BMA to step up protection for foreign tourists from cheating
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Wednesday announced a series of measures to better protect foreign tourists against overcharging by tuktuk and taxi drivers as well as rip-offs by drivers and shops.
BMA permanent secretary Wanthanee Wattana announced the measures to protect foreign tourists following a meeting with the city’s private and public partners.
The meeting, which was held at the Bangkok City Hall, was chaired by PM’s office minister Puangphet Choonla-iad and included representatives from multiple agencies.
The meeting discussed foreign tourists being hounded by tuktuk and taxi drivers, coercing them to shop for goods and services from their affiliated shops and being overcharged by drivers and shopkeepers.
The meeting also discussed untidy sidewalks that are blocked by stalls, thus causing tourists to risk their life by walking on streets.
After the meeting, Wanthanee announced five enforcement measures to protect foreign tourists:
- The BMA will employ artificial intelligence technology with its extensive network of security cameras to monitor violations of traffic laws, sidewalks blocked by vendors, and violations of parking bans on major roads frequented by foreign tourists.
- The BMA will issue stickers for tuktuks, taxis and shops certifying that they will not overcharge tourists. The stickers will signify that the shops and vehicles have been registered by the BMA and will not rip off tourists. Signs will warn tourists against being lured into being overcharged for goods and services.
- The BMA will join forces with other government agencies to monitor opportunists who overcharge tourists, who will be arrested and fined.
- The city administration will seek help from the public to monitor such crimes.
- The BMA will publicise telephone numbers for foreign tourists to call to seek help, while the city administration will publish guide books informing tourists of shops that offer goods and services at friendly prices.
Wanthanee said the measures will initially be enforced in the Ratchaprasong area and will be expanded to cover other key tourism areas in the capital including Rattanakosin Island.
Participants in Wednesday’s meeting included representatives from the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the Traffic Police Division, the Land Transport Department, the BMA’s Tourism Department, the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, and the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA).
