515 hotels, stores in fraud net

Police will launch a probe into over 500 hotels and stores suspected of engaging in fraud in the government’s tourism stimulus campaign.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) earlier filed a complaint with the Royal Thai Police Office, urging it to investigate unusual transactions in the “We Travel Together” campaign that began in July and saw five million room nights fully redeemed as of Dec 11. The TAT also sent a list of 515 suspected hotels and stores to the police.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas said police will launch a probe into the hotels and stores and examine their money trails. The first batch of hotels to face legal action are in the Northeast and the South, he said. National police chief Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk will appoint investigators to look into the matter today, Pol Gen…