(L to R) Chatpong
Chatputi, Chief of Banglamung District, Sophin Thepjug, President of
PBTA, and Niran Wattanatsarthsathorn, Deputy City Manager led members of
the PBTA in a serious discussion about the problems faced by Pattaya and
the resulting drop in tourism.
At the monthly meeting of the Pattaya Business and
Tourism Association (PBTA), members sat down to a serious discussion
about the reasons for the drop of tourism in Pattaya. Conclusions drawn
were that the main problems were baht bus drivers, foreign Mafia, drugs,
child prostitution and AIDS. The PBTA admitted that it could not solve
these problems itself and requested help from the government. PBTA
offered complete co-operation in this effort.
Ms. Sophin Thepjug, President of PBTA, said that statistics show that
the main problems tourists coming to Pattaya have are with baht buses.
These problems take the form of extortion and bodily harm inflicted on
them when they refuse to pay the ridiculous prices the divers request.
Ms. Sophin said unfortunately this happens very often. When tourists
have problems with the drivers, they usually take the problem to the
tourist police, but seldom receive substantial help. This problem is not
getting any better.
A concerned individual recently offered to head the sub-committee to
handle this problem. But when the news was published the person received
a threatening telephone call asking them who they thought they were.
They were told to disband the committee at once.
This phone call was one reason that Ms. Sophin said that she had no
knowledge about how to solve these problems and had no ability to do so
as it was not her field. She said it was up to people who benefited from
the operation of the service to take major roles in solving such
problems.
Mr. Udom Ophasiri, Director of the club, said the government sector
should deal directly with the owners of the bus company to solve the
problem.
Mr. Sutham Phantusak, President of the THA Eastern Chapter, continued to
say that there was a surplus of buses and drivers who rented them. He
said that most of the drivers were from provinces much poorer than
Chonburi and didn’t have sufficient education. Thus they would grab any
chance to extort tourists. He said a careful screening of applicants
should be done before allowing them to become drivers.
Mr. Sutham continued with the discussion, talking about foreign Mafia
who stay in Thailand by having Thai wives as “fronts”. But in reality,
this foreign Mafia was extorting money from other tourists. This Mafia
is much more knowledgeable about the ways of Thailand than ordinary
tourists. Sutham said that officials have not been able to do anything
as this group has very subtle techniques. He said one way to keep these
people from preying on tourists would be to monitor their length of stay
in Thailand and their professions while residing here.
Ms. Laddawan Wang-sujaritkarn, Director of the PBTA, discussed the drug
problem. She said that foreigners look down on Thailand because of its
lack of drug enforcement. She said this issue was dug up by muckraking
Western journalists who would put stories about Pattaya on page one.
Drugs easily obtainable, screamed the headlines, she said. Grass,
cocaine, heroin and amphetamine abuse were everywhere in Pattaya. She
said this slander must be stopped.
She continued to say that many tourists lose their lives to drug
overdoses here. She said that this news should not be general. This
problem has caused tourists to avoid Pattaya as they would be under
suspicion when they went back to their home countries; especially those
with strong drug laws.
The next problem discussed was that of young boys becoming prostitutes.
The committee said this was caused by poverty. Even though Thailand has
stiff penalties against sex with children, some foreigners managed to
escape the piercing eyes of the law. She said the penalties should be
increased.
The next problem discussed was AIDS. This was the most frightening thing
about Thailand for the tourist.
The committee strongly suggested that the government and the private
sector work together to solve all these problems.
