Last week saw one of the most disgraceful scenes put on view for the world to mock and gasp at in astonishment. Through what can only be described as gross incompetence, visitors and tourists arriving at Don Mueang International Airport were greeted by four- and five-hour waits in immigration lines. Government ministers responsible for this travesty have been unavailable for comment, and the head of the Immigration Bureau claims a "staff shortage" and therefore unacceptable planning and personnel training.
Immigration chief Nathathorn Prousoontorn was the only official who showed up after the dreadful display. That puts him a step up on the accountability scale. However, when he finally came forward on Sunday it was only to give excuses. The immigration area at the airport is too small. His plan to recruit more police officers for the work is still in the planning stages. Four aeroplanes landed "unexpectedly" late.
These are too flimsy to stand inspection. The four late flights were scheduled and expected, and their arrival times were known. They constituted, by Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn's claims, 17% of all flights. According to eyewitnesses, the Immigration Bureau was staffing a total of three immigration desks for the 25 flights. The maths are clear. Immigration bade visitors a hearty "welcome to Thailand, we'll stamp your passport in four hours" or so.
It's not an exaggeration that the world was informed by photos and irate words. It is an understatement. Here are a tiny percentage of the comments on the top social media. "Nightmare". "National disgrace". "#unprofessional". "Bad management/planning". We have excerpted a few of the online comments because it is important to know what this has done to the national image. The Ministers of Transport and Tourism may believe their press releases about warm welcomes for visitors in the regional hub of tourism. Hopefully, they will read what a tiny few of them sent to the internet on social media during and following their ordeal.
Singapore News: "The dramatic congestion at Don Mueang Airport's immigration checkpoints on Friday night has prompted an urgent investigation." Jeff Ooi, Malaysian member of parliament: "Thailand -- A country hungry for tourist arrivals and yet Immi queues at gateway airports see no immediate solution." ThaiMythbuster: "3 desks for 2,000 passengers". Thai_News_JP (for Japan, in Japanese): "passengers suffer in four-hour queue". ridben: "landed at 1am & got out at 6am".
Yet, it's good to know that on the following day, as reported by this newspaper, the queues became much shorter, with passengers waiting from 30 minutes to less than one hour. But it should be noted that passengers have filed complaints the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) from time to time about overcrowding at the immigration counters at Don Mueang, particularly during rush hours from 5am-7am and 3pm-7pm.
By this time, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, must have learned of the passengers' outrage, and we expect them to do all they can to lay the problem to rest.
Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn, best known as author of the "Good guys in, bad guys out" of his department, attempted to sell a long-term plan to the media. He outlined a project to recruit 300 new police officers to augment the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airport desks. The public deserves to know. However, why is this plan still in the formative stages after the need for the recruits became so obvious? Government policy and tourist industry hopes depend on increasing visitor numbers.
The tourist industry, foreign visitors and all Thais deserve to know what action is being taken immediately to guarantee that last Friday night's debacle will never occur again. The country and tourists deserve answers and accountability, not platitudes and weak excuses.