The local government warn tourists about touts and especially tuk tuk drivers who offer you a sightseeing tour. '10 Baht - 1 hour ' they'll say and take you straight to a jewellerwho of course gives them comission or gas. You'll find it hard to get out of such a situation without buying anything. This happend to me and my friends during our first stay in Bankok and the same trick is still being played today.
Another thing is that taxi drivers will tell you that the tour you're taking, or the sight you're seeing, is closed due to some public holiday. Make it a rule always to check for yourself wether or not that is actually true.
It seems to me the government has done a good joob in cleaning up quite a lot of the monkey business tourists often are trapped into. They have strenghtend the tourist police and made them more accessible at hte places where many tourists go. So if you find yourself in trouble, contact them and they will help you. We found them very friendly and helpful once, when some of our stuff was stolen. It appears Thailand really makes an effort in keeping their country attractive to tourism, hence keeping up the important income the industry brings them.
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on Aug 24, 2002
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