“Big Trouble in Thailand” leads to prosecution

The Thai video company that helped produce a documentary about conflicts between jet ski operators and tourists in Phuket is to be prosecuted for not having the contents examined by a Tourism and Sports Ministry film committee before they were broadcast abroad and “tarnishing the reputation of Thailand.” The company faces up to 12 months imprisonment and a fine of up to a million baht.

The production was part of a reality television series made for British television called “Big Trouble in Thailand” featuring the Kingdom’s most popular holiday spots Phuket, Pattaya, Bangkok, Pattaya and Chiang Mai.

Although the “Big Trouble in Thailand” series was only broadcast to a relatively small audience in Britain, it spread virally via You Tube attracting a huge international audience and scandalized the Thai authorities.

The decision reflects Thailand’s ambivalence over social media as the Tourism Authority of Thailand is currently running a competition to try to encourage tourists to blog about their experiences while on holiday in Thailand.

For seasoned expats living in Thailand the subject material of the documentary came as no surprise.

As one person wryly noted on an online bulletin board, “The program was focusing on what happens to idiots when they behave like idiots here, and in making those stories as entertaining as possible it did a pretty good job.”

Another noted on Twitter, “A little scandal may actually boost tourism numbers…more family/friends have visited Thailand than ever before – none have been put off by press reports.”

The producer of “Big Trouble in Thailand” Gavin Hill commented that there are many reality shows produced in America and Britain but they have not put off people from traveling there.

“I simply wanted to make an engaging – entertaining even – series about the work of the Thai police, the Brits who assist them and the tourists, preferably Brits, who unfortunately get into trouble in what can be a very foreign and culturally challenging country indeed. I will say of all the countries I’ve been to Thailand is my favourite by far.”

He added, “That this series was even possible is for me why Thailand is so amazing and magical.”