Pictures courtesy of Daily News

 

Authorities have arrested an Indian national for illegally operating as a tour guide at the Four Regions Floating Market in Pattaya, reinforcing a renewed crackdown on unlicensed tourism activities in the Eastern region. The arrest took place on 23 December 2025 and resulted in the suspect being taken into custody for legal proceedings, highlighting the immediate enforcement of Thailand’s tourism laws to protect visitors and industry standards.

 

The operation was led by the Eastern Region branch of the Office of Tourism Business and Guide Registration under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, working jointly with the Investigation Division of the Tourist Police Bureau. Officers conducted an on-site inspection at the Four Regions Floating Market, after observing suspicious guiding activity involving foreign tourists.

 

Authorities identified the suspect as Mr Prateek Bhatia, an Indian national, who was allegedly guiding tourists without the legally required authorisation. Officials approached him after noting behaviour consistent with conducting guided tours, which falls under regulated activities governed by the Tourism Business and Guide Act B.E. 2551 (2008).

 

During the inspection, officers requested to see official documentation, including a tour guide work order and evidence of a valid licence. Investigators found that Mr Bhatia was operating without a licensed Thai tour guide supervising the activity and he was unable to present any valid guide work permit or a tourism business licence.

 

As a result, Mr Bhatia was charged with “operating a tourism business without a licence”. He was taken into custody at the scene and subsequently transferred to investigators at Nong Prue Police Station for formal legal proceedings in accordance with Thai law.

 

The Department of Tourism stated that unlicensed guiding undermines the integrity of Thailand’s tourism sector and poses potential risks to tourists. Officials emphasised that licensed Thai guides are required to ensure accurate information, safety compliance, and accountability during tours. The joint operation forms part of a broader enforcement strategy targeting illegal tour operators and unlicensed guides, particularly in high-traffic tourist destinations.

 

The Daily News reported that the Department of Tourism confirmed that inspections and enforcement actions will continue across the Eastern region. Officials said coordinated efforts with the Tourist Police will be maintained to deter violations, uphold legal standards, and ensure tourist safety in popular attractions.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• An Indian national was arrested on 23 December 2025 for illegally operating as a tour guide in Pattaya.

• Authorities found no valid tour guide work order or tourism business licence during the inspection.

• Officials say enforcement will continue to protect tourists and the tourism industry.

 

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 Adapted  by  Asean Now from Dailynews 2025-12-24

 

 

 

Who wants to see the fake floating market? that's the mystery 

9 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Who wants to see the fake floating market? that's the mystery 

Dumb tourists

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Who wants to see the fake floating market? that's the mystery 

Well it doesn't actually admit to being crap in the brochure!

20 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Well it doesn't actually admit to being crap in the brochure!

i went to Madame Tussauds in London once, i thought what dumbos would pay to see famous people mannequins 

When we were young, at least in my family:

 

Anytime we were unable to recall almost anything that was on the tip of our tongue, yet could not be resurrected:

 

The older women in our family, such as our ants, would always tell us:

 

Just wait, and rely on your Indian Guide. 

 

And, sure enough, our Indian Guide would bring us the forgotten word, or phrase, or noun which had been plaguing us.

 

And now, we see our Indian Guide arrested?

 

 

 

You need eyes in the back of your head to get away with being an illicit tour guide!

 

Judging by the way he is wearing his spectacles...

 

Didn't see that coming!

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

highlighting the immediate enforcement of Thailand’s tourism laws to protect visitors and industry standards.

A Thai guide who professes to speak English/whatever language the group require; with a vocabulary of seven words?  

So Thai Guides can speak Chinese, Russian and Hindi? 

5 minutes ago, iaminwa said:

So Thai Guides can speak Chinese, Russian and Hindi? 

Some of them perhaps.... there are a lot of Thais of Indian ethnicity around (and Chinese). 

Or should Thailand let anybody into the country and let them work these jobs?

The photo tells the story. The no-work-permit Indian covering his face with a piece of paper. If not deported, the Indian will be performing another job in Thailand in no time flat.

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Who wants to see the fake floating market? that's the mystery 

He probably was getting commission from the shops I used to drive tours and that's how it works, so he would not last long b4 being dobbed in 

Their country their rules

Be kind to Raj, he probably needs to earn money to replace his Gold Chain that was stolen 

So Mr. Bhatia, was. It worth it? You’ll lose every cent you ever made, and then some. How can anyone be so stupid? A retard.

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

i went to Madame Tussauds in London once, i thought what dumbos would pay to see famous people mannequins 

You did

 

 

How about operating on the basis of donations?

 

 

6 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Well it doesn't actually admit to being crap in the brochure!

Just like the air quality

Your visa will be Turbanated 🤔

2 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

He probably was getting commission from the shops I used to drive tours and that's how it works, so he would not last long b4 being dobbed in 

Yes i saw a Vietnamese lady selling baguette things on and near Buakhao, didn't take long for Thais to dob her in, she was too successful 

4 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Yes i saw a Vietnamese lady selling baguette things on and near Buakhao, didn't take long for Thais to dob her in, she was too successful 

 

She's still there, or is that an imposter?  Kinda like Paul McCartney! 

40 minutes ago, flaming dragon said:

 

She's still there, or is that an imposter?  Kinda like Paul McCartney! 

Good if she is, haven't seen her for a few weeks, still outside Pattaya City Hospital?

14 hours ago, Grumpy one said:

Be kind to Raj, he probably needs to earn money to replace his Gold Chain that was stolen 

I think we should give him a thip, wear a gold plated fake 

Troll post removed.

 

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On 12/24/2025 at 12:03 AM, JAG said:

You need eyes in the back of your head to get away with being an illicit tour guide!

 

Judging by the way he is wearing his spectacles...

 

Didn't see that coming!

 

That's not the Indian.

20 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Good if she is, haven't seen her for a few weeks, still outside Pattaya City Hospital?

 

That's where I saw her earlier this week. 

Loads of indians and russians doing tours and fronting. 

 

It's just as the bad as the ones setting up fronts, then hiring a thai to do the guiding part. 

On 12/24/2025 at 10:09 AM, scubascuba3 said:

i went to Madame Tussauds in London once, i thought what dumbos would pay to see famous people mannequins 

Well clearly you were one of them? LOL😉