Luxembourger Arrested for Illegally Guiding Tourists on Rattanakosin Island

[webfact]

 

BANGKOK - The Thai Tourist Police, in cooperation with officials from the Department of Tourism, arrested Mr. Nico Alexis David Gamel Frederich, a 44-year-old Luxembourg national, for illegally operating as a tour guide.

 

Frederich was apprehended on Trok Wat Tri Thot Thep Road in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon District while leading a group of foreign tourists on scooter tours around the historic Rattanakosin Island.

 

The investigation began when Yongyot Samransuk, head of the Tour Business and Guide Registration Office, informed authorities about a foreign national allegedly guiding tourists without proper authorization.

 

Acting on this tip, the Tourist Police conducted surveillance and observed Frederich leading a group of international visitors on scooters, showcasing various sites around the island without a licensed guide.

Upon his arrest, Frederich admitted to the charges, stating he did not possess a license to operate as a tour guide in Thailand. Authorities discovered that Frederich had been actively promoting his services as a guide to tourists, despite lacking the required work permit and guide license under Thai law.

 

Picture courtesy: Siam Rath

 

He was promptly charged with “acting as a tour guide without a license” and “working as a foreigner without a valid work permit.”

Frederich was transferred to Chana Songkhram Police Station, where he awaits further legal proceedings.

 

Officials have reminded tourists and operators alike that unlicensed guiding is a violation of Thai law, and violators will face penalties. The authorities have been increasing their efforts to crack down on illegal tour operators, especially foreign nationals who offer services without the proper documentation, reported Siam Rath.

 

TOP Picture courtesy: Siam Rath

 

-- 2024-10-08

 

 

[ikke1959]

I am wondering when Thailand will end this silly law that a foreigner can't  do a job that Thais can do.. It would be much easier to get work permits, but the outdated protective law makes applying for work permits very difficult, Even volunteer work with no payments need work permits.. so please review the law to the 21st century.. Now wonder the economy stays behind.. Thailand is not an welcoming country  

[Korat Kiwi]

I'd say someone ratted him out. Likely a competitor or another guide. 

 

I wonder if you'd get done for 'showing' friends about?  

[ChaiyaTH]

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

I am wondering when Thailand will end this silly law that a foreigner can't  do a job that Thais can do.. It would be much easier to get work permits, but the outdated protective law makes applying for work permits very difficult, Even volunteer work with no payments need work permits.. so please review the law to the 21st century.. Now wonder the economy stays behind.. Thailand is not an welcoming country  

Yeah specially knowing the education here is just nonsense and there is no skilled workers, or even people who just do their jobs good if they are low end. If they did their jobs at the most best, and had the most competitive prices, this guy would never have been there doing it.

 

It's super silly how they keep being ignorant, until it will be too late, and then they allow it when few are still interested.

[nausea]

A Luxembourg passport holder working as an illegal tour guide? Jesus, things must be worse in Europe than I thought.

[brianthainess]

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I am wondering when Thailand will end this silly law that a foreigner can't  do a job that Thais can do.. It would be much easier to get work permits, but the outdated protective law makes applying for work permits very difficult, Even volunteer work with no payments need work permits.. so please review the law to the 21st century.. Now wonder the economy stays behind.. Thailand is not an welcoming country  

I agree, imagine being able to give driving lessons, or inspect BUSES or be a mechanic for all vehicles, we can't have any of that Thais are so much better than us Falang .

[FritsSikkink]

5 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I am wondering when Thailand will end this silly law that a foreigner can't  do a job that Thais can do.. It would be much easier to get work permits, but the outdated protective law makes applying for work permits very difficult, Even volunteer work with no payments need work permits.. so please review the law to the 21st century.. Now wonder the economy stays behind.. Thailand is not an welcoming country  

If you have proper qualifications, there are loads of jobs out here which a foreigner can do.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Upon his arrest, Frederich admitted to the charges, stating he did not possess a license to operate as a tour guide in Thailand. Authorities discovered that Frederich had been actively promoting his services as a guide to tourists, despite lacking the required work permit and guide license under Thai law.

Bye...

[john donson]

silly law indeed, what if you want someone in your own language or someone that can actually speak understandable angrit... any bargirl can be a tourist guide without license... hey, why not license the whole industry to cut out the rotten apples, oh no, brown envelopes fix that

[ikke1959]

50 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

If you have proper qualifications, there are loads of jobs out here which a foreigner can do.

It is not about qualifications as a lot of Thais lack it ... It is that it is not allowed to do a job a Thai can do, and as all Thais can do everything, you need almost a university degree and dozens of copies to hop that you can get a job...

[FritsSikkink]

3 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

 as all Thais can do everything, .....

No, they can't.

They need a paperwork of qualifications to get a decent job too.

[Maejo Man]

You have five family members from overseas that come for visit and expect you to show them the sights. Where do you draw the line?

[Korat Kiwi]

2 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

No, they can't.

They need a paperwork of qualifications to get a decent job too.

Even if it's fake!.... Just ask the PM

[madone]

8 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

I'd say someone ratted him out. Likely a competitor or another guide. 

 

I wonder if you'd get done for 'showing' friends about?  

 

thank you captain obvious

 

Quote

The investigation began when Yongyot Samransuk, head of the Tour Business and Guide Registration Office, informed authorities about a foreign national allegedly guiding tourists without proper authorization.

 

[Korat Kiwi]

1 minute ago, madone said:

 

thank you captain obvious

 

 

Luv your sarcasm. 

 

And who would have told the head of the tour business because as sure as the sun rises he personally wouldn't have known squat otherwise. 

 

Or what's that phrase... No sh*t Sherlock! 

[madone]

8 minutes ago, Korat Kiwi said:

No sh*t Sherlock! 

indeed.

[Upnotover]

2 hours ago, Maejo Man said:

You have five family members from overseas that come for visit and expect you to show them the sights. Where do you draw the line?

It probably makes a little difference if you don't operate from a tour office and charge money for your services.  File this alongside painting your own house and  cutting your own grass.

[LukKrueng]

9 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Yeah specially knowing the education here is just nonsense and there is no skilled workers, or even people who just do their jobs good if they are low end. If they did their jobs at the most best, and had the most competitive prices, this guy would never have been there doing it.

 

It's super silly how they keep being ignorant, until it will be too late, and then they allow it when few are still interested.

 

9 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

I'd say someone ratted him out. Likely a competitor or another guide. 

 

I wonder if you'd get done for 'showing' friends about?  

 

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I am wondering when Thailand will end this silly law that a foreigner can't  do a job that Thais can do.. It would be much easier to get work permits, but the outdated protective law makes applying for work permits very difficult, Even volunteer work with no payments need work permits.. so please review the law to the 21st century.. Now wonder the economy stays behind.. Thailand is not an welcoming country  

There are many countries in the world that only allow local nationals to work as tour guides. When Thai tour groups go to Europe and other places they must take a local guide while the Thai group leader is only allowed to translate.

[Korat Kiwi]

Back in NZ a lot of tour guides are actually foreigners on working holidays. 

 

They pick up in all the things kiwis take for granted, thereby being a good guide. 

[ikke1959]

41 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

 

 

There are many countries in the world that only allow local nationals to work as tour guides. When Thai tour groups go to Europe and other places they must take a local guide while the Thai group leader is only allowed to translate.

Which countries do you talk about?? give some examples please..And besides that.. how many Thais have any knowledge of the history, the sightseeing of the countries they visit or even understand some English

[LukKrueng]

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Which countries do you talk about?? give some examples please..And besides that.. how many Thais have any knowledge of the history, the sightseeing of the countries they visit or even understand some English

Italy for one.

How many farangs have the knowledge of Thai history? The sigh seeing or even understand enough Thai to communicate with Thai apart from asking how much?

 

[NativeBob]

13 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

I wonder if you'd get done for 'showing' friends about?  

exactly same - showing same-same guiding. Tourists are not your enemies same-same friends.

 

One old thai a**hole snitches on guides at Wat Pho in BKK.

He used to work abroad, later at some 'Merican company, fired-retired, tried to work as tour guide but has a sickening attitude and didn't do well. So now he's "under-cover" taking pictures of groups and post to Tourist Police.

I was arrested while walking there with 4 of my friends - 2 couples.

So, to cut it short - the whole "tour guide" thing is ONLY about money: bribes.

I didn't pay a single satang, But FYI they know how to intimidate dumb farangs, esp. females. 

[FritsSikkink]

On 10/8/2024 at 7:36 AM, ChaiyaTH said:

Yeah specially knowing the education here is just nonsense and there is no skilled workers,

What a load of nonsense.

That you only get to know the low end of society here doesn't mean there are very intelligent Thais around.

[ChaiyaTH]

On 10/8/2024 at 8:50 AM, nausea said:

A Luxembourg passport holder working as an illegal tour guide? Jesus, things must be worse in Europe than I thought.

A tour guide would make like 3X the average teacher here... Easily 1.5K-2.5K per person, per half a day, in groups of 4-6. This when it is someone who is actually knowledgable and speaks the tourists their language. I know a few half thais doing it that make a lot.

[ChaiyaTH]

3 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

What a load of nonsense.

That you only get to know the low end of society here doesn't mean there are very intelligent Thais around.

You speak nonsense on almost anything you reply on here since years so kind of pointless to reply but in short; there is very very few intelligent Thais around and those also earn western wages or more on average. That doesn't change the actual reality that impacts daily life, the majority of population aka the facts and reality as it is, as i described.

 

The average grab driver can't even properly read maps or house numbers, if that doesn't tell you enough i doubt you ever wake up.

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

The average grab driver can't even properly read maps or house numbers, if that doesn't tell you enough i doubt you ever wake up.

Why would they need to read maps?

Never heard of Apps who tell you where to go while driving?

So, no that only tells me you are a couple of decades behind.