Clearly, residents and tourists need more consumer protection in Pattaya. They also need to know where
they stand in certain situations, what their rights are, where to go to register legitimate complaints, and what will be done
to address any abuses.
Phisit Boonchang, under-secretary in the office of the governor, called a meeting at City Hall on February
12 to identify the problems and discuss what measures need to be taken to address the issue.
A committee has been formed to liaise with government agencies and the private sector (GP&S), and decide
what action can be taken to generally improve consumer protection and help consumers if and when they need assistance. During
the discussion, but without going into detail, Phisit gave an example involving a well-known discount supermarket in Pattaya
that was found to have expired merchandise for sale on its shelves.
He also discussed the public’s on-going problems with Baht bus drivers and various consumer related problems
in some hotels and restaurants that take advantage of their customers, ultimately causing damage to Pattaya’s tourist trade.
Disgruntled tourists who have inexcusable hassles with businesses and transportation in Pattaya do not retreat into forgiving
silence, but spread the bad news far and wide.
Since education and communication are twin keystones to the foundation of both consumer awareness and willing
cooperation among the general business community, the committee decided what Pattaya needs most is a public relations program
to spotlight the fact that consumer assistance is available.
The plan will begin with a public disclosure program disseminating printed material detailing consumer
rights and providing helpful information on reporting incidents, in Thai and English.
Contact information includes the consumer protection agency’s four-digit emergency phone number 1166, the
postal address: P.O. Box 99, Bangkok 10302; and their website address: www.thaiconsumer.net
