Mandarin-language Thai guides call on junta to crackdown on unlicensed guides

[webfact]

Mandarin-language Thai guides call on junta to crackdown on unlicensed guides
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- About 200 Mandarin-language Thai guides on Monday submitted a letter calling on the junta to crack down on foreign unlicensed guides who compete with them for work.

The Thai guides, led by Saengthong Prailinwichit who is deputy chairman of the Mandarin Guides Club of Thailand, submitted their demand to junta chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha at the Army headquarters. The letter was received by Col Permkiart Juthathet, an Army officer.

Prayuth was told in the letter that foreign unlicensed guides had damaged Thailand's reputation because they provided wrong information to Chinese tourists.

The letter alleged that the problem of unlicensed guides speaking the Mandarin language has been ignored for over 10 years because a political party, which dominated tourism industry, chose to disregard the problem. The refusal to take notice had caused Thai guides to suffer, the letter said.


-- The Nation 2014-06-09

[Thai at Heart]

Priceless

[332]

Having to compete with others instead of having a monopoly on the business. Awful, really.

[EricBerg]

And while at it, perhaps they can service my car as well?

Junta is expected to fix all by now. Seems to make the people lazy.

[rkidlad]

Wrong information?

Only Thais know the real history and culture of Thailand. Thainess.

[haveaniceday]

Can foreign guides get a license at all ?

Are there enough Thais to fill the jobs that actually want to work ?

[332]

Can foreign guides get a license at all ?

Are there enough Thais to fill the jobs that actually want to work ?

1) No. Protected occupation. Only Thais are allowed.

2) Doesn't matter. If not, just give a passing Somchai a job as a guide until all the positions are filled.

[Oryx816]

I have never understood why foreigners can't work in tourism here. If the goal is to bring tourists to spend money here and the locals are not proficient in enough foreign languages to cater to nationalities that are not proficient in English (not that I am saying Thai tour guides speak English well, mind you), then surely this is a gap that foreigners can fill.

There seems to be a disconnect, but again, it is about face, because of course Thais don't need help showing their country to tourists.

[Thailand]

I wonder what the wrong information was that was provided by the moonlighting mandarins?

[Payboy]

...they provided wrong information....

Such as "today palace closed for big Buddha festival", "Luckily, big sale at gem / tailor shop", etc?

Edited June 9, 2014 by Payboy

[laurentbkk]

Are they mad about the real guide job or the commissions they could get in jewelery stores or other touristic shops ...

[Misterwhisper]

I once asked an officially licensed Thai tour guide who the first king of Ayutthaya was, in what year the former capital fell to the Burmese, and where in Thonburi King Taksin the Great set up his new palace after he'd having driven out the Burmese.

The guide got all three answers wrong - and I didn't even ask him in Mandarin, but in his own mother tongue.

On another occasion, in Chiang Rai, I eavesdropped on a Thai tour guide speaking German to a family of four, trying to explain to them the artistic significance of that white temple (can't remember its name). His German was so garbled and incomprehensible that I could see the agony in the eyes of the family. They were probably asking themselves, "Why oh why can't we have a native German-speaking guide for our good money?"

They walked away from that magnificent temple compound not one iota wiser as to its significance.

After his pathetically incompetent performance the guide then probably took the family to some jewelry or silk store nearby that "has a government promotion ONLY TODAY!", where they could at least find some solace in the false assumption that they could get a fantastic bargain.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Misterwhisper

[PattayaPhom]

I once asked an officially licensed Thai tour guide who the first king of Ayutthaya was, in what year the former capital fell to the Burmese, and where in Thonburi King Taksin the Great set up his new palace after he'd having driven out the Burmese.

The guide got all three answers wrong - and I didn't even ask him in Mandarin, but in his own mother tongue.

On another occasion, in Chiang Rai, I eavesdropped on a Thai tour guide speaking German to a family of four, trying to explain to them the artistic significance of that white temple (can't remember its name). His German was so garbled and incomprehensible that I could see the agony in the eyes of the family. They were probably asking themselves, "Why oh why can't we have a native German-speaking guide for our good money?"

They walked away from that magnificent temple compound not one iota wiser as to its significance.

After his pathetically incompetent performance the guide then probably took the family to some jewelry or silk store nearby that "has a government promotion ONLY TODAY!", where they could at least find some solace in the false assumption that they could get a fantastic bargain.

Secret shopping...thats the pits man

[Tokay]

I wonder what the wrong information was that was provided by the moonlighting mandarins?

They were spreading false information that Thailand was not the center of the universe.

[Credo]

I wonder what the wrong information was that was provided by the moonlighting mandarins?

Probably the truth.

[lemonjelly]

IF the Thai tour guides are fluent enough in Mandarin..yes, they have a valid point. They've gone to the trouble of learning the language, they do need job protection.

[englishoak]

ohhh copy Chinese guides.... can you feel the Irony.

Personally I hope they feed the Chinese a total load of stories thats all a lot of the stuff is anyway, probably half would be as true as the "official" ones.

[tomyummer]

It's not fair because these foreign guides are not taking the groups to the jewelry and suit shops!

Should test the Thai guides in their Chinese too. Accents right? Otherwise their language could be telling the wrong history! Touche!

Edited June 9, 2014 by tomyummer

[Oryx816]

I once asked an officially licensed Thai tour guide who the first king of Ayutthaya was, in what year the former capital fell to the Burmese, and where in Thonburi King Taksin the Great set up his new palace after he'd having driven out the Burmese.

The guide got all three answers wrong - and I didn't even ask him in Mandarin, but in his own mother tongue.

On another occasion, in Chiang Rai, I eavesdropped on a Thai tour guide speaking German to a family of four, trying to explain to them the artistic significance of that white temple (can't remember its name). His German was so garbled and incomprehensible that I could see the agony in the eyes of the family. They were probably asking themselves, "Why oh why can't we have a native German-speaking guide for our good money?"

They walked away from that magnificent temple compound not one iota wiser as to its significance.

After his pathetically incompetent performance the guide then probably took the family to some jewelry or silk store nearby that "has a government promotion ONLY TODAY!", where they could at least find some solace in the false assumption that they could get a fantastic bargain.

I was in Siam Paragon last week and I stopped by Boots to get some medicine for my daughter. There was a Spanish couple there with a Thai interpreter/tour guide, who was telling the pharmacist that the man needed something for his lip. The pharmacist was whipping out some balm for cold sores.... I had to intervene, since I heard him tell her he had a sore throat. I asked the man if he wanted syrup or lozenges and did he have a fever. He told me lozenges were all he needed and I walked over and gave him some off the shelf. The Thai "interpreter" looked thoroughly confused throughout and then tried to speak very simple broken Spanish with my daughter and felt quite chuffed I bet, since my daughter doesn't speak Spanish.

It was sad, and could have been detrimental to this man's health, if it weren't something so innocuous. It is very irresponsible to put people in positions for which they are not qualified. Then again, they see it at the highest levels of government, so why should qualifications be necessary for tour guides?

[FangFerang]

The Thai Mandarin guides speak really awful Chinese -- yes, it is from experience and observers not opinion.

Competition has a way of stomping past social protocols that are systemically incoherent.

[BillyBobThai]

Just wait for ASEAN to kick in, they will all be crying then.

Edited June 9, 2014 by BillyBobThai

[surangw]

thai "guides" guide their victims to all the rip off shopping places. no so many places of real interest.

[Oryx816]

Just wait for ASEAN to kick in, they will all be crying then.

I hope it helps Thailand step up.

[Tomtomtom69]

I have never understood why foreigners can't work in tourism here. If the goal is to bring tourists to spend money here and the locals are not proficient in enough foreign languages to cater to nationalities that are not proficient in English (not that I am saying Thai tour guides speak English well, mind you), then surely this is a gap that foreigners can fill.

There seems to be a disconnect, but again, it is about face, because of course Thais don't need help showing their country to tourists.

I kind of agree with you, but only up to a point. I would say Thai jobs in the tourism sector should be protected, because they can after all, explain the history of their country, know the language, are able to negotiate discounts, know how to get around, know the geography, the local area etc. which are usually things that foreigners appreciate about guides being able to assist them with and things that foreign guides wouldn't have as much knowledge of or ability to do.

I'd rather see an overhaul of the labor laws in Thailand that would allow foreigners more rights to seek work, including ending the ridiculous 4-1 Thai-expat worker ratio, but at the same time certain types of employment can be protected from foreigners more, which would include many tourism related jobs, simply because it seems appropriate to allow Thais to show off their knowledge of their country, their hospitality etc. than foreigners. On the other hand, a foreign bar owner or restaurant owner should be allowed to do whatever he/she likes inside his/her bar/restaurant including taking orders, sweeping floors, baking pizza etc. Of course, many foreign restaurant owners already do this, but apparently they aren't supposed to.

[geezer2]

Wrong information?

Only Thais know the real history and culture of Thailand. Thainess.

Yea right..they dont even know about world war 1 or 2 my wife could not even tell me about the commy war and thailand,not that long ago..they dont teach pupils about history things which dont suit..now i have sat and history channel she loves to watch war films WW2 and 3 and she says i not know this happen..does my head in..but at least she knows now

[Oryx816]

I have never understood why foreigners can't work in tourism here. If the goal is to bring tourists to spend money here and the locals are not proficient in enough foreign languages to cater to nationalities that are not proficient in English (not that I am saying Thai tour guides speak English well, mind you), then surely this is a gap that foreigners can fill.

There seems to be a disconnect, but again, it is about face, because of course Thais don't need help showing their country to tourists.

I kind of agree with you, but only up to a point. I would say Thai jobs in the tourism sector should be protected, because they can after all, explain the history of their country, know the language, are able to negotiate discounts, know how to get around, know the geography, the local area etc. which are usually things that foreigners appreciate about guides being able to assist them with and things that foreign guides wouldn't have as much knowledge of or ability to do.

I'd rather see an overhaul of the labor laws in Thailand that would allow foreigners more rights to seek work, including ending the ridiculous 4-1 Thai-expat worker ratio, but at the same time certain types of employment can be protected from foreigners more, which would include many tourism related jobs, simply because it seems appropriate to allow Thais to show off their knowledge of their country, their hospitality etc. than foreigners. On the other hand, a foreign bar owner or restaurant owner should be allowed to do whatever he/she likes inside his/her bar/restaurant including taking orders, sweeping floors, baking pizza etc. Of course, many foreign restaurant owners already do this, but apparently they aren't supposed to.

I would fully agree with you if the knowledge was there. Sadly, their educational system fails them and their knowledge of their own history is sorely lacking. Perhaps a foreigner teamed up with a Thai would be a solution to provide the best benefit to tourists, but that isn't going to happen.

And you are right, the 4-1 ratio is absurd, but that isn't likely to change....well, unless it is done away with under the ASEAN rules. I am unfamiliar with the particulars, but if the ratio no longer applies, there will be interesting times ahead.

[MMarlow]

Having to compete with others instead of having a monopoly on the business. Awful, really.

Yes it is, the ones the Thais are referring to are illegal.

[MMarlow]

I once asked an officially licensed Thai tour guide who the first king of Ayutthaya was, in what year the former capital fell to the Burmese, and where in Thonburi King Taksin the Great set up his new palace after he'd having driven out the Burmese.

The guide got all three answers wrong - and I didn't even ask him in Mandarin, but in his own mother tongue.

On another occasion, in Chiang Rai, I eavesdropped on a Thai tour guide speaking German to a family of four, trying to explain to them the artistic significance of that white temple (can't remember its name). His German was so garbled and incomprehensible that I could see the agony in the eyes of the family. They were probably asking themselves, "Why oh why can't we have a native German-speaking guide for our good money?"

They walked away from that magnificent temple compound not one iota wiser as to its significance.

.

After his pathetically incompetent performance the guide then probably took the family to some jewelry or silk store nearby that "has a government promotion ONLY TODAY!", where they could at least find some solace in the false assumption that they could get a fantastic bargain.

So you were just trying to be a smartarse asking questions that you knew the answers to because you had swotted-up on them?

"After his pathetically incompetent performance the guide then probably took the family to some jewelry or silk store nearby that "has a government promotion ONLY TODAY!", where they could at least find some solace in the false assumption that they could get a fantastic bargain."

No unfounded, Thai-bashing speculation in that statement then.

[kaorop]

Simple, the Junta have been asking for Chinese to come back to Thailand and ignore the situation.

Great, I'm all for it, just invite a few language competency specialists and have a meeting with Thai Mandarin speakers then

let them be the judge on who can and cant do the job,

or

even easier just ask the already placed by the Chinese government, and freelance Chinese teachers here.

[simon43]

she loves to watch war films WW2 and 3 and..

WW3? When was that then?