ID :
507007
Wed, 10/03/2018 - 10:32
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Calls To Safeguard Thailand's Tourism Industry

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, Oct 3 (Bernama) – Thais have been urged to play their part in safeguarding the country's good image as tourism officials are worried of bad publicity from another incident involving a foreign tourist in Chiangmai in northern Thailand. The latest incident happened near Chiangmai International Airport Monday and it was similar to an earlier one a few days ago where a security guard assaulted a male Chinese tourist at Don Mueang International Airport. "To safeguard the image of the tourism industry, it involves (the participation) the officials and the people," said Thailand's Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha when asked by the media about the incident in Chiangmai, here Tuesday. The incident in Chiangmai, which was caught on camera, happened when a group of disgruntled minibus and "Tuk Tuk" drivers stopped a ride-sharing car and forced its passengers, a foreign couple to leave the vehicle. In the video clip, one of the men who was brandishing a stick shouted angrily at the driver of the car, accusing him of operating a public transport service without a licence. The foreign couple who were forced out of the ride-sharing car, then posted the video of the altercation on a local Facebook page, which became viral on Thailand's social media circles and drew immediate reactions from local officials. The Prime Minister wanted officials from the Transport Ministry and other government officials to sort out questions regarding the legitimacy of ride-sharing services in the country against public transportation. However, according to Prayut, stopping the ride-sharing car as happened in Chiangmai Monday and threatening the foreign tourists was wrong. Meanwhile, the local media reported that police in Chiangmai had identified the aggressive minibus driver who had threatened the car driver and forced the foreign couple to leave the vehicle. Deputy Chiang Mai police chief Col Piyaphan Pattarapongsin was quoted as saying that the 37 year-old man would be charged for causing a public disturbance, carrying a weapon in public and intimidating others. The ride-sharing car driver, he said, would also be fined 2,000 Baht (RM263) for using a private car for public transport purposes. -- BERNAMA

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