First Tourist Court to Open in Pattaya Tomorrow

Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit
The Nation

PATTAYA: -- Thailand's first tourist court will open tomorrow in the popular beach resort city of Pattaya as part of the government's move to reassure travellers of their safety while visiting the country.

From 4.30pm to 8.30pm, foreign tourists can come and lodge complaints, especially over unfair services and personal security. Consideration of cases will be cut to one day for uncomplicated disputes from the usual six months, Wirat Chinwinigkul, secretary-general of the Judiciary, said yesterday.

The specialised court will encourage negotiations between parties. Most of the cases are about consumer protection, so it is easier to reach a compromise. If it's a serious issue, the case will be transferred to the regular court. There will be capable officials speaking foreign languages to help.

Six more night courts are planned - Pathum Wan district for the Silom area and Dusit district for khao san in Bangkok, Krabi, Samui, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Those tourist destinations have faced various problems, especially cheating by operators.

The Pattaya court would be a pilot project. It is expected to take up speedboat services, which is one of the serious issues corroding the country's tourism image. It's also related to criminal cases.

Yesterday, four parties - police, prosecutors, the courts of justice and the Tourism Ministry - signed an agreement to set up the court and work together to help take care of foreign holidaymakers.

The court will also be responsible for looking after Thai tourists and scrutinising the role of tourism operators in providing fair services to tourists.

The ministry should set up a department to handle cases because some tourists have to go home before a ruling is handed down, he said.

In the future, Thailand should enact legislation to regulate the industry, like in France, because tourism is an important industry strengthening the national economy. It has grown rapidly, but existing laws cannot keep up, he added.

Tourism Minister Somsak Pureesrisak said it's a good sign for the country's tourism industry. The night court would help secure the industry's role in the long term, especially in achieving the target of Bt2 trillion in tourism revenue in 2015.

The ministry has made a big effort to standardise the industry, launching measures and regulations to crack down on scams. Especially Phuket needs a clean-up. The resort island is overrun by illegal services and gangsters.


-- The Nation 2013-09-04

Big trouble in Thailand

Has anyone ever heard of this series? I have been under the weather the last 2 days suffering from whatever cold or flu that is going around. having no attention span to get any work done i was playing around on you tube when i found this. 

Apparently there has been a series shot called "Big trouble in Thailand". It involves tourists and ex-pats alike getting involved in criminal activities and some of the dumbest ventures! Some ofthe things the tourist police here in Pattaya have to deal with...LOL. it is somewhat similar to series like "Banged Up Abroad". From what i have checked out so far there is at least one season and there was 8 episodes shot. I will be looking to see if there is a season 2 soon.

You have to wonder how some of these people even had enough brain power to get to the airport, make a plane transfer if necessary and get to a local hotel...yes some of them are that dumb! What i have found even funnier is that i could almost swear i have seen some of these people before wandering the streets, drinking in a bar, stumbling down a small soi or even the idiot at the immigration at the airport that did not have their paperwork together and were holding things up causing all kinds of trouble.

I am going to try and finish the season today but you can check out the first episode here.