Foreign tourists slammed for abandoning rental motorcycles at Phuket airport

Two foreign men abandoned rental motorcycles outside the passenger terminal at Phuket International Airport on April 22, sparking criticism after images were posted online. The Phuket Times Facebook page shared photos showing the men hurriedly removing items from under the seats and transferring them to airport trolleys, despite clear signs prohibiting motorcycle entry and parking in the area.

Social Media Reaction and Security Concerns

The incident drew sharp responses from Thai netizens, many of whom questioned the absence of security guards outside the terminal. Some commenters alleged that security staff respond more swiftly to Thai offenders, suggesting inconsistent enforcement.

A Thai woman identifying as a car rental business owner recounted a similar experience, stating a Swedish customer had previously abandoned a rental car at the terminal and asked her to retrieve it. One foreign commenter claimed to have seen Thai people commit similar parking violations, but local users disputed this, insisting that security guards strictly enforce parking rules for Thai motorists.

Official Response and Previous Incidents

As of the latest reports, police and airport officials had not commented on whether the two men would face legal consequences, and it was believed they may have already left Thailand. There was no information on whether the rental motorcycles had been collected by their owner.

A comparable case occurred in Krabi in July of the previous year, when two foreigners rode stolen rental motorcycles to Phuket and failed to return them on time. Those individuals were later apprehended in Phuket and prosecuted.

Source: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/foreign-men-criticised-for-abandoning-rental-motorcycles-at-phuket-airport