President of the Andaman Guide Association Mr Krich Thembumrung explained that the letter of complaint alleges that foreign guides are not a new problem to the area and that they are all employed by companies operated by foreigners who claim Thailand does not have enough tour guides, and that the Thai tour guides there are do not speak foreign languages proficiently enough to serve their tours.
“We have filed complaints many times, but the issue is still unsolved. One of the reasons is because tour companies claim that if government officials strictly enforce the law it will affect the tourism image,” he said.
The protesting tour guides are demanding officials stick to the 2008 Tourism Business and Tour Guide Act and put a stop to illegal tour guides working in the Kingdom, and they have made 4 demands as follows;
1. Stop giving tour guide permits to foreigners.
2. Stop checking “job orders” because it does not help solve the issue of illegal guides.
3. Upgrade ‘regional’ licences to silver ‘nationwide’ licences.
4. Request they be part of any investigation and arrest of illegal tour guides.