Tourists have confidence in Thai gems and jewelry

BANGKOK, April 12 (TNA) - Foreigners are buying gems and jewelry with confidence in Thailand thanks to certification by the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT). GIT director Duangkamol Jiambutr said the confidence resulted from the “Buy with Confidence” (BWC) project that GIT launched this month together with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Consumer Protection Board and the Tourist Police. The participating organisations were joining forces to check gems and jewelry products at shops to ensure their standard. Their officials learned from foreign tourists that they had confidence in buying standard gems and jewelry because they show GIT’s BWC certificates, Mrs Duangkamol said. According to her, certified jewelry shops display the BWC logo and QR codes that enable visitors to check the profiles of the shops. Besides, certified gems and jewelry products also bear the BWC logo and have their own QR codes linking to their detailed certification. If customers have problems after their purchases, they can also file complaints via hotline numbers 1166 of the Consumer Protection Board, 1155 of the Tourist Police and 1569 of the Department of Internal Trade. Mrs Duangkamol said gems and jewelry were the third most important Thai exports after automobiles and computers. Their exports were valued at 240 billion baht last year and the figure should rise 8-10% this year to 260-265 billion baht, she said. (TNA)