Guides damage island’s image

November 24, 2011 by  
Filed under News, Thailand

PHUKET, 24 November 2011: Phuket Tour Guide Association says illegal tour guides in the province are damaging the island’s tourism image.

The association president, Panomphol Thammachartniyom, told TTR Weekly that the decade old problem  of the so-called ghost or “Pee” guide continues to damage the province’s tourism.

“ It suggests the government does not take tourism  business seriously, although there are lots of committees to crackdown on illegal tour guides, but nothing is achieved. ” Read more

Tour guides under the hammer

January 11, 2011 by  
Filed under News

HONG KONG, 11 January 2011 – Hong Kong based tour guides protested, late last week, against a new policy that limits a guide’s employment to just a single tour group for the duration of its stay and outlaws shopping commissions.

The guides claim the new law prevents them from taking on extra jobs or receiving fees from establishments other than from the company that assigned them to lead a group. They estimate it could cut their overall monthly earnings by HK10,000.

About 1,000 tour guides joined the protest against the Travel Industry Council regulation that comes into effect 1 February.

Read more

Crackdown on Russian tour companies

January 5, 2011 by  
Filed under News

BANGKOK 5 January 2011 – Six Russian tour companies operating at Phuket’s popular beach locations have been suspended by the Phuket Tourism Business and Guide Registration Office for illegally hiring Russian guides.

Local news service www. phuketwan.com broke the story, yesterday, claiming the companies had been operating illegally by hiring Russian guides, an occupation that is reserved for Thai nationals.

According to the report the registration office in Phuket declined to identify the companies  claiming disclosure could expose the office to “legal repercussions”.

Read more

Guides ask for a rescue fund

May 25, 2010 by  
Filed under News

BANGKOK, 25 May 2010 — The Professional Tourist Guide Association Thailand estimates a Bt420 million  loss in service fees due to the political crisis and will file a request for a government grant of Bt10 million to set up a guides’ cooperative and council.

PGA president, Wirote Sitaprasertnand, told TTR Weekly the association would submit a proposal for a grant  to Minister of Tourism and Sports, this week.

Read more

Honouring top tour guides

Tourism Authority of Thailand invites tour guides to apply in a competition that will identify the country’s best tour guides.

Read more