Emerald Buddha’s sacred sanctuary in Bangkok turned into a site of controversy yesterday, as Thai Tourist Police arrested two Chinese nationals working unlawfully as tour guides. The two women, identified as 42-year-old Ji Xianlan and 32-year-old Na Xulan, were caught assisting tourists outside Wat Phra Kaew, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, flagrantly flaunting Thailand's stringent tourism regulations.

 

Believed to be working under a 'Sitting Guide' from a travel agency, the women were detained whilst escorting travellers within the temple's premises. The 'Sitting Guide' system, though a legal position in Thailand, often exploits linguistic loopholes for illegal benefits. State-licensed tour guides hire foreign nationals to help tourists who struggle with the Thai language—a practice prohibited by law.

 

Although the two Chinese women found themselves at the mercy of the law, the case of the sitting guide was conspicuously absent from the police report released on Channel 3.

 

 

Charged under Section 86 of the Tourist Business and Guide Act, Ji Xianlan and Na Xulan face potential sentences of up to one year in prison, fines reaching up to 100,000 Thai baht, or even both.

 

The indefatigable police pursuit reflects a concerted drive to root out all exploitative activities sullying Thailand’s lauded travel industry's appearance. Authorities have shifted their policing focus to monitoring the bustling tourist hubs in the capital city, resulting in the exposure of several unauthorised foreign guides.

 

This wave of law enforcement has ensnared several illegal tour operators. Just in September, Thai police detained an Indonesian guide illegally offering travel packages to 133 compatriots. As the country battles the taint on its tourism industry, stricter scrutiny and enforcement actions are anticipated to be the new order of the day.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-11-14

 

 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The 'Sitting Guide' system, though a legal position in Thailand, often exploits linguistic loopholes for illegal benefits. State-licensed tour guides hire foreign nationals to help tourists who struggle with the Thai language—a practice prohibited by law.

Never heard of it?

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Never heard of it?

No nor have I and unfortunately the article does not really explain it.

1 hour ago, topt said:

No nor have I and unfortunately the article does not really explain it.

 

The description is very poorly worded, but I think the idea is that a tour agency hires a properly licensed Thai tour guide to fulfill legal requirements on paper, but the real "guiding" is actually done by the foreign tour leaders who have the necessary language skills to communicate with their customers (while the Thai guide just "sits").

23 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

(while the Thai guide just "sits").

 

Well that would definitely be a job for a Thai......LOL

2024 and still these stupid xenophobic job protections

 

even when I have English assistance of the bank call center, I rarely understand what they are speaking about and have to ask to repeat

 

so what would you think if you over 10x  thai price to visit some scam tourist trap with a forced thai guide barely speaking angrit

 

can one get a WP for tourist guide? no, illegal and you would need 4 useless thais to pay them a salary... for sitting around playing their phone?

A number of Russian ladies have been using this loophole on Pattaya Beach Road for years... 

#LapDance

On 11/14/2024 at 5:22 PM, snoop1130 said:

The indefatigable police pursuit reflects a concerted drive to root out all exploitative activities sullying Thailand’s lauded travel industry's appearance. Authorities have shifted their policing focus to monitoring the bustling tourist hubs in the capital city, resulting in the exposure of several unauthorised foreign guides.

 

Sounds a lot more like going after low-hanging fruit and trying to distract from the real problems facing Thailand.

On 11/14/2024 at 5:22 PM, snoop1130 said:

State-licensed tour guides hire foreign nationals to help tourists who struggle with the Thai language—a practice prohibited by law.

Seems ought to read "to help tour guides who struggle with anything other than the Thai language..."