The Tourism and Sports Ministry is investigating a case involving a Chinese tourist who was assaulted by a travel agent in Phuket after the case went viral.
A viral TikTok clip showed a Chinese tourist being assaulted with a knife by a member of staff at a tour agency in Phuket during an altercation after the agency was unable to return in full a 5,000-baht deposit for a Similan Islands tour package.
The tourist claimed the members of the group were left stranded at their hotel on the morning of Jan 31, when they were supposed to take the tour.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry has gathered information in order to file a lawsuit against Blue Ocean Travel, the tour agency allegedly involved.
Phuket Police already investigated the case and charged the offender with assault causing injury and carrying a weapon, while the tourists returned to China on Feb 2.
The Tourist Police, tourism associations in Phuket and the Tourist Business and Guide Registration office will meet the Chinese consul today to apologise.
As the first batch of Chinese tour groups to visit Thailand since the reopening arrived on Monday, the Tourism Authority of Thailand said the number of Chinese tourists this year could reach 7-8 million.
As of Monday, China now allows tour groups to visit 20 countries, including Thailand, after scrapping all quarantine measures for inbound arrivals since last month.
