Guides protest over tour prices

PHUKET: A group of about 70 Japanese-speaking tour guides protested today to Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi about a tour operator who, they claim, is offering tour prices to Japanese that are lower than officially agreed rates. The guides say that the lower prices are quoted in maps in Japanese, distributed in the restricted area at the airport by tour company Phuket Look. The guides want the matter investigated and the brochures withdrawn before the jobs of guides, and tuk-tuk and minibus drivers are put at risk. The Phuket Japanese Guide Club has about 400 members. Today’s protest was led by Panomphol “Peace” Thummachartniyom, President of the Phuket Professional Guide Association. The governor said he would seek talks with the TAT, which licenses tour companies, and with local representatives of the Airports Authority of Thailand.