Tourist Police arrest illegal Thai tour guides

Phuket Gazette - Friday, May 3, 2013 6:56:07 PM

The Thai nationals did not have the proper certification to be working as tour guides in Phuket. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: Seven Thais working illegally as tour guides catering to Chinese tourists in Phuket were arrested in the wake of a mass protest on Monday demanding the government take action against illegal guides.

The protest on Monday focused on Chinese nationals “stealing” the jobs of Thai tour guides, though those protesting also asked Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak to raise the cap on the number of professional Thai guides allowed to cater to Chinese tourists in Phuket, which now sits at only 80 (story here).

By law, only Thai nationals certified by the Professional Guide Association (PGA) may be employed as tour guides in Thailand.

Of the seven illegal guides picked up by the Phuket Tourist Police yesterday, two were found in possession of ya ice(crystal methamphetamine), said Phuket Tourist Police Inspector Urumporn Koondejsumrit.

“The seven people arrested were Thai. They have all been charged with working as tour guides without being properly certified,” Maj Urumporn said.

“Two of the seven have also been charged with possession of a category one drug,” he added.

– Kritsada Mueanhawong

Phuket,Thailand

18:56 local time (GMT +7)

Of course I don't have access to the edit functions to make this article appear correctly...

The Gazette story is here:

http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Tourist-Police-arrest-illegal-Thai-tour-guides-20937.html

So, after all the protests about Chinese tour guides stealing Thai jobs, the tour guides the police have arrested are all Thai.

Topic is already running here:

Phuket Tour Guides Protest 'Great Chinese Takeaway'

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