Ministry of Tourism & Sports director Santi Pawai Phuket said of the operation, “We are carrying out these checks ensure the confidence of tourist in Phuket and nearby provinces. We have checked over 100 minivans and buses and tour guides as well.
“We have found that some tour operators do not job orders from the airport, and some Russians who we believed to be tour guides have said that they are coming to or going from the airport to pick up friends to take them to their hotel or resort. They stated they were not tour guides,” Mr Santi said.
“However, we are carrying out this operation as a warning. Tour companies have been told to operate their businesses properly, and if they were found doing their business outside of the rules and regulations introduced by Ministry of Tourism & Sports they will face serious penalties,” Mr Santi added.
He also said that they did find some tour companies using illegal tour guides and they have given them a warning.
“But if we find them doing the same again their tour operation licence may be revoked,” he said.
“It takes at least three hours to go through the process of investigating their business and if we do this when they have tourists with them it will not be good for the tourists.
“However, if we find them operating illegally again we will take their photos, seize their ID cards, record their business name and order them to report to us the next day for further investigation,” Mr Santi concluded.