A tour company in Phuket has had its operating license suspended for six months after one of its employees allegedly attacked a Chinese customer.

The female employee was summoned to Karon district police station on Monday, to acknowledge charges of assault and carrying a knife in a public place, after the victim posted on her Facebook page that she was attacked by the employee when she went to the tour company to demand a 5,000 baht refund, after the company had failed to arrange a sight-seeing trip to Similan Island for her.

The alleged assailant is expected to be indicted in the Phuket District Court today (Tuesday).

The incident prompted Phuket Governor Narong Woonsiew to call an urgent meeting yesterday with relevant agencies, to prevent a reoccurrence of the incident, as it may tarnish the image of Thailand and, in particular, Phuket.

The governor said that the Chinese consular office in Phuket has been informed of the action taken by Thai authorities.

After the meeting, Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Tourism Business and Guide Office ordered the suspension of the operating licence of the tour company in question for six months. Officials said that the company could face a fine of up to 500,000 baht over the incident.