Chinese-speaking Thai guides take to Phuket streets

More than 100 Chinese-speaking Thai tour guides on Monday protested and distributed an official complaint to tour companies, requesting their cooperation in stopping their support of illegal tour guides in Phuket province.

The complaints have become a regular fixture in the PR game between tour guides and provincial officials.
In the morning, about 100 Chinese-speaking Phuket tour guides protested by walking along the road in Wichit and handing out letters to tour companies, requesting that they not support illegal tour guides.

Chinese-speaking Thai guides take to Phuket streets
The leaflet began: “To every tour company in Phuket.”
“Your companies have brought a lot of Chinese tourists to Phuket, which generates a lot of income. We thank you that you are supporting Phuket tourism.
“There is a lot of news that speaks about illegal tour guides who have stolen our jobs. We are now in trouble, as tour-guiding is a reserved occupation for Thai people only.
“Any tour operator who breaks the law shall be fined up to Bt500,000. We hope that we will get cooperation from you,” the letter stated.