by Karla Cripps, Bangkok Editor

11 September, 2009

Drugs, scams and beat downs. Just another night of 'Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand'

A new documentary has the Thai tourism industry scrambling to clean up its act

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Phuket's governor has been urged to crack down on jet-ski scams since the first episode of Bravo's eight-part documentary "Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand" aired earlier this week.

The Thai tourism industry has fought hard to restore this year's high season to previous levels. But on top of economic doldrums, airport closures and political instability, it can now count Bravo's “Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand” among its infirmities.

Here’s the show’s unrestrained promo text, designed for maximum enticement:

“From adrenaline fuelled drug busts, organized tourist scams, scorned lady-boys, violent brothel disputes, bar room brawls, brutal murders, street robberies and sexual assaults, the series is filmed in the popular tourist hotspots of Koh Samui, Phuket, Bangkok, Pattaya and Chang Mai.”

Everything seems to be going wrong -- from unexplained tourist deaths to scams and corrupt officials.

— Blogger Richard Barrow

Ouch. That’s gotta sting the folks at the Thai Tourism Authority, who've just launched their “Ultimate Thailand Explorers” contest in an effort to portray those very same hotspots as fun-loving family-friendly destinations.

In the first of eight episodes, which aired Monday in the United Kingdom, the cameraman just happens to stumble upon a flap involving a young British marine victimized by a jet-ski scam while visiting Phuket.

According to Phuketwan.com, 28-year-old Winai ''JJ'' Naiman, shown during the broadcast brandishing a BB gun to intimidate the marine into paying for damage he didn't do to the jet-ski, was arrested after police viewed the documentary.

“Thais who have seen the show are shocked at the image of tourism in Thailand that it portrays, with the jet-ski incident and Phang Ngan drug-taking the most alarming in a series of incidents,” says the Phuketwan.com report, adding that Phuket's governor has been urged by the deputy prime minister and senior diplomats from Australia and Britain to crack down on scams in the wake of the bad press.

The show has been a hot topic among Thai bloggers since its premiere. Here are a few of their comments.

“The situation has just been going from bad to worse,” says blogger Richard Barrow on a recent post. “This year Thailand has received a lot of negative press from the international media. Everything seems to be going wrong -- from unexplained tourist deaths to scams and corrupt officials.”

“Thailand is more like Nigeria or Cuba or Mexico,” says blogger Leosia. “It offers a great experience (for the open-minded) but you’ve got to have your wits about you. Inexperienced travelers need not apply.”

"I think Big Trouble in Thailand is much more than a waste of time…I feel it’s a fraud meant to paint Thailand in a negative light,” says blog Thailand, Land of Smiles. “The journalism was so one sided and leaned towards sympathetic to all of the British nationals involved. I truly believe that parts of this documentary were staged.”

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Tags: Thailand Ultimate Explorers, Thai tourism, Thai scams

user comments and reviews (8)

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drand10

13 February, 2010

Come on dude...nobody should have to tell you that you need to carry an ID when driving? Do they tell you this in America? If not, why should they in Thailand? But..regardless...Thailand has always been a place that the inexperienced travelled can really be taken advantage of. Thailand is a great place..great people..but...just like any other place (Rome gypsys?), there is always the bad with the good!

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drand10

13 February, 2010

Ralfie

27 December, 2009

I mostly agree with all you commenters that Thailand is a safe place and many of the people are kind and friendly. BUT ... the number of people trying to rip off foreigners has increased dramatically. Sure, once you learn how to play the game, you adjust. But, when a person is on holiday, they don't feel like having to "play the game". And even if you ask all the right questions, keep cool-headed and 'jai yen yen', etc ... there are still a lot of Thais that outright LIE and DECEIVE so that they can try to make money. For examply, having to pay a fine to the police for not having my drivers license with me when riding the motorscooter I rented (who carries a license when just wearing swimming shorts and a t-shirt?), and when I told the rental place about this and gave friendly advice to warn future renters about this, she acted like it was not her fault/responsibility and with an attitude said "I asked you if you had a license" - even though she never looked at it or actually saw it, never told me to keep it on me, and nothing in the rental agreement said I needed to have it. So, the "Big Trouble..." documentary may exaggerate things and find extreme examples (and of course every country in the world has its good and its bad), but the joy in going to Thailand is much less than what it used to be.

Ralfie

26 December, 2009

Taromona

22 November, 2009

It's a pulp TV show, so ridiculous it's amusing how much of the Thai and foreign media and the blog world take it seriously. I agree that large parts were probably staged. The other problem is using Phuket and Pattaya to describe Thailand, which like saying Las Vegas is USA or St. Pauli is Germany. Even in Thailand, these tourists hot spots are bound to breed 'monsters' like JJ sooner or later, when locals try to make a living next to a decades long culture of Full Moon parties and the anything-goes tropical paradise.

tizzo

6 October, 2009

While I believe the documentary to be no more than populist sensationalism, I don't think Thai people should worry about the effects of this documentary on Thai tourism. Thai politics and laws are doing much more damage to its image than a couple of tourists getting ripped off could ever do. I have been to Thailand countless times, over the past 8 years and never had any problems. ThailandXpat is absolutely right.

fabletoo

28 September, 2009

This series of 'documentaries' is the scam and not Thailand. I've lived in Thailand for more than six years and never had one problem with Thais. With Brits, yes, more than one problem as many of them don't know how to behave themselves out of their own country (and I can say this, as I'm British). Thailand is a lovely country full of amazing people. In 6 years of living here, I've never experienced any scams and I'm a farang woman who travels around Thailand quite often, and usually alone. The British should be ashamed of themselves for airing this garbage.

Anczelowitz

28 September, 2009

Thailand XPat is exactly right in everything he says. The only ongoing problem that might occur in greater Bangkok is unscrupulous taxi drivers with "broken meters" who will try to charge you a fixed price usually about 50% higher than the metered fair should run you. I must admit though that these taxis are not as prevalent now as when I first moved here 4 years ago but 'ALWAYS tell the driver to use the meter and if he declines - politely get out and dont sweat it - there are millions of taxis throughout the city

ThailandXpat

28 September, 2009

As a UK ex-pat who's lived in Bangkok for 3 years, I find Thailand to be a much safer, more law-abiding and pleasant country than the UK, USA or other Western countries I've visited. If you're a responsible and law-abiding tourist who avoids the sleazy parts of town (which are basically limited to just a few streets), and you're well-behaved and respectful to your local hosts, you'll NEVER have any trouble in Thailand. I had not one unpleasant incident in 3 years, and yes, I have visited the typical tourist hotspots like Koh Samui, Phuket and Pattaya. Thais are the most courteous, generous and non-confrontational people on earth, but don't provoke them, don't look down and don't seek confrontations. Turn the other cheek, and don't show anger in public. That's called 'losing face' in Thailand and is considered one of the most socially unacceptable things to do. Simply smile, remain calm and negotiate rationally. Remaining 'jai yen yen' ('heart cool cool', or in English 'cool-headed') at all times is a behavioural trait that will gain you much admiration from Thai people, as well as smoothing out your everyday life. An aggressive, argumentative Western attitude won't cut it here in Thailand. Modulate your behaviour, observe the locals and behave like them (even if you're seething inside) if you want to have a smooth-running and delightful experience in Thailand.

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