AYUTTHAYA
Police warn of foreign tourist con to avoid paying bills
SUNTHORN PONGPAO
Ayutthaya _ Hotel, guesthouse and restaurant operators in Ayutthaya province have been warned about foreign tourists making false lost-property complaints to avoid paying their bills. Provincial police tourist chief Pol Lt-Col Sombat Pattana said yesterday there had been at least 10 instances recently of foreign holidaymakers claiming their valuables were missing, mostly wallets and cameras.
Unsuspecting managers had agreed to compensate them for the loss and to waive the bill so that they would not go to the police.
In many cases, the tourists reported the ''theft'' on their last day in Thailand and threatened to go to the police in their home country and seek compensation from tour agencies which arranged their accommodation or dining.
Most of the tourists who tried the ploy were from Korea, Hong Kong and Japan.
He said an increase in lost property complaints by people on holiday in Thailand would reflect badly on the tourism industry, and recommended tourism operators take legal action against tourists who lie in order to get free goods or services.
Deputy tourist police commander Pol Col Sanit Mahathaworn said police had already identified the tourists involved, using their passports and visa papers. Most were frequent travellers to Thailand.
Police had sought help from their embassies in monitoring their behaviour. If there was adequate evidence against these tourists, police would recommend that the Foreign Affairs Ministry blacklist them.
Bangkok Post Feb. 13, 2008