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Two illegal tour guides picked up but blitz is on for illegal Chinese guides

The company that hires the two men will also be prosecuted for breaking the law according to the Tourism Business and Guide Act.

By Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

  

Two illegal tour guides have been arrested following a protest lasting two days from local Thai tour guides crying foul over illegal Chinese guides taking their jobs.

 

Yesterday (December 21) at 5 pm police visited the popular tourist spot following the local tour guide protest at Promthep Cape.

 

Phuket’s Governor ordered a team to conduct a random check for illegal guides by setting a temporary checkpoint on the side of Sutat Road in Ratsada towards Koh Siray and found 2 people who worked as tour guides without registered license, including 22 year old Thawatchai Saelee and 30 year old Pee Saengmuang. Both were sent to Phuket Police Station.

 

Full story:  https://www.phuketgazette.net/news/two-illegal-tour-guides-picked-blitz-illegal-chinese-guides

 

-- © Copyright Phuket Gazette 2017-12-22

[impulse]

This one's gonna flop miserably as they find out that the vast majority of unlicensed tour guides are locals.  Like these 2.

 

 

[madmitch]

It's all a joke. The guides work in pairs, one Thai, one Chinese, with a Thai driver, and they split any commissions. The Chinese guides are not taking anyone's jobs.

 

We fill spare guesthouse rooms with tour guides on a year-round basis so we see how it works.

 

Blitz? If they wanted to rid Phuket of illegal Chinese guides they could go to any large hotel at 8am and arrest a dozen or so. But they don't. I'd guess the protestors are just those unlucky enough not to work for the Chinese tour companies.

Edited December 22, 2017 by madmitch

[connda]

If more Thai tourist guides spoke Chinese, there would not be a market for non-Thai Chinese tour guides. 

[stevenl]

10 hours ago, madmitch said:

It's all a joke. The guides work in pairs, one Thai, one Chinese, with a Thai driver, and they split any commissions. The Chinese guides are not taking anyone's jobs.

 

We fill spare guesthouse rooms with tour guides on a year-round basis so we see how it works.

 

Blitz? If they wanted to rid Phuket of illegal Chinese guides they could go to any large hotel at 8am and arrest a dozen or so. But they don't. I'd guess the protestors are just those unlucky enough not to work for the Chinese tour companies.

Partly true, often they work in pairs. But there are also many tours guided by Chinese nationals only.

[baansgr]

Even Thai Employers prefer Foreign staff, they know what Thai work ethic is,

[simoh1490]

11 hours ago, connda said:

If more Thai tourist guides spoke Chinese, there would not be a market for non-Thai Chinese tour guides. 

That gap is being filled rapidly, Open University and local University courses are jam-packed and demand for private tutors is very high.

[simoh1490]

8 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Even Thai Employers prefer Foreign staff, they know what Thai work ethic is,

I think you're misinformed on that point. The law regarding employment of foreigners in Thailand is not an easy one for most smaller companies to deal with, the obvious xenophobia is also sadly still a factor - employing them illegally is now also a significant risk. From what I see, most employers will always go with a local employee, unless there is a specialist skill that is simply not available and/or the supply and demand of such people is out of balance. 

[baansgr]

35 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

I think you're misinformed on that point. The law regarding employment of foreigners in Thailand is not an easy one for most smaller companies to deal with, the obvious xenophobia is also sadly still a factor - employing them illegally is now also a significant risk. From what I see, most employers will always go with a local employee, unless there is a specialist skill that is simply not available and/or the supply and demand of such people is out of balance. 

Yes it certainly is that way, however given the choice Foreign staff are far more productive. We have had to close offices due to staffing problems..... And thst was befor FB was popular. Its almost impossible to recruit and retain staff, regardkess of salary and benefits. 

[Oziex1]

I would suggest the Chinese tour guides are part and parcel of the zero Baht tours, a protected industry.

 

Like so many illegal activities here a few token arrests, then business as usual.

[tryasimight]

8 hours ago, baansgr said:

Yes it certainly is that way, however given the choice Foreign staff are far more productive. We have had to close offices due to staffing problems..... And thst was befor FB was popular. Its almost impossible to recruit and retain staff, regardkess of salary and benefits. 

What business are you in that forced you to close offices due to insufficient staff?