Northern Thailand
Northern Tourism Federation to Sue Illegal Returnees and Accomplices
The Northern Tourism Federation plans to sue the illegal returnees who brought in COVID-19 as well as their accomplices for damaging tourism.
Kitti Tisakul, chief adviser to the Tourism Federation, said tourism-related operators including hoteliers, restaurateurs and car rental operators in the region would take the legal action.
The operators would conclude the combined damage which was estimated at about 20 million baht from Nov 29 to Dec 7. The lawsuit would initially target the people who crossed the border for work in Tachileik border town of Myanmar where they contracted the novel coronavirus, later sneaked back, dodged quarantine and visited places in the country irresponsibly.
Affected operators would also take legal action against the accomplices who illegally brought COVID-19 infected Thai women from Tachileik back to Thai soil, Mr Kitti said.
Go Ahead and Sue Them
Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has also voiced support for the Tourism Federation planning to sue people infected with Covid-19 who re-entered the country illegally, saying they were “selfish and irresponsible” and needed to be taught a lesson.
“Go ahead. Sue them. They should do that,” Mr Anutin said. “They have the right to do so.”
He said the government would also take legal action against them for breaching immigration and disease control laws.
All Thai people are expected to re-enter the country through legal means, including infected people, he said.
“The problem is some of them slipped into the country illegally, not wanting to be in quarantine for 14 days. This is selfish and irresponsible on their part, and a cause of trouble for many other people,” he said.
Border markets in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai were quiet after news reports on the illegal returns of Thai people with COVID-19 from the neighboring country.
Since March 22, the Interior Ministry has closed the border crossing near the 1st Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge which spans Tachileik and Mae Sai. Before the closure, about 10,000 people had crossed the border there on a daily basis.
Domestic Tourists cancel trips to north
Meanwhile, the resurgence of local Covid-19 cases has affected travel sentiment for the upcoming long weekend as Thai tourists are expected to take fewer trips than during holidays last month, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Local tourists are estimated to make 3.1 million trips nationwide between Dec 10-13, generating 12.6 billion baht, but the growth is slower compared with vacations in November, said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn.
“Even though people will continue with their plans, some of them hesitated about the situation, which saw Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai heavily affected by cancellations and postponements,” he said.
The most sensitive groups are families, senior travellers, meetings and incentives. Some of those decided to shift their destinations to nearby provinces instead, resulting in the highest occupancy of 61% in the Central region, while the nationwide average is 40%.
TAT’s survey also found the North still has a healthy occupancy rate of around 59%, as this is the high season for this region.
Data analysis collected from conversations on social media platforms found people are concerned about the outbreak in the country, particularly in provinces linked to the new cases. Most keywords showed negative sentiment towards the reported infections.
Floods in Southern Thailand
The southern floods also affected tourism in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Krabi, Trang, Phatthalung and Songkhla. The average occupancy for the South was the lowest at 19%.
Tourism in the Northeast remains intact as the average occupancy is expected to be 59%. Local events and activities such as Jim Thompson’s farm tour for the whole month of December helped people plan their vacations in advance.
Some tourist attractions in the Northeast also helped lure massive crowds, such as Khao Yai National Park, the third largest national park in the country, which drew 43,543 tourists during the long holiday last month.
National parks remain popular destinations after they welcomed 400,000 travellers in November, 2.4 times higher than normal weekends. Doi Inthanon National Park remains the second popular hot spot attracting over 40,200 tourists.
Mr Yuthasak said 80.4% of those surveyed planned trips for December, 6.67 percentage points higher than a survey in September.
The busiest time is during the New Year festival at 62.8%, followed by Constitution Day (21.1%) and Father’s Day (17.1%). Some 87.6% planned overnight trips with average spending of 9,136 baht per trip, while the average length of stay is 3.37 days.
He said cross-regional trips make up 63.1% of long-distance journeys, with the North ranking as the preferred destination. Some 56% plan to travel in their own vehicles.
The Governor of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand has sought stricter rules for tourist tubing on the Pai River, following allegations of tourists sneaking into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police reports and considerable criticism online.
After a resort owner in Pai protested about the existing situation of tubing activities along the Pai River, the Governor became aware of the matter. According to the accusations, wine and beer are discreetly offered to tourists while disguised in plastic water bottles to prevent detection.
After their tubing adventures, these tourists, both men and women, would walk around Pai town in their swimsuits. Men often wear one pair of swim briefs, but most women wear two-piece swimsuits or bikinis.
This behavior was considered derogatory to local culture. Recently, there were instances of tourists slipping into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police investigations and considerable online criticism.
Following the complaint, provincial governor Chuchip Pongchai requested a meeting of the police and allied authorities on July 16 to explore further tourism restrictions.
The province already restricts the selling of alcohol to tourists who go tubing, which involves floating down a river on inner tubes made of rubber tires. Most people observe the guidelines, but others, including some store owners, break them by concealing the alcohol by pouring it in water bottles.
According to TNA, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, attracting 40,000 visitors each year and strengthening Thailand’s economy.
Tubing in the Pai River has become a favorite activity among foreigners. However, the governor stated that the attitude of some tourists has jeopardised the province’s image.
Tourists Tubing on Pai River
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Police in northern Thailand’s Phayao province have arrested a 40-year-old pregnant mother for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm.
Phayao Police report they were called after a woman and her daughter had been stabbed and beaten by a family member to a house number 206, Soi 7, Village No. 3, Ban San Nong Niao Subdistrict. Tom, Mueang District.
When officers arrived they found Ms. Chayada Chaiyawan, age 45, and her daughter Ms. Patida Chaiyawan, age 19, with injuries to their bodies and heads. Blood was spread all over the bedroom, and they found Mrs. Sakulkarn, aged 40 years, who was a relative living next door, tied up.
The police then transported all of them to Phayao Hospital for treatment. Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice. Both also sustained head injuries, according to Phayao police.
Ms. Chayada told police the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. She was sleeping in the room with her young son, when she heard someone opened the bedroom door. She said at that time it was still dark and all she saw a shadow of a person lifting what she though was a hammer.
She said the got up and fought until she fell after being hit in the head and stabbed with a knife, in fear for her life she screamed for her daughter to come and help. When the daughter entered the room the assailant proceeded to hit her in the head and stabbed her also.
The assailant ran out of the room and was immediately restrained by a neighbour who heard the screaming and ran into the house to help. Mrs. Sakulkarn who was 7 months pregnant was tied up and police and rescue workers were called to the scene. The neighbour told police that all the time they were waiting for the police.
Police said Mrs. Sakulkarn is being held in Hospital and is under psychiatric care. Ms. Chayada and her daughter were treated for their injuries and sent home.
According to Thai Media, Police said charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm will be filed against Mrs. Sakulkarn after she is released from Hospital.
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Five people were killed and two others badly injured when a pickup truck was hit by a north-bound train at an unguarded railway crossing in Phitchit province on Monday evening.
Phitchit police reported the horrific crash occurred around 6 pm at Moo 1 village in tambon Pak Thang of Muang district of Phitchit.
Police said the 201 passenger train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok approached the crossing, which was unguarded and had no safety barriers.
A four-door pickup truck plates drove across the tracks and into the path of oncoming the train which was was unable to stop or slowdown in time to avoid hitting the pickup truck.
The force of the crash drove the pickup about 30 metres down the railway crossing and off to the side. All passengers on the pickup were thrown from the vehicle.
Three women passengers died immediately and two more passengers died later at Phichit Hospital. Two others including the driver of the pickup were seriously injured.
Police investigators said truck driver Pratya Khongthat, 40, was taking relatives, including a 14-yea-old girl, to a funeral at Wat Ratchangkhwan in tambon Pak Thang, approximately one kilometer from the accident scene.
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