515 hotels, stores in fraud net
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published : 18 Dec 2020 at 06:33
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Police will launch a probe into over 500 hotels and stores suspected of engaging in fraud in the government s tourism stimulus campaign.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) earlier filed a complaint with the Royal Thai Police Office, urging it to investigate unusual transactions in the We Travel Together campaign that began in July and saw five million room nights fully redeemed as of Dec 11. The TAT also sent a list of 515 suspected hotels and stores to the police.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas said police will launch a probe into the hotels and stores and examine their money trails. The first batch of hotels to face legal action are in the Northeast and the South, he said. National police chief Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk will appoint investigators to look into the matter today, Pol Gen Damrongsak said.
14 Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn, right, files a complaint with deputy national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapat at the Royal Thai Police Office in Bangkok on Wednesday. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)
The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand on Wednesday asked police to prosecute operators of 312 hotels and 202 shops for fraud in the government s We Travel Together subsidy scheme.
Yuthasak Supasorn filed his complaint with deputy national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapat at the Royal Thai Police Office. He said the TAT found fraudulent transactions at 312 hotels and 202 shops, and some customers were also involved.
The government initiated the We Travel Together scheme to stimulate tourism heavily hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic. It paid 40% of room rates for travellers and offered e-vouchers worth 600-900 baht for their daily spending.
Sentiment wanes on subsidy freeze
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published : 16 Dec 2020 at 19:17
2 Visitors take pictures with their mobile phones as they wander through a field of yellow Mexican Aster flowers in Lop Buri’s Muang district on Nov 29, 2020. (Photo by Varuth Hirunyatheb)
The delay of 1 million room nights for the stimulus campaign because of fraudulent actions has slowed tourism sentiment during the New Year season, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said travellers who wanted to use the government subsidy for their New Year holiday may miss out, as the extension of the stimulus campaign was postponed until an investigation is completed.