Phuket Tourist Police Arrest Illegal Thai Tour Guides

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Tourist Police arrest illegal Thai tour guides
Phuket Gazette


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.

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


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-05-04

[chooka]

Driving tourists around and looking after thier welfare and belongings whilst on yaba. Oh well so I guess they are back at work now acting as english speaking tour guides.

[fiddlehead]

Ahh, the Chinese punch back.

[Payboy]

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

Nothing that can't be easily sorted.

[JetsetBkk]

Did someone forget to tell the BIB it's the Chinese ones they're supposed to go after?

[drdoom6996]

Who gives the Tourist Police the right to arrest anybody. That's the scary part of the story to me.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Thais protest over Chinese nationals working as Phuket tour guides.

And the result is a bunch of unlicensed, illegal, drug possessing Thai tour guides get arrested.

GOOD JOB!!! I hope the Thais' future protests in Phuket are equally successful.

Now how about going after the illegal farang jet ski operators???

[Dr Wanchai]

Who gives the Tourist Police the right to arrest anybody. That's the scary part of the story to me.

These "tourists police" or wannabes should be disbanded and sent packing, and replaced with "all Thai tourists police".

[IDreamOfJenna]

So there are loads of chinese illegal guides working in phuket. There are also load of thai illegal guides for chinese working in phuket.

The number of chinese tourists has doubled since last year.

Maybe one day the Phuket governor will get the drift that he should raise the cap on legal guides

[eezergood]

I am waiting for the "we will send to drug counselling" rubbish.

[Mudcrab]

Aren't you blokes ever happy? Finally the cops doing their job...and you whinge

[thaicbr]

Who gives the Tourist Police the right to arrest anybody. That's the scary part of the story to me.

These "tourists police" or wannabes should be disbanded and sent packing, and replaced with "all Thai tourists police".

The Tourist police are Thai. Tourist police volunteers can be Thai or foreign.

And only Thai tourist police can make arrests.

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

Edited May 4, 2013 by thaicbr

[SOTIRIOS]

.....the 'illegal' foreign tour guides were put in jail or deported......

....what will happen to these local 'illegals'.....

(....after having read about repeated prostitute offenders, drugging and robbing dozens upon dozens...again and again...)

...let me guess.....

[IrishIvan]

Driving tourists around and looking after thier welfare and belongings whilst on yaba. Oh well so I guess they are back at work now acting as english speaking tour guides.

Well if the guides were smoking yaba they would transfer the tourists to and from the hotel at supersonic speeds. Also they would be doing a hell of a lot of talking. Kind of what tourists want. 'Yaba tours, fastest in Thailand see more of Phuket than you could ever think possible'

[belg]

yaba yaba they did and now hopefully some years in jail...