Thailand approves penalty card system for tourists
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau Commissioner, Lieutenant General Pakpoompipat Sajjapan, approved the introduction of a system of yellow (warning) and red (deportation) cards for visitors who do not respect Thai laws – as reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the Phuket News publication
Phuket Immigration Chief Colonel Thanet Sukchai explained that the measures will not be introduced throughout the country, but selectively.
“In other provinces, everything will depend on the decisions of local authorities,” he added.
The Phuket Immigration Chief drew attention to the fact that the main factor will be the availability of resources for the implementation of the system from specific immigration services. The officer explained that the point of the idea is to warn violators of the law and give them the opportunity to correct themselves, and not to punish immediately, as some companies do.
“In some places, no one will even warn you. The Immigration Bureau immediately revokes permission to stay in the state when a foreigner is detained for inappropriate behaviour,” Sukchai specified.
As an example, he cited a campaign against foreign street racers in Chonburi. According to the head of the Immigration Bureau in Phuket, they were expelled from the kingdom without warning.
In the near future, officials will meet with consuls and honorary consuls of foreign countries in Phuket. Sukchai explained that this will happen ‘when the governor returns’, around the middle or towards the end of this month.
