The Tourism Department has taken legal action against three companies for tourism-related malpractice.
The first is a tour agency that stranded a group of Chinese tourists in Phangnga province, the second is a tour agency that stranded 25 Thai tourists planning to travel to Russia, and the last is a company that allegedly organised a substandard tour guide sales seminar.
Wanasiri Morakul, director-general of the Tourism Department, revealed that there have been reports involving multiple cases of malfeasance among tourism-related personnel.
The department was instructed to collaborate with the Tourist Police Division to follow up reported cases and rush to prosecute those who are found in violation of the Tourism Business and Tourist Guide Act.
For the first case, police have been granted a warrant to raid Xin Xing Travel Co.
A coalition of the department's officials and the tourist police received a report that a group of Chinese tourists were left stranded by a tour guide employed by the company in Phangnga.
As a result, the tour company was charged with negligence and subcontracting an unlicensed tour guide.
According to the law, the perpetrator will be suspended from working as a tour guide and subjected to a fine up to 50,000 baht. For subcontracting an unlicensed tourist guide, the penalty includes a one-year imprisonment, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.
The raid found out that Xin Xing Travel Co does not have aberrations in its registration record and has the correct operations licence. The authorities are still collecting evidence for the case. The company could face a suspension of its tour licence and a fine of up to 500,000 baht.
The second case was reported on May 4, which resulted in the tourist police arresting Mr Jessada Honghin on that day and charged him with fraud and operating a travel service without a licence, subject to a two-year jail term and a fine of up to 500,000 baht or both.
According to the report, the suspect allegedly organised a tour group to Russia, which was scheduled for the morning of May 4. Mr Jessada did not complete required procedures, leaving the group stranded in Bangkok.
Ms Wanasiri has warned the public to be vigilant before deciding to purchase any package tours, and to check registration and licence numbers with the call centre at 02-401-1111.