A 12-day China study tour for 45 Thai students was canceled on October 15 after no flights were booked. Families paid 39,900 baht each; refunds remain incomplete and police are investigating.
Tags:Source: OT-Team(G), 中国侨网
A group of Thai students heading to China for a short-term study tour were left in tears at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on October 15 after discovering that no flight tickets had been booked, prompting parents to file police reports.
A group of Thai students preparing to travel to China for a short-term study program were unable to depart from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on October 15 after being told that no flight tickets had been booked, despite families having already paid the program fees. That night, parents and representatives from three schools reported the incident to airport police, calling for an investigation into those involved in organizing the trip.
According to Thai media reports, the incident has raised concerns over the organizers’ alleged use of misleading credentials, as well as the incomplete refunds promised after the trip was canceled.
Students Told They Could Not Board After Fees Were Paid
According to Thailand’s Khaosod newspaper, the 12-day study program was jointly organized by a person claiming to hold a doctoral degree and another individual involved in the project. Scheduled to run from October 15 to 26, the program charged each student 39,900 baht (approximately RMB 8,000).
The organizers reportedly claimed to have signed a memorandum of understanding with Xi’an Jiaotong University in China. However, the university’s involvement had not been confirmed by the Chinese institution in the reports.
Initial police reports indicated that 45 students from three schools in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Chonburi had registered for the program. The fees totaled 1,795,500 baht (approximately RMB 360,000), which parents had transferred to the bank account of a teacher responsible for organizing the trip.
On October 11, the organizers informed parents that the destination would be changed from Xi’an to Beijing because the accommodation in Xi’an could not accommodate all the students. The departure date remained unchanged.
At a meeting on the morning of October 13, the organizers reportedly confirmed that the group would travel to Beijing as planned. Students, teachers and parents were instructed to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport by 3 p.m. on October 15 for a Thai Vietjet Air flight scheduled to depart at 6:20 p.m.
However, after arriving at the airport, the group was suddenly informed that no tickets had been booked. Parents who checked with Thai Vietjet Air staff were also told that the students could not travel as scheduled.
The news left students and families deeply disappointed, with some reportedly breaking down in tears at the airport.
Organizers Allegedly Used Credentials to Gain Parents’ Trust
Thai media reports alleged that those behind the program had misrepresented their identities and professional backgrounds to gain parents’ trust.
One organizer reportedly claimed to hold a doctoral degree and to be an official with Thailand’s Office of the Basic Education Commission. These claimed qualifications and official connections were allegedly used to promote the study program in China.
Parents from more than 11 schools were reportedly persuaded by the claims and paid fees for their children to participate.
Following the cancellation, the organizers promised to issue full refunds to parents on October 15. However, the promised repayments had not been completed by the agreed deadline.
Refund situations varied among the schools. Some parents had received their money back in full, while others had received only partial refunds. Parents from at least one school had reportedly received no refunds at all.
Parents Seek Police Investigation
Late on October 15, parents and other people involved in the complaints from the three schools went to Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station to report the incident.
They asked police to formally document the case so that evidence could be collected and a formal criminal complaint could subsequently be filed with the police station responsible for the area where the alleged offenses occurred.
Parents said the incident had caused not only financial losses but also significant emotional distress for the students, disrupting their original study plans.
A follow-up report published by Thailand’s Prachachat newspaper on the evening of October 16 also mentioned 11 schools and 62 people. However, the report did not clearly distinguish between the numbers of students and parents involved, leaving the overall scope of the case subject to further verification.
The incident remains under investigation. Whether the organizers misrepresented their identities, whether any criminal fraud occurred, and the total financial losses involved have yet to be established by the authorities.
A Reminder for Those Planning to Visit China
For those planning to visit China for study, work or other purposes, it is important to verify travel-related advertisements and information before making payments or finalizing plans. Check claims about universities, institutions, events and programs directly with the organizations involved, using contact details published on their official websites rather than relying solely on information provided in advertisements or by third parties.
Travelers should also independently confirm flight bookings with the airline, verify accommodation and itinerary details, and carefully review payment and refund terms. If an offer cannot be independently verified or key details remain unclear, take time to check the information before committing money or making travel arrangements.
No comments:
Post a Comment