Bangkok: Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, has instructed the Consumer Protection Board to intensify efforts to prevent and provide relief to consumers affected by tour cancellations. The Prime Minister has expressed concern over the impact on consumers and urged prompt investigation and fair compensation.

According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Supamas Isarabhakdi, in her role as supervisor of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), highlighted the ongoing issue of tour businesses failing to honor their contracts, resulting in significant consumer losses in both property and travel plans. She has directed the OCPB to enhance its operations to prevent damage, assist consumers, and monitor case progress.

The government, led by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, is committed to prioritizing consumer protection. All legal mechanisms will be utilized to tackle unfair business practices, ensuring transparency and fairness. Ms. Supamas has instructed the Consumer Protection Board to collaborate with relevant agencies, especially the Department of Tourism, to investigate tour operators' licenses and conduct. The goal is to ensure timely and fair compensation for affected consumers and to monitor the case's progress closely.

Ms. Supamas also emphasized the need to improve the consumer safety alert system, advising on precautions when purchasing tour packages, such as checking licenses and avoiding unusually low prices, which may indicate fraud.

Based on data from 2024-2025, Ms. Supamas stated that the Consumer Protection Committee has resolved to pursue civil lawsuits for consumers in tour service cases, with damages nearing 100,000,000 baht. Issues include low-priced tour package advertisements, failure to follow itineraries, sudden cancellations, and non-refundable payments, affecting overall confidence in the tourism industry.

The public is advised to exercise caution when selecting tour services, verifying information before signing contracts, and being wary of advertisements offering unrealistically low prices. Suspicious behavior or exploitation should be reported to the Consumer Protection Board via the hotline at 1166 or the OCPB Connect application, available 24/7.