TAT Guides The Way

BANGKOK: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has tightened language qualifications for the country’s army of tour guides. People now wishing to register as guides for foreign tourists must have one of the following qualifications: · A high school education with a certificate in a foreign language; · A high school education with at least 150 hours of certified training in a foreign language undertaken while training as a guide to Thais only; or · A university degree in a foreign language. The move follows what the TAT cites as “many problems” with the previous system which allowed people with inadequate foreign language skills to act as guides for international tourists. For more information on guide qualifications, contact the TAT Tourist Business and Guide Registration Office, Southern Provinces Region 2, 183/72 Phang Nga Rd, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand. Tel: (076) 224529, 224874. Fax: (076) 225824.