Political situation strongly affects Thailand's tour guides

[webfact]

Political situation strongly affects tour guides

BANGKOK, 28 Jan 2014 (NNT) - President of the Professional Tourist Guide Association of Thailand, Wiroj Sitprasertnant, revealed that more than 50% of tour guides are out of jobs, as the number of tourists has declined sharply due to the prolonged political gathering which has a tendency to escalate.

According to Mr. Wiroj, currently there are about 50,000 legal tour guides, 10,000 of whom are working under the auspices of the association. He attributed the decline in tour guide demand to the decreasing number of foreign visitors to the nation, saying if the political situation does not improve soon, the number of unemployed tour guides may reach 7,000-8,000.

Mr. Wiroj elaborated that most of the tour guides are freelancers, adding that their employment greatly depends on the number of foreign tourists which leans on the country's political situation.

He said that in 2013 there were 5 million Chinese visitors to the nation, a big leap from 2 million in the year earlier. Mr. Wiroj said the rise prompted the association to seek the government's funding in training more than 5,000 Chinese speaking tour guides, adding however that since the beginning of this year, a great number of Chinese travelers have refrained from visiting Thailand. The situation has forced tour guides to seek other professions, he admitted, saying that there are currently only 1,000 Chinese speaking guides available.


-- NNT 2014-01-28

[pipkins]

Sadly the financial impact of this madness has barely begun.

That's the high season done now. We usually build up some money reserves this time of year to get through the lean times. No savings = higher street crime. Fact that anywhere in the world, red, yellow, fascist or what.

Thais need to come out and make a third independent party, free of all the baggage of PT, Dems, Newin, Army and beat Yingluck at the ballot box

If they are too dumb or cowardly to do this, they will live out their lives under each party or coup in turn. I just can't sympathise with a population that is this politically dumb. It's the political immaturity that allows Thaksin and Suthep to flourish.

Cancel the election and appoint the Poodles Council and you've lost next high season as well.... Fact!

[tx22cb]

Many moons ago, when the PDRC movement was in its infancy (back in the early Ratchadamnern days), the PDRC appeased the affected businesses near the Democracy Monument by pledging to "compensate" those affected by the PDRC's occupation.

Ahh, those heydays of naive innocence ...

[sms747]

No point coming out with yet another party, Thais need to root out the corruption and nepotism that is strangling the nation, shuffling people about into new gangs will not be enough this time.

[jaltsc]

"...50% of tour guides are out of jobs, as the number of tourists has declined sharply ..."

Obviously the Professional Tourist Guide Association of Thailand hasn't been reading the news releases of the TAT which project a rosy outlook for tourism. Either someone is not telling the truth or is unable to count

[Costas2008]

Either someone is not telling the truth or is unable to count

Same as the Red supporters on TVF.

[Commander Tamson]

No point coming out with yet another party, Thais need to root out the corruption and nepotism that is strangling the nation, shuffling people about into new gangs will not be enough this time.

Time for less [meaningless] talk and more action. The arrest warrants against Suthep and all the other politicians, including her majesty Ying Luck, should be immediately enforced. And, okay, if not given jail sentences, should at the very least be banned from ALL future political activity.

Let Suthep's idea of some form of interim government be put in place and some much needed 'democratic' and anti- corruption reforms undertaken. Meanwhile encourage new politicians to put their names forward for election to replace the 300 or so now banned politicians. and for god's sake - put some form of vetting system in place for them. (Relatives of banned politicians - the No.1 no no)

Then maybe, just maybe, Thailand can recover

But hey? TiT

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[edwinchester]

A couple of wifeys friends did a course for tour guide certification nearly a year ago.

Since passing they got zero work.

The reason, there are already way to many tour guides be they registered or unregistered.

[thaipod]

Interesting figures. Does this number include the illegal Chinese, Russian, Thaiwanese, Japanese etc guides ?.

[PostmanPat]

Never mind the current Political Climate. I live in Chiang Mai and my partner is and has been for several years a well respected fully licensed tour guide. Even she has insufficient work over a whole season, and yet the Universities and Colleges of Chiang Mai continue to run tour guide courses which churn out hundreds and hundreds of new tour guides every year, so if there isnt enough work for the existing tour guides, why the hell are they training thousands of new ones?!

[rogerdee123]

Maybe some of them will return home to China

[Alwyn]

No point coming out with yet another party, Thais need to root out the corruption and nepotism that is strangling the nation, shuffling people about into new gangs will not be enough this time.

Time for less [meaningless] talk and more action. The arrest warrants against Suthep and all the other politicians, including her majesty Ying Luck, should be immediately enforced. And, okay, if not given jail sentences, should at the very least be banned from ALL future political activity.

Let Suthep's idea of some form of interim government be put in place and some much needed 'democratic' and anti- corruption reforms undertaken. Meanwhile encourage new politicians to put their names forward for election to replace the 300 or so now banned politicians. and for god's sake - put some form of vetting system in place for them. (Relatives of banned politicians - the No.1 no no)

Then maybe, just maybe, Thailand can recover

But hey? TiT

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Strangely enough....

In 2009, Suthep was accused of violating the Constitution of Thailand by holding equity in a media firm that had received concessions from the government. Under the 1997 Constitution of Thailand, which Suthep had supported, Members of Parliament are banned from holding stakes in companies which have received government concessions. In July 2009, the Election Commission announced that it would seek a ruling by theConstitutional Court to disqualify Suthep.

Suthep held a press conference a day later, announcing his decision to resign from Parliament. Suthep's resignation as an MP did not affect his status as a Deputy Prime Minister and as a Cabinet member. If his case had been submitted to the Constitution Court, he would have been suspended from duty as Deputy Prime Minister. He insisted his resignation was not a proof that he had done anything wrong but that he was worried about status as Deputy Prime Minister

[Ulic]

Never mind the current Political Climate. I live in Chiang Mai and my partner is and has been for several years a well respected fully licensed tour guide. Even she has insufficient work over a whole season, and yet the Universities and Colleges of Chiang Mai continue to run tour guide courses which churn out hundreds and hundreds of new tour guides every year, so if there isnt enough work for the existing tour guides, why the hell are they training thousands of new ones?!

The tour guides should probably be learning Russian instead of Chinese. Remember a year ago there was a lot of

complaining about zero baht tourism from China. Something I could never understand. Those on vacation use hotels,

eat here, use bus transportation here, take tours here every day. But because it was a package and the tour companies

negotiated hard with everyone, the TAT did not want them. Be careful what you wish for, you may get it. Combined with the

political unrest and you have a huge drop in Chinese tourism. Just like Thailand wanted.

[Halion]

Jesus, who writes this drivel. There is just a tad more at stake here that the plight of a few bloody tour guides.

[DoctorG]

Either someone is not telling the truth or is unable to count

Same as the Red supporters on TVF.

Geez Costas.. give it a rest.

[oldthaihand99]

Never mind the current Political Climate. I live in Chiang Mai and my partner is and has been for several years a well respected fully licensed tour guide. Even she has insufficient work over a whole season, and yet the Universities and Colleges of Chiang Mai continue to run tour guide courses which churn out hundreds and hundreds of new tour guides every year, so if there isnt enough work for the existing tour guides, why the hell are they training thousands of new ones?!

Tourist numbers to Siam - in spite of widespread flooding, a major psunami, siege of Bangkok, coups, etc - have in the last decade or so skyrocketed through the roof, increasing continually year after year. That's why.

[harada]

Either someone is not telling the truth or is unable to count

Same as the Red supporters on TVF.

[JulesMad]

@tourguides: Go to TAT!!! They always have great numbers of tourists (up, up and up), so they should know where these incredible amounts of tourists are hanging out.... Good Luck

@tourguides: you are freelance, so work/no work comes with the territory. Stop complaining or look for a real job