Tourists had to buy sex show tickets

TOURISTS were forced to buy tickets for sex shows in Thailand after their guide stopped their bus in a remote area and switched off the air-conditioning until they paid up, authorities said yesterday.

The group were on a week-long trip organized by the Shanghai Chatianyuan International Travel Service Co Ltd when they say they came under pressure from the pushy guide.

One tourist surnamed Cai said the group, mostly old people, left the city on April 30. They were heading toward Pattaya about 10pm on May 2 when the tour guide began promoting activities that cost extra.

"These activities were expensive and included some sex shows, which we didn't want to see," said Cai.

However, the tour guide then asked the driver to stop the bus and turned off the air conditioning.

"It was extremely hot in the coach, but we dared not leave because it was stopped in a dark, remote place," Cai said.

"The tour guide said that if we didn't pay, the driver wouldn't have money for fuel," Cai said.

After two hours' deadlock, the tourists gave in and paid 800 yuan (US$114) each for the shows.

However, most of the group were shocked and scared and declined to watch the sex shows on offer.

Chatianyuan International Travel Service yesterday admitted that the tour guide acted "inappropriately," and has been sacked.

It promised to refund the fee and offered some compensation, but some of the party were unsatisfied with this.

The Shanghai Tourism Quality Supervision said it has received the tourists' complaints and is now looking into the case.

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