No foreign guides

No foreign guides: Sonthaya

Published on Aug 22, 2003

Tourism and Sports Minister Sonthaya Kunplome yesterday told local tour guides that foreigners would not be allowed to work as guides.

He said the Cabinet agreed last Tuesday to allow tour operators with at least Bt20 million in registered capital and that serve more than 5,000 foreign customers per year to hire 10 foreign workers.

But these foreign workers cannot be employed as tour guides.

"Tour operators can hire some foreign staff.

However, foreign workers are not allowed to work as guides in

Thailand," Sonthaya said.

He said the position of tourist guide was reserved for Thai nationals. Tourist guides in Thailand are required to be licensed.

He also said the Professional Tourist Guide Association did not fully understand the Cabinet's approval of the recruitment of foreigners.

Sonthaya said the government would set up a taskforce to assess the impact of the employment of foreigners by Thai tour operators.

Jarupol Ruangket, the president of the tourist guide association, said more than 1,000 local tour guides would gather in front of Government House next Tuesday to protest against the policy, which he said would allow foreigners to work not only as translators or tour leaders, but also as tourist guides.

CHOOSAK JIRASAKUNTHAI, THE NATION

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