Phuket’s tourist court ready to rule

A court set up to make quick rulings on disputes involving tourists opens in Phuket on Tuesday as the island attempts to boost its tarnished tourism image.

The launch of the Phuket court follows that of a similar one in Pattaya, which opened on Sept 5. It handles civil and criminal cases lodged by local and foreign tourists.

Suvarnabhumi airport also will open a courtroom for foreign plaintiffs tomorrow, with the Courts of Justice and the Tourism and Sports Ministry planning a similar court of their own.

The court is run by the tourism division of the Phuket provincial court, with staff assigned specifically to serve tourists. They have been told to make prompt rulings, delivering them in one day when necessary.

Courts of Justice secretary-general Virat Chinvinitkul said the court in Phuket was needed to help visitors, while ministry spokesman Vachara Kannika said the concept would help improve the island’s image.

Officials say tourists are complaining in increasing numbers about scams and exorbitant fees charged by tuk tuk and taxi drivers.

The European Union and some European diplomats in June urged the government to solve the problems, or the EU would have to post warnings to its citizens planning to visit Phuket.

Mr Vachara said the court would help promote tourism as it would show the country now has mechanisms in place to protect tourists from unfair treatment.

The project was proposed about three months ago by the ministry, police and the Court of Justice after a series of wellpublicised incidents involving tourists.

About 10 million foreign tourists have visited Phuket this year.

The Court of Justice and the ministry plan to set up more tourist courts in Chiang Mai, Koh Samui in Surat Thani and Bangkok.

Meanwhile, Phuket authorities yesterday began moves to regulate tuk-tuk taxis in Phuket.

Phuket governor Maitree Inthusut, Patong municipality deputy mayor Chairat Sukban and Kathu police chief Jirapan Phochanapan yesterday studied tuk-tuk services at the entrance of Soi Bangla in Patong and Rat-U-Thit 200 Years Road in Kathu district.

Earlier, tuk-tuk operators filed complaints claimiung illegal tuk-tuk drivers were stealing their customers.

Mr Mitree said tuk-tuks with green and yellow plates must be registered. He had asked the local police to heighten measures to thwart unregistered tuktuk drivers.

The police apprehended 158 illegal tuk-tuk drivers in June, 253 in July, 191 last month and 172 so far this month.

About 1,200 tuk-tuks have been registered to provide services in Phuket.