NAN, THAILAND – A family getaway to Nan started with a nasty shock: the booked room turned out to be a rundown shack. But before the holiday was completely ruined, tourism officials and police stepped in.
Mr Ko and his son had planned a three-day trip with two nights in Nan province. The first night was supposed to be at a place in Tambon Sa Pan, Bo Kluea district. On arrival, they got a grim surprise – the room and bathroom were in a totally neglected state, nothing like what they booked.
Quick response from TAT and tourist police
When the Tourism Authority of Thailand office in Nan and the tourist police heard about the mess, they moved fast. On Tuesday, officials from both agencies met with the father and son.
Anan Seedaeng, director of the local TAT office, and Police Lieutenant Colonel Nathip Kaewpradit from the tourist police showed up in person to sort out the gap between booking and reality.
Misunderstanding cleared up
During the talk, Anan Seedaeng apologised for the trouble. The meeting helped smooth over the misunderstanding between the guests and the operator.
Mr Ko was impressed by the quick action. He confirmed that the rest of his trip was not wrecked by the incident.
Compensation with voucher and souvenirs
As a goodwill gesture, TAT handed Mr Ko some souvenirs. They also arranged a gift voucher for a future stay at Sa Pun Klang Na Resort, which donated the voucher.
Mr Ko was moved by the gesture and said he would return to Nan to use the voucher with his son.
Consequences for local operators
Anan Seedaeng stressed after the meeting the need for closer cooperation with local operators. Such blunders must be prevented in the future through better tourism management.
The incident shows how quickly a bad room can damage the image of an entire region, but also how a prompt response can restore trust.
said the TAT director.