More than 100 Thai tour guides petitioned Pattaya police and city officials to crack down on illegal foreign guides operating locally.
The group, led by Paisarn Suethanawong of the Tour Guide Association of Thailand, marched along Pattaya Beach from the Dusit Curve to the police station at Soi 9. Along the way, they encountered a Chinese tour guide they claimed was operating illegally.
A police unit nearby intervened and had the guide collect his customers from the beach, where they were going to take a speedboat, and take them back to their bus.
The procession reached the Soi 9 Pattaya Police headquarters where the group presented their letter to Superintendent Pol. Col. Sukthat Pumpunmuang.
During their march, Thai tour guides protesting illegal foreign guides encountered a Chinese tour guide they claimed was operating illegally.
Paisarn told him that many illegal tour guides are operating in Pattaya, made up of Chinese, Russian, Indian and Vietnamese, and 70 percent do not have legal permission to work as guides. Most have fake tour guide badges and operate without fearing the law, he claimed, so that’s why the Thai Tour Guide Association is asking the government to look into the matter.
Sukthat said police are taking the problem seriously and have been inspecting a number of tour agencies as well. However, he said, some government policies deny police full power over the matter, so it’s not possible to go and arrest them instantly.
One must have clear evidence in order to issue a warrant and police are hoping there are genuine tour guides that can provide them with such evidence, he said.
The group carried on its march, this time to city hall, where the guides presented another letter to Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh.
