Illegal tour guide swept up in Phuket crackdown

PHUKET: Another illegal tour guide was swept up at the Karon View Point in a recent crackdown aimed at protecting the job for Thai nationals.

Liang Yang, 33, has denied the charges of operating an illegal tourism business, working illegally as a tour guide and working without permission. He told officers that the six Chinese nationals he was with were his friends.

“Officers from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports [MOTS] Phuket Office and Tourist Police monitored and recorded his interactions with the group,” MOTS Phuket Office Director Santi Pawai told the Phuket Gazette today.

“We have evidence of him leading the group around and explaining the area to them. Additionally, we found some documents explaining the expenses for each person in the group, as well as member cards for several popular tourist destinations on the island.”

Mr Santi confirmed that the crackdown on illegal tour guides would continue.

Earlier this month, a Russian woman was arrested at Karon View Point for working illegally as a guide (story here).

— Chutharat Plerin