Report French National Arrested in Phuket for Illegal Tour Guide Work

[snoop1130]

Photo: The Phuket Express

 

Phuket authorities arrested a French national named Mr. Gauthier for illegally working as a tour guide, with further investigations now focusing on the involved tour company. The operation took place at Yamu Pier in Pa Khlok, Thalang, following multiple complaints and video evidence.

 

For some time, the Phuket Tourist Police had been receiving complaints about a foreigner conducting tours without the necessary authorisation. Responding to these concerns, law enforcement conducted surveillance at Yamu Pier, a key departure point for tour boats heading to Naka Yai, Naka Noi, and Rang islands. There, they observed Mr. Gauthier, assisting tourists aboard a speedboat without a properly licensed Thai guide present.

 

Upon identifying and apprehending Mr. Gauthier, it was confirmed that he was unlawfully employed by a tour company in Thailand. He was taken to the Phuket Tourist Police Station where he faced charges related to working without a valid permit and acting as a tour guide without proper licensing.

 

Further investigations exposed significant discrepancies within the tour company employing Mr. Gauthier. Although officially registered as a motorbike service company, it not only failed to provide licensed tour guides but also neglected to offer insurance coverage for its tourists. These infractions put the company in violation of the Tourism Business and Guide Act, which could result in fines of up to 500,000 THB each for neglecting to assign a licensed guide and for failing to provide travel insurance.

 

Authorities have confirmed that the Tourism Business and Guide Registration Office will enforce administrative penalties against the company. This is expected to include the suspension of the company’s operating license, underscoring the seriousness with which Thai authorities are addressing illegal tourism activities. The case serves as a reminder of the stringent regulations governing the tourism sector in Thailand, ensuring safety and compliance in the industry.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Phuket Express 2025-05-02

 

 

[ikke1959]

Nice to read these stories , as Thailand is urging EU people to come to Thailand.. Many French people don't like to speak or are able to understand English, as France is the same as Thailand.. People who com on holiday in France should learn some French, is the attitude.. THailand with its outdated laws of labour protection doesn't understand that a very very few Thais are maybe able to speak French, and French are not allowed to translate as guides are protected as a Thai occupation... only solution is that Thailand is updating old laws, to make it attractive for foreigners to come on holiday and know the Thai culture, food and habits instead of complainimng that foreigners don't understand these things.. No wonder nobody can explain them as nobody is allowed to talk in fact another language as a Thai guide can.. 

[smedly]

does he speak Russian 

[newbee2022]

Of course there are regulations. But how about enforcements?

What will be the fine for this unlawful illegal tour company? Really possible 500.000 Baht?

I doubt it.

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Further investigations exposed significant discrepancies within the tour company employing Mr. Gauthier. Although officially registered as a motorbike service company, it not only failed to provide licensed tour guides but also neglected to offer insurance coverage for its tourists. These infractions put the company in violation of the Tourism Business and Guide Act, which could result in fines of up to 500,000 THB each for neglecting to assign a licensed guide and for failing to provide travel insurance.

Good

[wensiensheng]

I’m sure the French guy will get the book thrown at him. The Thai tour company….not so much

[JJ-Thailand]

15 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

THailand with its outdated laws of labour protection doesn't understand that a very very few Thais are maybe able to speak French, and French are not allowed to translate as guides are protected as a Thai occupation.

 

I don't think Thai people can go over to France and work as tour guides without a proper visa and working permit. Obey the law wherever you go, outdated or not.

[AhFarangJa]

16 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Nice to read these stories , as Thailand is urging EU people to come to Thailand.. Many French people don't like to speak or are able to understand English, as France is the same as Thailand.. People who com on holiday in France should learn some French, is the attitude.. THailand with its outdated laws of labour protection doesn't understand that a very very few Thais are maybe able to speak French, and French are not allowed to translate as guides are protected as a Thai occupation... only solution is that Thailand is updating old laws, to make it attractive for foreigners to come on holiday and know the Thai culture, food and habits instead of complainimng that foreigners don't understand these things.. No wonder nobody can explain them as nobody is allowed to talk in fact another language as a Thai guide can.. 

I did some investigating, and as the article states His main problem was not operating as a guide, but rather not having a licensed Thai National guide with Him. 

[sambum]

2 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

I did some investigating, and as the article states His main problem was not operating as a guide, but rather not having a licensed Thai National guide with Him. 

 

"His"? "Him"? Where I was broought up this implies that they're talking about God (Or Jesus)!

[ikke1959]

2 hours ago, JJ-Thailand said:

 

I don't think Thai people can go over to France and work as tour guides without a proper visa and working permit. Obey the law wherever you go, outdated or not.

It is impossible in THakiland as being a guide is a protected job only for Thai people.. The EU doesn't have such protected jobs.. Indeed there a Thai can work as a guide if he has the correct visa, but In Thailand being a guide is only for Thais.. All jobs should be open for everybody, and no protection anymore as we don't live in 19/20 century anymore... but as long Thailand is only for Thais, things will go down and down..

[Sametboy2019]

We have google translate nowadays. People can use it to communicate with each other if they are to lazy to learn English or the language of the country they are visiting!

How many Thais would want or need to learn a dying language like French?

Apart from Russians and Chinese the French seems to have the worst English language skills in the World. Understandable for the Russians and Chinese as they have been a bit isolated from the Western world for a long time.

[AhFarangJa]

4 hours ago, sambum said:

 

"His"? "Him"? Where I was broought up this implies that they're talking about God (Or Jesus)!

Little typo on my part, was not supposed to be a capital letter, however, as we are being pedantic today Brought has only one "o".......

[Magictoad]

4 hours ago, sambum said:

 

"His"? "Him"? Where I was broought up this implies that they're talking about God (Or Jesus)!

broought! WTF. Only one 'o' in brought.

[JJ-Thailand]

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is impossible in THakiland as being a guide is a protected job only for Thai people.. The EU doesn't have such protected jobs.. Indeed there a Thai can work as a guide if he has the correct visa, but In Thailand being a guide is only for Thais.. All jobs should be open for everybody, and no protection anymore as we don't live in 19/20 century anymore... but as long Thailand is only for Thais, things will go down and down..

There is a reason why some jobs are for Thais only and there is also a reason why only Thais can own land in Thailand. In some cases, the country would probably benefit to be more open, but they set the rules and overall, I think they have to be very strikt in order not to be completely overrun by foreigners.

 

 

 

[sambum]

55 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

Little typo on my part, was not supposed to be a capital letter, however, as we are being pedantic today Brought has only one "o".......

 

Damn! I did see that and deleted it, but it obviously didn't delete, but thank you for bringing it to my attention! 🙂 (P.S. "Brought" should not have a capital "B", and there should be a comma after "today"!) 🤣

[sambum]

46 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

broought! WTF. Only one 'o' in brought.

 

See  comment above this one! 🙂