discounted prices, convincing you that you were the only few that they have decided to share this precious insider trade secret with. Accomplices acting as tourists around the store may also attempt to justify his or her story.
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Do not make the mistake that many people have already fallen for due to greed. If you can indeed make huge sums from selling Thailand gems in other countries, why would he or she tell such a powerful trade secret to a random tourist who chances into the store? Politely refuse, and walk away.
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6/ Airport Taxis
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When you exit from the airport, you will undoubtedly be harassed by official looking taxi drivers who would offer a flat fee of 500 – 1000 baht to head to town.
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Not only do the real taxis with meters charge less than half of what they offer, these drivers would often attempt to persuade you to sign up for overpriced tour packages and bundles. The more extreme ones would purposely drive you to a wrong place with a similar name to your destination, and demand more cash for the proper journey.
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Even if they use the meter, keep track of whether it is running throughout the journey. There are horror stories of where the taxi meter jams halfway during the trip, prompting dishonest drivers to charge exorbitant prices for a ride that would have cost far less in the meter rate.
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It is important to note that taxi drivers are required by law to use the meter, so do not be intimidated if a driver requests a flat fee for his or her service. Firmly refuse and exit the car, there are thousands of other taxis in Thailand that would happily take you to the places you need to go.
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7 / Fake Tour Packages from “Tourism Authority of Thailand”
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When a local stranger offers to sign you up for a tour package, courtesy by the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s travel agency, turn him or her down and walk away.
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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) does NOT operate travel agencies and sell anything to tourists. They are a government agency and are responsible for promoting their local wonders and attractions to foreign countries. They are also responsible in licensing travel agencies and guides, but do not actually possess their own agencies.
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However, many scam companies have taken on the guise of TAT’s name and used its stellar reputation for their own ill deeds. A popular example would be individuals who would intercept tourists at Hualumphong, Bangkok’s main rail terminal, and falsely present themselves as an employee of TAT. They would then mislead the unfortunate victim by telling him or her that the tickets for the train route they wanted are sold out.
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The scammer would go on to offer alternatives “provided” by TAT, such as a private bus or taxi that overcharges for the trip, and are usually the setup for further scams.
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Thus, always avoid anyone who claims to be from TAT, they hold no authority over you. No employee of TAT would be found walking around train stations or taxi stands to help out lost travelers.
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Thailand’s Tourist Police Division
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Thailand’s Tourist Police Division recently introduced their 24/7 hotline for foreigners in distress. Should you find yourself in a middle of a scam, dial 1155 for police assistance. Do not worry about the language barrier as there will be interpreters on hand to translate your call.
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But of course, not every person and place in Thailand is looking for an opportunity to steal your hard-earned cash. There are a lot more friendly locals who genuinely love and welcome tourists to their country, so do not go around treating everyone with hostility and suspicion. Just exercise a little caution and common sense in your adventures in the Land of Smiles, and you should be perfectly fine!
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