Tourist court opens in Phuket
Thailand’s second tourist court has opened in Phuket. The first opened recently in Pattaya.
Similar courts are due to open in Bangkok, Samui, Chiang Mai and at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
It is hoped the courts will quickly settles minor disputes and are not a replacement for the criminal court system.
In Phuket, the court will hear mostly accident cases, or scams involving false claims against tourists for damage to rented motorcycles or jet skies.
The court is located at the tourism division of the Phuket provincial court where staff told local media, Phuket Gazette, they would fast-track justice settling cases in a day of the accident or crime.
The travel industry has welcomed the move, if only to build confidence and show that visitors do have recourse when they are a victim of a crime or scram while on holiday.
A Ministry of Tourism and Sports spokesman said that the Phuket court could help improve the image of the island in the longer term.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps