Fifty arrested in Thailand for ‘We Travel Together’ subsidy fraud
Thai Police said it has identified as many as 9,000 people alleged to be involved in defrauding the ‘We Travel Together’ tourism subsidy scheme.
Most conspired with hoteliers and shop owners to make bogus room bookings and purchases.
About 50 people have already been arrested in Chaiyaphum and Phuket, said Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk, commissioner of the Royal Thai Police Office.
The small Natchaya Resort was found to be one of the worst offenders, police said.
Police claimed that 9,263 people had checked in for a total of 92,028 room reservations, but the property only has 10 rooms.
Police said as many as 3,000 fake room reservations a day were made.
In total, police estimated the fraud amounted to more than THB100 million.
It is alleged hundreds of people were paid to make fake bookings.
The We Travel Together scheme subsidised room rates by 40% and issued food and travel vouchers.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand had already filed complaints against more than 300 hotels and 200 shops for fraud.
As well as thousands of ghost bookings made, many hotels raised prices massively to claim large subsidy payments.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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