More Chinese tourists injured on Thai roads

CHIANG MAI, 7 March 2018: A serious tour van accident that injured nine Chinese tourists, last weekend, has prompted calls for a thorough investigation by Chinese officials.

Xinhua reported at the weekend that nine Chinese tourists were being treated at a Chiang Mai hospital after a tour van crashed into a 7-Eleven store

China’s consulate general in Chiang Mai confirmed on Saturday to Xinhua that the computer van that can carry up to 12 passengers hit the convenience store when the driver lost control on the Pai-Chiang Mai road.

Pai is a hill-country resort village standing halfway between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. The mountain road 1095 is famous for its 762 hairpin bends over the 148 km distances between Pai and Chiang Mai.

China’s vice consul-general in Chiang Mai, together with other officials visited the injured in hospital. The consulate general called on Thai police and tourism bodies to investigate the cause of the accident. Some victims were seriously wounded, according to the consulate general.

According to Xinhua news, Lyu Jian, Chinese ambassador to Thailand, expressed great concern for the accident victims and has instructed the embassy staff to help those injured to return home.

Thailand welcomed more than 9 million Chinese tourists last year and that count could surpass 10 million this year.

But the travel boom from China has come at a price with a rising injury toll mainly blamed on sub-standard tour buses and poorly trained drivers. Tour companies handling Chinese tours are often accused of delivering slipshod service and buses are often not compliant with transport ministry safety standards.

Many travel industry leaders place the blame at the door of Chinese tour operators who buy into local travel companies and then cut corners to increase profit margins. They are accused of sub contracting poorly maintained tour buses from third parties to transfer guests between airports and hotels or on sightseeing tours.

Accidents are blamed on speeding and brake failure, but some critics point the finger at poor driving skills and companies not maintaining their bus fleets properly.