Bangkok's Tourism Court

Sawasdee, krup! How's it going, eh? You know we spent a lot of time living in Thailand so we naturally still follow what's happening there. Pour yourself a nice cafe buran (traditional coffee) and grab a virtual treat to munch on while I tell you about the latest idea the Thai government has come up with.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports believes it can have a tourism court up and running in Bangkok by September – just two months from now – with similar institutions to follow in Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Samui.

TTR Weekly today quoted Tourism & Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak as saying that the ministry will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Justice next month and hopes to see tourism courts established the following month.

“The tourism courts are making good progress... the courts will be set up at popular tourist destinations... and the Ministry of Justice has a budget to fund intensive training courses in France for judges,” he explained.

The courts will operate at existing district courts, but in the evenings, so they can handle tourist-related cases quickly and not disrupt the all ready crowded daily schedule of court sessions.

“We are opening the court to protect the rights of tourists and provide fairness to those who may have been the targets of unfair treatment from people such as tour agencies.” (Off with their heads!)

Trials in the tourist courts will be for civil cases such as disputes over prices and scams and not criminal cases. (I can see it being inundated almost immediately!)

The courts will operate from 4.30 to 8.30 pm in Bangkok at first and then be extended to district courts in the other four places.

However, he noted, there are complications, as existing regulations will need to be changed and new legislation will be required. He admitted these factors might slow implementation. (Ever seen a turtle going uphill?) No timetable was given for the start of tourist courts outside the capital.

Mr Somsak is pushing for the tourist courts because the current court system, in which quite simple cases may drag on for months, is not a practical avenue for justice for tourists, who need to return home to their jobs and cannot afford to see their cases through the system.

What do I think about it? It is likely a good idea and it is a good point that tourists don't have months to wait for a regular court to hear a case. But, like M*A*S*H*, they're going to need a triage unit to sort out the serious cases from the frivolous. Singapore has had a tourism court for some time - both countries depend heavily on tourism to boost their economy. All I can say is that Singapore has a reputation for doing things right. I hope some of that rubs off on Thailand and the new court system doesn't become just one more avenue for graft and corruption.I wish it well.

See ya, eh!

Bob