Abstract:
The tourism industry has played a significant role in distributing income to Thailand, and Thailand is one of the targeted destinations that tourists all over the world pay attention to and wish to visit. This is so because Thailand is abundant with natural touristic sites, culture, traditions, as well as historical sites. However, as the number of tourists visiting Thailand keep on increasing, the travel service and facilities in various areas of Thailand also increases and have been developed rapidly. Until, the Government sector cannot fully supervise. Problems that have direct effect on tourists arise, mainly caused by Travel Agents, who are considered to be organization with close relationship to tourists. Nowadays the behaviours of Travel Agents have become inappropriate e.g. taking advantages over tourists and not complying with the terms of agreements. The above mentioned actions have caused damages to tourists and also bring about notoriety to the tourism industry of Thailand as well.The Travel Agency Business and Guide Act B.E. 2535 (1992), which has been effective since May 18, WE. 2535, requires Travel Agent to acquire Travel Agency Business Licenses in order to carry out their Travel Agency Moreover, they have to deposit their securities in order to insure any damages that may arise concerning their travel agency. If so, the injured party from the actions of Travel Agents can file acomplaint to the Registrar of the Tourist Business and Guide Registration Office to carry out the investigation. Tf the outcome is in accordance with the complaint, and the Travel Agents refuses to pay for the damages to tourist, the Registrar will propose to the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand to order the payment of compensation from the securities deposited. This saves time and cost since the injured parry does not have to bring the ease to court. Thus, if the injured party is a tourist, he or she will be assisted and compensated instantly.Over the 9 years of this Act's enforcement, forms of Travel Agents have developed and altered rapidly. These make the law enforcement not effective and have no flill concrete outcome, that is, Travel Agents with no licenses are still able to operate. Illegal or swindling actions, as well as breaching the terms of agreements or doing businesses not complying with to what they have advertised, still exist. The statistics of complaints against Travel Agents with inappropriate behaviors show no sign of decreasing. Tourists are direct victims from the various circumstances as mentioned. It could be said that the process of assistance or compensation as well as the protection of tourists in accordance with the will and aim of the Travel Agency Business and Guide Act WE. 2535, is neither effective nor does it reach the objective of the above mentioned Act.This study proposes various suggestions in controlling the Travel Agency and to be used as guidelines in order to be the solving the existing problems by proposing to amend the law appropriate measure in controlling the Travel Agency and to be up to the standards required by the law.This study proposes various suggestion in controlling the Travel Agency to be used as guidelines in order to be the solving the existing by proposing to amend the law appropriate measure in controlling the Travel Agency and to be up to the standards required by the law.