By: Kip Keino
While some jet ski in Pattaya may operate honestly, the overall business is plagued by dishonesty and should be eliminated. As a frequent visitor to Thailand since 1984, I encourage others to join this boycott.
There are certainly better destinations that do not have police colluding with extortionists who are scamming tourists out of large sums of money daily. Most victims seem to be tourists from India and the Middle East, but anyone can fall prey to these beach thieves.
Foreign embassies should issue travel advisories to warn their citizens about the extortion occurring in these places. The police in Phuket and Pattaya appear unable to act, either due to fear of the extortionists or potential involvement in the scams themselves. High-ranking officials in Bangkok seem ineffective, showing little understanding or concern for how these daily jet ski scams tarnish the image of Thai tourism.
