WEB DESK: Tripadvisor, an online travel company, issued a warning to travelers about a hotel in Thailand after a guest was jailed for leaving bad reviews for Sea View Hotel and Resort.
Hotel in Koh Chang Thailand used local defamation law against the traveler who was then arrested for his review on the traveling site.
American traveler, Wesley Barnes, was arrested by the local police over a complaint about his review.
‘Unfriendly staff, no one ever smiles, they act like they don’t want anyone there’, it said.
The resort issued legal charges against Barnes and he was put into prison for two days.
Later, the traveler issued a public apology and was released on bail.
Courtesy: tripadvisorTripadvisor stood up in support of the rights of travelers and their freedom of speech.
The company also paid the legal fees for Barnes and helped in carrying out negotiation.
Tripadvisor’s Head of Global Communications and Industry Affairs Brian Hoyt says, “Tripadvisor believes in the right of every traveler to write about their first-hand traveling experiences – good or bad”.
‘Tripadvisor strongly opposes any action where a business uses local law to send someone to jail for expressing their opinion’.
This action has been taken in an effort to warn other travelers to make them cautious before choosing their destination.
However, Sea View Resort and Spa expressed their disappointment over the dishonor and warning from the traveling site.