THAILAND - The Phuket Professional Guide Association called for the Governor to resolve the 'Korean Guide' issue.

Thaisnews.com, december 5th 2006

Around 30 members of Phuket Professional Guide Association, led by its vice president Subin Pakdi, submitted a petition to Phuket Governor Nirund Kalayanamit to resolve the Korean guide issue. According to Thai law, guide careers are reserved for Thai nationals only. Mr. Subin pointed out that the problem has long existed as tour companies want to bring in the maximum number of tourists while there are insufficient quality guides who can handle Korean tourists groups. The association members disagreed with the proposed law easing by temporarily allowing Koreans to act as tour guides. They stated that some operators disobeyed the law and ended up damaging the image of local tourism with some officials receiving bribes. The petition calls for the issue to be discussed in a meeting of the Travel Business committee chaired by the Minister of Tourism and Sports.

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