BANGKOK, Thailand – As Thailand’s tourism sector begins to recover, local tour guides are facing significant challenges.
Wasphon Atthapornthanaset, President of the Professional Tourist Guide Association of Thailand, led over 50 tour guides in submitting the petition. The group argued that the online job order system does not meet the practical needs of tour guides. They also requested that a representative from the guide community be included in the committee overseeing its implementation.
The group further urged authorities to address the issue of foreign nationals illegally working as tour guides in Thailand, a profession legally reserved for Thai citizens. This illegal activity has negatively impacted the tourism industry, affecting licensed guides, tour operators, and related businesses.
Jaturon Phakdeewanich, Director-General of the Department of Tourism, acknowledged the difficulties some tour guides have faced with the fully online system. He expressed a willingness to consider postponing its mandatory implementation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is collaborating with relevant agencies to tackle the problem of unlicensed foreign tour guides, who often share the nationality of the tourists they accompany.
