Cruise liner passengers stung 320,000 baht to step on Koh Chang

[buksida]

Cruise ship staff are furious after they were told they had to pay 320,000 baht for their "high end tourists" to step on Koh Chang yesterday.

The staff said they had no idea before the visit of their ship packed with 1,400 "quality tourists" that they would have to front up a bill for just disembarking, reported Thairath.

Thai tourism officials in Trat were rubbing their hands in glee when they heard that the Pacific Eden - an Australian luxury liner packed with big spending and wealthy tourists from Britain, Australia and New Zealand - was to anchor off Koh Chang Noi Bay.

But no one had told the boat staff there would be a charge of 200 baht for foreign adults and 100 baht for their kids. Some 1,400 people of the 2000 passengers and crew aboard disembarked.

Jakraphan Tawethikun of the Trat Tourism office had said that these are just the kind of visitors the island and country needs. It was estimated that they spent 2.4 million baht at souvenir shops, restaurants and on transport in one brief visit.

That equated to about $40 US dollars or 1,500 baht each.

The TAT were thrilled that the liner came here as not too many drop in at Asian ports. They have a policy of trying to attract what they call "quality" tourists who will spend big and they were delighted that the "high end" tourists felt it was safe here and they would be assured of a great welcome.

However it was the "hidden" extra that irked the ship's crew.

An unnamed member of the liner's staff was less than happy. "They should have announced beforehand that visitors would have to pay fees just for stepping on the island. This would avoid problems and annoyance when people are charged later" the staff member said.

It appeared that the 320,000 was paid in a lump sum to the National Park office on the island and that the annoyance would be felt later when the charges would be passed on to the tourists for the privilege of visiting Koh Chang.

"They need to be told beforehand," said the staff member, "so they can make the decision whether to disembark or not".

Source: http://www.thairath.co.th/content/686947

[PeteC]

Penny wise and pound foolish it seems. "Hidden" fees piss people off and rightfully so.