Northern Thailand

Chinese Behaving Badly, Chiang Mai’s City Residents Say Chinese Tourists a Nuisance

The survey showed 80% of respondents thought Chinese tourists were a nuisance to the community.

CHIANG MAI – A Chiang Mai University’s Social Research Institute survey suggests the city’s residents consider Chinese tourists a nuisance they could live without.

The bizarre trend of Chinese tourists wearing Chiang Mai University students’ uniform as a”cosplay” activity has been put to stop by the university’s board yesterday as two tourists were escorted to the police station

The research institute conduced the survey online using a questionnaire as well as data collected via an online social network.

The target group included people who used Facebook from 4 to 10 February 2014. There were 2,220 respondents all residents of the northern city.

The results did not come as a surprise as most cities that find themselves overwhelmed with Chinese tourists voice similar criticism.

The survey showed 80% of respondents thought Chinese tourists were a nuisance to the community. They claimed Chinese tourists are noisy, refuse to queue, push other people, smoke heavily in public places and ignore simple hygiene. They spit and dump garbage the survey respondents complained.

If that was not enough, Chinese tourists often disregard regulations at tourist attractions, public places, and official places even on the university campus.

In addition, 70% of respondents said they would prefer to enjoy their city without Chinese tourists.

Of those interviewed, 51% claimed the influx of Chinese tourists to the province was adding pressure on public utilities, that are few and far between at the best of times. The city lacks a public transport system and residents in suburbs are forced to burn rubbish due the absence of a garbage collection service.

The university has been receiving a steady wave of complaints, all of relating them to Chinese tourists.

On creating solutions, 53% said the government does not have a serious policy or actual plan to handle the problems caused by Chinese tourists’ bad behavior.

Moreover, the survey indicated that 48% of those interviewed believed local people were not impressed by the boom in tourism from China, while 38% believed it would cause more crime and 30% agreed it was a negative factor on their overall quality of life.

Chinese tour operators should be more responsible in their marketing strategy and help to educate their clients to behave, 31% of the respondents noted.

The research institute researcher who conducted the survey, Korawan Sangkhakorn, said the survey was conducted to monitor the situation and the consequences arising from an increase in Chinese tourists to Chiang Mai.

In 2009, there were about 700,000 Chinese tourists visiting Thailand and in 2013, the number of Chinese tourists increased to 4.7 million.

“The increase in Chinese tourists has a major impact on locals according to the survey and as a result, there is a decrease in quality tourists from other countries as a result of the negative behavior.”

The institute said the survey could be used to help solve the problem and find ways to encourage Chinese visitors to behave better when on holiday.

The Chinese government sponsors a campaign to explain to its citizens how they should behave on holiday. Also the political crisis in Bangkok and a tougher consumer laws in China have dampened tour business to Thailand. That negative trend is likely to continue for some time as long as rival sides of the political divide fail to negotiate a truce.

Chiang Mai University Capitalizes on Chinese Problem

The north’s largest university, which of late has become somewhat of a travel hotspot for Chinese tourists, says it will now charge tourists visiting fees… Read More…

Northern Thailand

Tubers on Pai River Draw Anger Over Inappropriate Behavior

The Governor of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand has sought stricter rules for tourist tubing on the Pai River, following allegations of tourists sneaking into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police reports and considerable criticism online.

After a resort owner in Pai protested about the existing situation of tubing activities along the Pai River, the Governor became aware of the matter. According to the accusations, wine and beer are discreetly offered to tourists while disguised in plastic water bottles to prevent detection.

After their tubing adventures, these tourists, both men and women, would walk around Pai town in their swimsuits. Men often wear one pair of swim briefs, but most women wear two-piece swimsuits or bikinis.

This behavior was considered derogatory to local culture. Recently, there were instances of tourists slipping into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police investigations and considerable online criticism.

Following the complaint, provincial governor Chuchip Pongchai requested a meeting of the police and allied authorities on July 16 to explore further tourism restrictions.

The province already restricts the selling of alcohol to tourists who go tubing, which involves floating down a river on inner tubes made of rubber tires. Most people observe the guidelines, but others, including some store owners, break them by concealing the alcohol by pouring it in water bottles.

According to TNA, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, attracting 40,000 visitors each year and strengthening Thailand’s economy.

Tubing in the Pai River has become a favorite activity among foreigners. However, the governor stated that the attitude of some tourists has jeopardised the province’s image.

Tourists Tubing on Pai River

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Northern Thailand

Pregnant Woman Goes Psycho Stabs Family Members in Phayao

Police in northern Thailand’s Phayao province have arrested a 40-year-old pregnant mother for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm.

Phayao Police report they were called after a woman and her daughter had been stabbed and beaten by a family member to a house number 206, Soi 7, Village No. 3, Ban San Nong Niao Subdistrict. Tom, Mueang District.

When officers arrived they found Ms. Chayada Chaiyawan, age 45, and her daughter Ms. Patida Chaiyawan, age 19, with injuries to their bodies and heads. Blood was spread all over the bedroom, and they found Mrs. Sakulkarn, aged 40 years, who was a relative living next door, tied up.

The police then transported all of them to Phayao Hospital for treatment. Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice. Both also sustained head injuries, according to Phayao police.

Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice

Ms. Chayada told police the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. She was sleeping in the room with her young son, when she heard someone opened the bedroom door. She said at that time it was still dark and all she saw a shadow of a person lifting what she though was a hammer.

She said the got up and fought until she fell after being hit in the head and stabbed with a knife, in fear for her life she screamed for her daughter to come and help. When the daughter entered the room the assailant proceeded to hit her in the head and stabbed her also.

The assailant ran out of the room and was immediately restrained by a neighbour who heard the screaming and ran into the house to help. Mrs. Sakulkarn who was 7 months pregnant was tied up and police and rescue workers were called to the scene. The neighbour told police that all the time they were waiting for the police.

Police said Mrs. Sakulkarn is being held in Hospital and is under psychiatric care. Ms. Chayada and her daughter were treated for their injuries and sent home.

According to Thai Media, Police said charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm will be filed against Mrs. Sakulkarn after she is released from Hospital.

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Northern Thailand

Train Crashes into Pickup Killing 5 in Phitchit Province

Five people were killed and two others badly injured when a pickup truck was hit by a north-bound train at an unguarded railway crossing in Phitchit province on Monday evening.

Phitchit police reported the horrific crash occurred around 6 pm at Moo 1 village in tambon Pak Thang of Muang district of Phitchit.

Police said the 201 passenger train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok approached the crossing, which was unguarded and had no safety barriers.

A four-door pickup truck plates drove across the tracks and into the path of oncoming the train which was was unable to stop or slowdown in time to avoid hitting the pickup truck.

The force of the crash drove the pickup about 30 metres down the railway crossing and off to the side. All passengers on the pickup were thrown from the vehicle.

Three women passengers died immediately and two more passengers died later at Phichit Hospital. Two others including the driver of the pickup were seriously injured.

Police investigators said truck driver Pratya Khongthat, 40, was taking relatives, including a 14-yea-old girl, to a funeral at Wat Ratchangkhwan in tambon Pak Thang, approximately one kilometer from the accident scene.