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Thai PM orders: Fix airport woes

The Straits Times | Thu, Aug 20 2009

Several European tourists are said to be falsely accused of shoplifting and were released only after paying a hefty sum.

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BANGKOK: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has ordered airport officials to restore confidence among foreign tourists following reports of malpractice and scams at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi international airport.

He made a trip to the airport on Saturday to gather information on the problems faced by the airport, including baggage theft, unlicensed taxis and the alleged extortion of tourists.

Mr Abhisit said guidelines would be laid out to ensure greater transparency, as well as to restore tourist confidence in the airport, which has been dogged by corruption allegations since its opening in 2006.

He said the airport authorities were told to install more surveillance cameras to help prevent baggage thefts, Thai News Agency reported.

Britain, Denmark and Ireland recently issued advisories warning their citizens to be on their guard against an alleged extortion scam targeting foreign travellers.

In most instances, the victims claimed they were accused of shoplifting or theft, arrested and then made to part with a substantial sum of money to secure their release.

Central to the scam is a man who helps mediate between the accused and the police – for a fee.

As the airport has open-plan shops, it is easy for an unwary shopper to step out of a shop without knowing.

Mr Serirat Prasutanont, president of Airports of Thailand (AOT), said signs would be put up to clearly demarcate the duty-free area and to urge tourists to pay for their merchandise before leaving the area.

Mr Serirat on Monday met representatives from the police, customs and King Power – the operator of the duty-free complex at the airport – to discuss the problems.

The meeting came on the heels of Mr Abhisit’s weekend visit to the airport.

Mr Serirat said state security agencies have been told to draw up new measures to deal with the problems and to submit their proposals to AOT executives on Thursday, reported the Bangkok Post yesterday.

He said the proposed new guidelines would be forwarded to the Transport Ministry and the Prime Minister for approval.

Mr Pratheep Vijitho, the airport’s deputy director for operations, said the two operators contracted to handle passenger luggage at the airport – Thai Airways International and Bangkok Flight Services – would be required to employ better anti-theft measures.

One newly implemented measure is for luggage handlers to wear uniforms without pockets and more security cameras installed in the sorting area.

For more The Straits Times stories, click here.

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