BANGKOK, December 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Tourism of Thailand (DOT) has launched a new campaign, promoting safe and fair travels for tourists during the upcoming high season in Thailand, reassuring tourists that concerns over the quality of tourism service providers are welcome at DOT Call Centre +662 401 1111.
Acting Second Lieutenant Arnupap Gaesornsuwan, Director General of the Department of Tourism, has revealed that, according to frequent media reports, there were unlicenced tour agencies that have not been registered with the Department of Tourism misbehaved, causing damage to the country's image as a tourism centre of the region.
"The Department of Tourism hasn't been idle on the problem and has always been aware of the threat that comes with unlicenced tour agencies, which are mostly identified as outbound tour operators. These companies have reportedly taken advantage from the regulations imposed by the department on the issue of the tour operator licence. The way they do is, right after they get the department of tourism licence, they inform the Ministry of Commerce of their cease of operation. After that, they still wrongfully publish their Department of Tourism licence numbers on their web sites, selling package tours to tourists on the Internet," the Director General said.
"As of now, the Department of Tourism is serving as a representative for victims of these tour fraud in filing reports and take legal actions against these malicious tour operators."
Mr. Arnupap also added that "For a long-term solution, we have been improving our measures to keep Thailand's tour operators above standards even before the breakout of the incidents. After having gathered as much information as possible from complaints and suggestions filed at DOT Call Centre at number +662 401 1111, we have been undergoing a lot of brainstorming, with cooperation from several agencies. Upon completion, the project "Communication Centre for Ethical Tourism" has been launched to help feeding public relations materials to the general public, promoting several tips before buying package tours from tour agencies and the way to have safe and fair travels in and around the country."
The Department of Tourism also compiled the updated list of tour operators that have registered with and licenced by the Bureau of Tourism Business and Guide Registration and published on its web site www.tourismcentre.go.th for easier access.
For tech heads, a mobile app "Trip or Trick" with searchable list of tour operators will be launched later this month to facilitate smartphone users.
The Director General also added that "The safe and fair tourism campaign under concept of "Take a Good Tour, Have a Good Trip" is on the approach strategy to reduce risks of tour fraud during this upcoming high season, injecting public relations outputs such as leaflets at strategic locations like international airports and on the Internet, news reports, announcements or advertisements on newspapers, magazines, radio, and television."
The Department of Tourism has given some tips for tourists who want to buy package tours in the future: pick only licenced tour operators in the Department of Tourism's white list; interested tourists can check the existence of complaints filed against particular tour operator at www.tourismcentre.go.th or at DOT Call Centre +662 401 1111; the package tour should not be priced too high or too low; the itinerary must be descriptive; please keep all the documents and paperwork between you and your tour operator for backtrace; and also check if the package tour includes insurance.
For more information, please contact:
The Department of Tourism of Thailand
Tel: +662 401 1111
Email: webmaster@tourism.go.th
Website: www.tourism.go.th
