The latest in an unending string of complaints about Pattaya Beach jet ski vendors allegedly “scamming” tourists out of huge sums of money took a new twist last Tuesday with a local tailor shop owner helping jet ski operators and local police extract cash while an honest Thai merchant cried foul.
Reporters were called to the beachfront across from Royal Garden Plaza by a speedboat operator – who wished to remain anonymous – where Indian and Russian tourists were being shaken down for 150,000 baht in supposed damage to jet skis they rented. The boat captain was infuriated over what he called one in a long string of “scams” that are destroying the reputation of Pattaya.
The continuing saga of jet ski scams is wearing thin, especially on honest vendors.
The boat operator alleged that the jet ski vendors claimed the tourists had damaged their jet skis, but soon cut their request for compensation to just 35,000. A local Russian was brought in to translate and local police were also called. According to him, each of these participants would get a cut of any cash collected.
The boat operator alleged police take a percentage of any settlement if the dispute goes back to the Pattaya Police Station. Such things are destroying the image of the city, he said, and demanded the city take action.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome – who recently opened a Facebook page to take comments from residents – has been inundated with complaints, videos and news reports about the jet ski issue. In response to reporters’ questions about the issue, Itthiphol claimed, however, that the city is regulating the jet skis.
“We set up a committee last year to regulate and control the jet skis and also act in any disputes that may occur,” he wrote at http://Facebook.com/PattayaFuture. “We have a booth along the beach where people can meet with city hall officials in the case of such a dispute.”
The location of the booth was not immediately made available, and the mayor has not again discussed jet skis on his Facebook page.
