THAILAND: Crackdown On Forced Shopping Tours, Chinese Tourists Opt For Cambodia And Vietnam

With Thailand’s recent crackdown on so-called zero-dollar tours—tour packages priced below cost that often target Chinese travelers and recoup losses from forced shopping and dining—it appears as if neighboring Southeast Asian countries are taking off in its place.

Thailand, previously the number one destination for zero-dollar tours outside China, seems to have succeeded in limiting the notorious tours domestically, but Chinese travelers’ high demand for cheap tours has simply shifted supply elsewhere.

Despite a turbulent year with its recent tourism crackdown and the general unease among tour operators surrounding the Thai king’s passing, Thailand and Japan topped China’s leading online travel marketplace Ctrip’s list of top destinations for the Chinese New Year Golden Week early next year.

If Ctrip’s predictions hold true remains to be seen, but it’s safe to say that reduced visa fees for Chinese tourists—an initiative which started this month—is boosting the attractiveness of tourism in Thailand among Chinese holidaymakers.

For Thailand’s neighbors, the vacuum left by the zero-dollar crackdown provided plenty of opportunities to tap the suddenly untapped demand for cheap overseas travel. As a result, demand for trips to surrounding countries with less regulated tourism industries has picked up, with multiple new air connections between China and Thailand’s neighbors introduced in the last few months.

However, for Thai authorities, there were many reasons to put curbs on Chinese zero-dollar tours. The Thai government has estimated that it lost approximately 70 billion baht (US$2 billion) in tax revenue annually due to the tax-avoiding nature of zero-dollar tours, with profits funneled directly back to China.

Another major concern has been the overcrowding of Thailand’s tourism infrastructure and the fear that budget travelers cannibalize on more profitable market segments.

While not the most profitable market segment, Chinese zero-dollar tourists could still prove a welcome injection of tourism revenues for Thailand’s neighbors. Vietnam, the closest competitor in mainland Southeast Asia, received 7.9 million tourists in 2015—not even a third of Thailand’s 29.9 million arrivals.

In Chinese tourist arrivals, it lags even further behind despite many shared features, such as being a budget-friendly destination that offers many similar geographic traits. Chinese tourists may be beginning to notice, with Vietnam reporting 47.5 percent growth of Chinese arrivals in the first half of 2016.

While foreign tour guides, a feature associated with zero-dollar tours, are officially outlawed in Vietnam, there have been many reported instances of Chinese tour guides operating in the country. Even without zero-dollar tours, the cheaper Vietnam proves a valid competitor for budget-conscious Chinese travelers who would have otherwise gone on zero-dollar tours in Thailand.

Cambodia, another competitor in the market for price-conscious Chinese travelers, is also seeing a growing number of Chinese arrivals and direct flight connections with China. Hun Sen, the Cambodian prime minister, recently announced that he wants to more than double the number of Chinese tourists visiting Cambodia every year—from 800,000 in 2015 to 2 million in 2020.

While demand is picking up in China, Sen himself admitted that Cambodia lacks the number of Mandarin-speaking tour guides required to satisfy demand—presenting an ideal opportunity for Chinese zero-dollar tour operators to capitalize on the opportunity.

For countries with underutilized tourism resources, zero-dollar tours may not seem as off-putting as they are to market leaders like Thailand. While it might be tough to tap into much of the revenue from shopping and tour services provided to tourists on zero-dollar tours, airfare, and to some extent, accommodation strengthen overall tourism revenues.

Both Cambodia’s flag carrier, Cambodia Angkor Air, and several Vietnamese airlines, including its flag carrier, have increased their capacity between China and their respective home countries.

Other countries in Southeast Asia are also gearing up for attracting a larger share of the travel-hungry and rising Chinese middle class. After the rapprochement between China and the Philippines after the election of president Duterte, the Philippines is now considering the introduction of a visa-free policy for Chinese travelers.

Malaysia, meanwhile, has also been picking up steam with Chinese budget travelers to the extent that they have had an effect on Chinese tourism in Singapore, with an increasing number of Chinese visitors to Singapore arriving in tour buses by road from Malaysia and spending significantly less than other Chinese tourists in the city-state.

For China’s rising middle class, budget travel in nearby countries is an attractive and increasingly frictionless affair, with improving visa policies and a growing number of direct flights. While Thailand may be less appealing to the thriftiest travelers than before, neighboring countries are eager to pick up where Thailand left off.


Tourism Observer
www.tourismobserver.com

THAILAND: Bangkok Airways Is World’s Best Regional Airline, Skytrax Declares

Bangkok Airways was named the World’s Best Regional Airline and Best Regional Airline in Asia in the Skytrax World Airline Awards announced on Tuesday during the Paris Air Show.

Bangkok Airways was commended for giving travellers a “premium boutique experience and exceptional comfort” since its launch in 1968.

The airline has since entered into code-share agreements with 23 other air carriers and strengthened its route network across Asia.

The company offers 88 routes spanning 12 countries and 26 destinations – from Samui, Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, Yangon, Danang, Mumbai, Guangzhou and Maldives.

I would like to thank all passengers who perceive the value of our dedicated services and voted for us in the Skytrax World Airline Awards, president Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth said in a press release.

This is truly considered the most precious award in the aviation industry. Winning two awards for the third time has fully manifested our continuous commitment to strive for excellence in airline services.

These achievements would not be possible without the dedication of our staff to excel in a complete airline service.

Bangkok Airways provides full services with the highest standard to underline our commitment to be Asia’s boutique airline, he said.

It is the one and only airline in Thailand that allows passengers in both economy and business to access the lounge.

All meals served on board are well prepared and sophisticatedly made with the best quality of food.

The company was also recognised as World’s Best Regional Airline and Best Regional Airline in Asia in 2014 and 2016.

It was also named Asia’s Best Regional Airline in 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2016 and Southeast Asia’s Best Regional Airline in 2006 and 2007.

THAILAND: Criminal Tourists Held In Thailand

A suspected assassin on Russia’s most-wanted list, an armed robbery suspect, an escaped convict, a “mafia-style” fugitive and an alleged German counterfeiter were arrested recently in five separate busts in Thailand, Immigration police chief Pol Lt-General Natthorn Phrosunthorn told a press conference in Bangkok on Thursday.

As part of transnational criminal suppression operations by Thai authorities and Interpol, Natthorn said the “most wanted” suspected hitman, Russian Andrey Dzyatkovskiy, 35, was arrested in the northeastern province of Roi Et on May 25 following a request by Russian intelligence agencies.

An Interpol Red Notice sought Dzyatkovskiy’s arrest for murder, attempted murder, and illegal gun and ammunition purchases and possession in relation to assassinations of high-profile Russians, Natthorn said.

The suspect is linked to many deaths and injuries, according to Thai police. Officers discovered that he had visited Thailand seven times with the latest entry on April 18, Natthorn said.

Police initially attempted to track him while he was in the South and finally caught him at a gas station after he fled to Roi Et on May 25.

Natthorn said officers had revoked his visa on the grounds that he was a danger to society and would take further legal action.

In a second case, Russian robbery suspect Evgeny Korovin, 26, was arrested in Phuket last week. Interpol had issued a Red Notice for Korovin for armed robbery and breaking and entering.

He allegedly raided an apartment in Russia on November 15, 2013, robbed residents at gunpoint, assaulted them and got away with valuables worth about Bt3.25 million before fleeing the country.

After his arrest, he was also found to have overstayed his visa in Thailand and was charged appropriately. In the third case, Russian jailbreak suspect Dimitrii Shhuratov, 29, was arrested on May 19 in a hotel in Bangkok’s Soi Sukhumvit 11.

He is wanted in his home country for allegedly breaking out of prison and assaulting prison guards. His visa was revoked on the grounds that he was a danger to society and he faced further legal action, Natthorn said.

A fourth case dealt with alleged Russian mafia leader Anatolii Samodov, 56, who was arrested on May 22 at a Pattaya condominium in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district.

Samodov allegedly led a criminal network that rigged auctions for public-sector projects by threatening competitors and forcing them to withdraw their bids, causing damage to the Russian economy.

In June 2012, Samodov fled Russia, first going to Italy and subsequently to Thailand after Russian police arrested six members of the network, who were each sentenced to 10 years in prison.

He was also found to have overstayed his visa, for which he was charged, Natthorn said. In the fifth case, German national Maurice Hockelmann, 25, was arrested in Bangkok’s Thung Kru district on Monday.

Hockelmann allegedly led a criminal network that counterfeited euro banknotes 260 times before he fled to Thailand. Hockelmann was also charged for overstaying his visa, Natthorn said.

THAILAND: Belgian Tourist Accused Of Theft In Phuket

The owner of a mobile phone accessory shop in Phuket province has accused a Belgian tourist of stealing an accessory costing Bt699 from her shop on Friday.

Nichapha-orn Chaiviriyawong, the owner of Remax shop in Tambon Talad Yai in Phuket’s Muang district, posted a video clip on her Facebook wall that purportedly showed one of two tourists putting something from her shop into a bag of purchased goods before leaving the shop.

Nichapha-orn filed a complaint with the Phuket Muang police station that the theft took place at around 3.14pm.

She said she was monitoring CCTVs in her shop when the two Belgian tourists entered and she saw one of them put something into the bag of goods he had already paid for while his friend was paying for his goods.

The shop owner said she called her staff to check their bags but it was too late as the tourists had left the shop. The staff checked their stocks and found that a dashboard phone holder costing Bt699 had gone missing.

The two Belgian tourists had together bought goods with their credit cards totalling Bt5,365.

She said she had posted the clip to warn other shops.

Pol Lt-Colonel Naruewat Phutthawir, an inspector at Phuket Tourist Police Station 2, said efforts would be made to locate the two tourists.

Meanwhile, a pregnant British woman was killed in a hit and run with an 18-wheeled-truck on Thepkrasattri road in Thalang at noon today.

She was riding on a motorbike with her partner, who did not sustain injuries. While driving, they changed lanes to avoid a vehicle parked on the left side of the road (the motorbike lane).

As they did this, the truck hit their bike from behind, said Lt Col Sanit Nukhong of Thalang Police.

“The woman was then run over by the truck and sustained fatal head injuries,” he added.

Her partner is also a British national. Both were taken to Thalang Hospital. Their names are being withheld until their families have been notified.

Police are now looking for the truck driver, who fled the scene in his vehicle.

THAILAND: Gecko Farms Multiply As Geckos Fetch High Prices, Used In Traditional Medicines In Malaysia

While recent reports of people offering to pay Bt1 million for a gecko that was about 17.5 inches long might smack of a hoax, some Thai villagers do indeed rear and sell large lizards for their tails, which are believed to have medicinal properties to treat serious ailments.

Sunthorn Chaiwattana, an expert at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said the department never had a report of such a large gecko.

“The longest ones found are only 13 to 14 inches long. There might be 17 or 18inch ones but we have never seen them and there is no information in the system to support their existence,” he said, adding that the expensive price tag might also be true as it was a matter purely based on choice by both parties in the trade.

Sunthorn, however, said that while many people in the Northeast ran “gecko farms”, any exports had to be notified to the authorities due to the species’ status allowing it to be traded only if a proper permit is obtained in the originating country.

Geckos can bring in healthy profits for breeders, with demand high in China, Singapore and Malaysia.

Villagers in Ban Rai Srisuthat in Maha Sarakham’s Wapi Pathum are encouraged to rear and sell geckos for profit, while residents of Ban Nai Tan in Nakhon Phanom’s Na Wa district have carried out captive breeding of geckos for export to China and Taiwan for nearly 20 years, generating at least Bt20 million a year.

In Ban Sob Fa Moo 7 and Ban Hong Lee Moo 5 in Lampang’s Chae Hom district, geckos are reared in large cages or containers as a sideline to traditional crop farming. Fed with crickets and special food, geckos can weigh over 500 grams in four months. When grown to 1516 inches long, they are ready to be sold at Bt10,000 each.

Krabi’s Khao Phanom district resident Aree Detraksa said she bought breeding geckos from the Northeast to raise at her home eight months ago on the suggestion of her daughter who worked in Malaysia and earned about Bt5,000 to Bt10,000 a month.

Wildlife monitoring organisation TRAFFIC has urged the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to impose stricter controls on the international gecko trade.

The NGO said there was no evidence of the gecko’s efficacy as an aphrodisiac or in treating illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and HIV/Aids, and these uses could pose a danger to the species.

The latest gecko episode stemmed from Pathomporn Khunchan, a man from Songkhla’s Hat Yai district, who said a Malaysian investor was willing to pay Bt1 million to buy a live gecko in healthy condition which was more than 17.5 inches long.

He said that investors had earlier sent two representatives to inspect a gecko that a Tak supplier claimed to have.

He was about to buy air tickets from Hat Yai to Tak when the supplier refused to send a picture of the gecko and insisted on a Bt200,000 advance payment.

The representatives were unsure about the existence of the lengthy gecko, cancelled the deal and returned to Malaysia.

“The fact that the investor sent representatives to Thailand in the hope of buying the gecko showed that the deal was real. They would not waste money buying plane tickets and pay for accommodation and other expenses if they didn’t mean it,” Pathomporn said.

Meanwhile, A Bangkok taxi driver was arrested early Monday after demanding a “ransom” of B3,000 for an iPhone 6 that a passenger had left in his car.

Mongkol Srijunphan, 26, was arrested in a sting operation in the middle of Soi Thonglor 13 at 3.30am.

Police planned the arrest after the phone owner filed a complaint at Thonglor station.

The woman told police she’d forgotten the phone on the rear passenger seat after riding with a friend from the Rama III Road area to Soi Sukhumvit 31 at 1.15.

She called her phone and found it turned off, but remembered the taxi’s licence plate number.

While speaking to police, she received a phone call from the driver, who demanded Bt3,000 in exchange for the smartphone. If she didn’t pay, he threatened to sell it.

At the direction of police, the woman arranged to meet the cabbie on Soi 13 to make the exchange. He was soon arrested and charged with extortion.