Quick navigation:
List of forums
Gay Thailand
Gay Cambodia
Gay Vietnam
Gay World
Everything Else
FAQ & Help
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 27

Thread: Bad press for Phuket

  1. #1
    Forum's veteran
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Thailand (couple times a year)
    Posts
    5,673
    Liked
    5

    Bad press for Phuket

    Phuket's still a nice beach and party destination but the rip offs and scams supported by local authorities aren't going unnoticed...

    ---------------------------------------------------
    Island a paradise for many, and hell for others
    December 26, 2011

    Seven years after the tsunami, Australians are all too carefree on Phuket, writes south-east Asia correspondent Lindsay Murdoch.

    A scantily clad Russian dancer clings to a pole behind a second-storey street-front window of a nightclub called L'Amour.

    A large Australian flag flutters below her in a breeze coming off the Andaman Sea.

    Across the street, the "Aussie Bar" is crowded with young Australian drinkers, many of them shirtless, who are shouting to be heard above music thumping from nearby girlie bars.

    Away from the seedy red-light district of Patong Beach, it is boom time on Phuket seven years after the Boxing Day tsunami hit southern Thailand with awesome savagery, killing more than 5000 people and wiping out the region's tourism industry.

    Phuket International Airport is being upgraded to take 12.4 million visitors a year by 2014.

    The island once known as the "Pearl of the Andaman Sea" is undergoing a building frenzy with 43,000 hotel rooms open and at least 7000 more in the pipeline.

    But Larry Cunningham, Australia's honorary consul on the island, has spoken out about the rip-offs, scams, criminal activities and bad behaviour that are ruining the holidays of scores of Australians, including a new wave of "schoolies".

    Up to 25,000 Australian tourists a month are visiting Phuket, most of them arriving on cheap direct flights from Australia's capital cities, lured by the benefits of the high Australian dollar and an exotic location.

    "Many Australians come here behaving as if the same standards and laws apply in Thailand as they do in Australia," Cunningham says. He is a property developer from Sydney who has lived in Phuket for 11 years.

    "They have little idea about Thai culture and think that what happens in Australia happens here."

    Cunningham, 62, knows that when the telephone rings at night at the exclusive Chava resort he built on Phuket's Surin Beach, it is usually Thai authorities telling him more Australians have landed in trouble.

    Up to 50 Australians a year die on Phuket, half of them from natural causes and the other half from motorbike and car accidents, misadventure or suicides.

    Cunningham estimates about 80 per cent of the cases in which Australians find themselves in trouble are settled before he hears about them, often through extorted payments.

    Australians sometimes find themselves in situations that make them "scared for their lives", he says.

    Unscrupulous jet skis operators on Phuket have been ripping off customers for years. They make false claims of damage to the skis and demand immediate payment. "Thugs will surround the hirers, threatening physical harm or worse if they don't pay money," Cunningham says.

    "They have the hirers over a barrel because they handed them their passports."

    In the latest case last week, two Australian women injured in a jet-ski accident were pursued by thugs who went to the hospital where they were being treated.
    This was even though a South African man responsible for the accident had agreed to pay for the damage involved.

    Similar scams involve the hiring of motor bikes.

    Cunningham says Australian "schoolies" coming to the island in rising numbers are being preyed on by Thai criminals, and corrupt police, at "full moon" parties where they are often robbed after having their drinks spiked, set up and extorted for money or sexually assaulted.

    "We have also had motor boats coming from the parties crashing, killing and maiming people тАж these parties are dangerous and the kids should not attend them," he says.

    Cunningham tells the story of two young Australian men who awoke in an alley behind a bar about 30 hours after their drinks were spiked.
    All their valuables were gone.

    In another instance, an Australian man involved in a business dispute was wrongfully accused of sexually abusing a child.

    While being held for 84 days in a Phuket jail, he was told his throat would be cut if he did not put money into a bank account. He obliged.

    Some other experiences: one Australian had to pay $50,000 in hospital fees after coming off a motorcycle he rented. His Australian insurer declined to pay the fees because he did not have a current Australian motorcycle licence.

    The family of an 88-year-old Perth woman had to pay $30,000 to send her home in a medivac journey after she broke her hip. She had not been able to get travel insurance because of her age.

    Many Australians get into trouble after they pick up an escort in a bar only to discover, after returning with the escort to their hotel, the companion is a "ladyboy".
    "You couldn't print many of the stories,'' Cunningham says.

    It is not only that Australians can be victims. Cunningham says there is an increasing number of cases in which Australians have gone to Thai police to make false claims of theft so they could claim insurance back home in Australia. "Thai police view the making of false declarations very seriously," he says.

    Cunningham stresses he is not advising Australians to stay away Phuket, which he says is a fabulous place with near-perfect beaches where they can enjoy the "land of smiles" culture.

    "I'm just asking them to be aware of the possible pitfalls and avoid them," he says.

    Cunningham says surviving the 2004 tsunami and seeing its "horrendous" aftermath encouraged him to help Australians who get into trouble. He was on a boat off nearby Krabi when a 9.2 metre wall of water smashed into southern Thailand about 11am local time on Boxing Day.

    "I am a grandfather and I like to make a difference where I can," Cunningham says.

    "I felt that as I spoke Thai, I could do a lot to assist after the tsunami and, when the honorary consul position was advertised the following year, I applied for it," he says. "The job can take [a] huge personal [toll] but at other times it can be very rewarding."

    Along the Phuket coast, luxurious resorts have been built where the tsunami crashed ashore, destroying once beautiful beaches and villages.

    Beside a hotel swimming pool at Patong Beach, Juliette Law, 44, from Coffs Harbour, says she does not fear another tsunami because the chance of one striking again is small. "Phuket is a terrific place for the family to come," says Law, a teacher in environmental science.

    John Bassett, 61, and Nina Lahimann, 50, from Byron Bay, drove two hours north along the coast from Patong Beach to Khao Lak, a white-sand resort which in 2004 was a scene of devastation.

    Bassett is sitting in a restaurant overlooking the beach where, as millions of YouTube viewers saw, the tsunami swamped a lone swimmer and then smashed into a restaurant. But he says it is good to be away from the seedy part of Patong Beach, which he likens to a "zoo" or the kingdoms of ''Sodom and Gomorrah''.

    "We have come to this part of Thailand for the last two years тАж this is a beautiful place and it's a nice thought that our money is helping victims of the tsunami," he says.

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-new ... 1p9ii.html
    ---------------------------------------------------


    ---------------------------------------------------
    Kiwi dies after Thai sex romp: report
    December 28, 2011 - 10:22AM

    A New Zealand man has died after a reported sex romp with two Thai prostitutes.

    The man, in Thailand to mark the anniversary of a friend's death in the Boxing Day tsunami seven years ago, was found dead in a Phuket guesthouse, according to local police.

    A friend of the 30-year-old discovered his body on Tuesday morning, the Phuket Wan Tourism News reported local police as saying.

    The website, in a story headlined Phuket tourist mourns tsunami friend, has sex with two Patong bar hostesses, and dies, quotes a local police spokesman saying the dead man had taken two prostitutes back to his room at the Keeta Guesthouse at Patong Beach the night before.

    Lieutenant Jakapong said the dead man was overweight and may have had health issues.

    The police officer told the newspaper the dead man and another 29-year-old New Zealander had attended a candles in the sand "Light Up Phuket" ceremony at Patong Beach on the anniversary of the 2004 tsunami before the pair went out on the town after the ceremony.

    "The man told his friend that both girls were beautiful so he decided to take both back to his room," Lieutenant Jakapong said. "We found two used condoms and a sex stimulant in the man's room."

    The prostitutes were not in the room when the body was found, Lieutenant Jakapong said.

    New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it had not been approached for consular assistance but was making inquiries.

    AAP

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/kiwi-dies-a ... 1pc0h.html
    ---------------------------------------------------


  2. #2
    Senior member kjun12's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Bangkok
    Posts
    457
    Liked
    39

    Re: Bad press for Phuket

    The bad press Phuket is getting is not bad enough. The place will have to be brought to its knees before the ways of the taxi drivers, jet ski people and other crooks, as well as corrupt police, change their ways. I write to as many travel sites as I can find warning travelers to avoid Phuket.
    Will Rogers said, "I never met a man I didn't like", but he never met Donald Trump.

  3. #3
    Forum's veteran
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    1,057
    Liked: 1

    Re: Bad press for Phuket

    Quote Originally Posted by kjun12
    The bad press Phuket is getting is not bad enough. The place will have to be brought to its knees before the ways of the taxi drivers, jet ski people and other crooks, as well as corrupt police, change their ways. I write to as many travel sites as I can find warning travelers to avoid Phuket.
    My first experience of Thailand was Phuket and for the next two years I also took time out of my agenda to visit. I will limit my thoughts to Patong, as that is where I stayed. The last time was New Year 2010 and I swore I would never again set foot in the place.

    It is a veritable den of thieves. I am fairly liberal but extortion and the like just get my goat. It is so obvious but the general visitor doesn't realise until it's too late.

    I now consider it one of the places I advise travelers to avoid when going to Thailand.

  4. #4
    Guest

    Re: Bad press for Phuket

    During my ONE visit to Phuket just prior to the tsunami, I found the people westernized, rude and crude. I felt that in no way did they resemble the Thais of the rest of their nation but a group of people who did not care in the least.
    I felt the bars were poorly run and had no customers and the city in total chaos with construction everywhere.
    I never returned and have no desire to. Their loss but I don't think they care.

  5. #5
    Forum's veteran
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Thailand (couple times a year)
    Posts
    5,673
    Liked
    5

    Re: Bad press for Phuket

    Quote Originally Posted by justme
    During my ONE visit to Phuket... I found the people westernized, rude and crude. I felt that in no way did they resemble the Thais of the rest of their nation but a group of people who did not care in the least.
    I've found most of the Thais I've encountered in Phuket are totally different to the Thais I encounter elsewhere... They don't have that same warm, happy, friendly spirit and all look a bit fed up. They're just not the same. They see ripping off tourists as a routine.

    I think they've just found they can push and jack up the prices as much as they like and it makes no difference... the stupid tourists still keep coming! Plus, apparently the local authorities are ruthless about collecting kick backs. All the businesses that operate there have to pay enormous kick backs and they keep rising. They have to pass on the costs to their customers.

    Phuket has built an insanely strong brand as a tourist destination and it'll take some years yet before any of this stuff makes a visible dent in their tourist numbers. People are still developing new resorts and expat-oriented homes on the island.

    There's no direct competitor... Hua Hin's has little to do, is too quiet and not as beautiful... Samui is apparently just as bad with the rip offs and isn't as developed... Krabi isn't anywhere near as developed so you can't really go there to party and such. Phuket and all the surrounding islands is where you go. I think Krabi will become the place to go in the future.

  6. #6
    Guest

    Re: Bad press for Phuket

    DELETED very very very OFFENSIVE

  7. #7
    Senior member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    417
    Liked: 1

    Re: Bad press for Phuket

    Quote Originally Posted by lonely_farang
    DELETED very very very OFFENSIVE
    Offensive to whom exactly? If it concerns the monarchy, underage discussion or has possible legal implications then fine....delete away...but if it is just 'generally' offensive then spare me the protection please, no need to shield me from very offensive scribblings on a forum website, I am all grown up, no nannying required after 16 years of age in the UK.

    Quote Originally Posted by krobbie
    It is a veritable den of thieves. I am fairly liberal but extortion and the like just get my goat. It is so obvious but the general visitor doesn't realise until it's too late.I now consider it one of the places I advise travelers to avoid when going to Thailand.
    Whilst i agree that there are some very select groups of thais in Phuket prepared to rip-off the unsuspecting , i would say it unfair to advise anybody, especially if gay, not to travel there. There are still alot of very nice guys in Patong and Paradise who are just as deserving of customers as Pattaya, Chaing Mai or Bangkok. Fair enough to warn of scams i agree, but that's all you really need to do.

    Quote Originally Posted by Beachlover
    I've found most of the Thais I've encountered in Phuket are totally different to the Thais I encounter elsewhere... They don't have that same warm, happy, friendly spirit and all look a bit fed up. They're just not the same. They see ripping off tourists as a routine.
    Quote Originally Posted by justme
    During my ONE visit to Phuket just prior to the tsunami, I found the people westernized, rude and crude. I felt that in no way did they resemble the Thais of the rest of their nation but a group of people who did not care in the least.I felt the bars were poorly run and had no customers and the city in total chaos with construction everywhere.I never returned and have no desire to. Their loss but I don't think they care.
    I'm not sure what thais Beachflooder, Krobbie and justme are referring to or have encountered..........are we speaking specifically gay Thais from Paradise Complex.......all Thais in general around Patong or known scammers such as tuktuk guys, jet-ski guys etc?

    If it is gay guys in Paradise you are referring to i can only disagree, as over the years i have found many good and very loyal friends there and find them every bit as fun, accommodating and reliable as guys from other parts of thailand. In fact i also find some of the guesthouse/bar owners go out of their way for you, much more friendly and helpful than any of the Bkk ones or most of the Pattaya ones. Also when staying in Paradise I've found the boys there go out of their way for you too, with no expectations. More than once waiters or staff at a beerbars have offered to take me on his motocy somewhere outside Paradise in Patong with no acceptance of renumeration. In fact over the years that has happened many times, possibly in part due to their knowing the difficulties of getting around in Patong and having to deal with tuktuk/motocy guys, but they dont need to go out of their way, they just do. Also i have found freelance and/or non-money boys in the likes of Galaxy to be very nice and happy to mix and be sociable.

    Maybe they look a 'bit fed up' when faced with you 'in the flesh' BL as perhaps you might not reflect the image and aura of your avator and forum persona. Just a thought.

  8. #8
    Senior member kjun12's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Bangkok
    Posts
    457
    Liked
    39

    Re: Bad press for Phuket

    Newalan, I must disagree with you. I think we should warn as many fellow travelers as we can that Phuket is a bad, unethical and violent place to visit. Only by suffering financially will the bad things there be changed. The crime and rip-offs there are legendary and the government does nothing about it. I will bad mouth the place whenever and wherever I can.
    Will Rogers said, "I never met a man I didn't like", but he never met Donald Trump.

  9. #9
    Senior member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    417
    Liked: 1

    Re: Bad press for Phuket

    Quote Originally Posted by kjun12
    Newalan, I must disagree with you. I think we should warn as many fellow travelers as we can that Phuket is a bad, unethical and violent place to visit. Only by suffering financially will the bad things there be changed. The crime and rip-offs there are legendary and the government does nothing about it. I will bad mouth the place whenever and wherever I can.
    And you are entitled to your opinion kjun12. But are you and others blaming the guys who work in the gay area at Paradise Patong for making it a bad, unethical and violent place? if not, it's a bit unfair on them to have posters like yourself on gay forums advising gay visitors to avoid the place because of the antics of a minority of money grabbing thais. As you say the authorities, government does nothing about it, shouldn't your anger be directed at them rather than the innocents trying to earn a living there?
    Quote Originally Posted by kjun12
    The place will have to be brought to its knees before the ways of the taxi drivers, jet ski people and other crooks, as well as corrupt police, change their ways
    But you realistically know that won't happen, it's just far too popular as a tourist destination.

    I don't know why a gay traveller needs to be interacting with the mafia scum anyway. I have two types of holiday in Phuket. The first is the 3-4 short break, a lazy holiday where i camp in Paradise, Patong and there is more than enough there to 'entertain' me for a short break. I get the guesthouse to arrange transport to and from the airport. Anything outside Paradise in Patong is walkable, such as the beach etc.. and so no need to use tuktuk, jet skii operators.

    The second type of Phuket holiday is where i go around the island to beaches, attractions etc.. and for this i hire a car. Nine car rent operate beside the airport and a honda Jazz (ideal for phuket) can be had for about bt1000 per day. Pick up from the airport and return there and you save yourself Bt1100 in taxis fees also, with no need to use tuktuks at all.

    But what i was REALLY trying to ascertain was APART from tuktuk and jet skii mafias what other reasons would there be to avoid phuket for a short break or a weeks holiday?

  10. #10
    Guest

    Re: Bad press for Phuket

    OK Newalaan, granted that the guesthouses and bars etc are probably very very accommodating and friendly but my friend and I did not stay in the middle of Patong Beach in a guesthouse. We wound up staying at the Le Meridian because that is his "style".
    I can surely say that from the reception to the pool manager to every stinking employee in the hotel complex was rude, unaccomodating and helpful. When we asked to have an umbrella moved to where we were sitting the pool employee said we could move it ourselves! When we made a complaint to the hotel manager, the next day the Pool Manager came and told the boy that accompanied us that "if we thought he and his staff were rude before, wait til we saw what we would get now!" Unbelievable!
    We found the scuba service we used at the hotel rude, we found the bars empty of customers and the boys sitting around waiting for people to arrive. Sure we went around Phuket and did not stay at the hotel 100% of the time and I am sure other people visiting would like to go around Phuket. Phuket in general was just not a very nice and sweet memory for me.
    I am sorry but the first impression and dose of Phuket was enough. I have no desire to visit it again.

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
About us
Sawatdee Network is the set of websites for (and about) gay community of Thailand, travelers and tourists in Thailand and in South East Asia.
Please visit us at:
2004-2017 © Sawatdee Gay Thailand - Sawatdee Network